SOS Clinic Appointments

Spay Our Strays Clinic Appointment FAQs

Please read through the FAQ sections below for answers to your questions including:

When are appointments and deposits required?
How do I schedule an appointment?
- When will you call me back to schedule my appointment?
- What information will you need to schedule my appointment?
What time will my appointment be?
How do I leave a deposit? What if I don't use it?
What if I need to reschedule?

Please read through Before The Clinic and Pre/Post Surgery Info for what you'll need to know before and on the day of the clinic, including how to safely transport your cat or dog to the clinic, what to do before your cat or dog's spay/neuter surgery, which payment methods are accepted at the clinic, what to expect on the day of the clinic, and how to take care of your cat or dog after his or her spay/neuter surgery.

When Are Appointments And Deposits Required?

At our mega clinics, appointments are required for ALL services. There are no walk-in hours for any services at mega clinics. Deposits are also required for spay/neuter surgery appointments.

At our mini clinics, appointments and deposits are required for all spay/neuter surgeries, but walk-ins are welcome for all services EXCEPT spay/neuter surgery from 1pm until 2pm. While we do recommend scheduling an appointment in advance for faster service, appointments are not required for non-surgical services at our mini clinics.


		Mega Clinics		Mini Clinics
		Appts	Deposits	Appts	Deposits

Cats:	Spay/Neuter Surgery (with or without other services)	Required	$20 per cat	Required	$20 per cat
	Vaccines and/or other non-surgical services	Required	Optional	Recommended, but walk-in hours are offered from 1pm-2pm	Optional

Dogs:	Spay/Neuter Surgery (with or without other services)	n/a	n/a	Required	$50 per dog
	Vaccines and/or other non-surgical services	Required	Optional	Recommended, but walk-in hours are offered from 1pm-2pm	Optional

Do I have to schedule an appointment if I want to get my cat or dog spayed/neutered? Do I have to leave a deposit?

YES. Appointments and deposits are both required for any animal receiving spay/neuter surgery. Walk-ins are not allowed for spay/neuter surgery - you must have an appointment.

What if my cat or dog just needs vaccinations and/or other services that you offer, but does NOT need spay/neuter surgery?

Since your cat or dog does not need spay/neuter surgery, you do not need to leave a deposit.

Whether or not your cat or dog needs an appointment for vaccinations and/or other services depends on which clinic you are attending.

If want to bring your cat or dog to one of our mega clinics, appointments are required even if spay/neuter surgery isn't needed
If want to bring your cat or dog to one of our mini clinics, you may schedule an appointment in advance for faster service on the day of the clinic, but an appointment is not required. Walk-ins are welcome between 1pm and 2pm at our mini clinics for non-surgical services

Can I schedule an appointment in advance for vaccinations at a mini clinic even though it is not required?

YES. We recommend scheduling an appointment for vaccinations/other services at a mini clinic for faster service on the day of the clinic, but the appointment is not required.

Can I leave a deposit or pay in full when I schedule my appointment, even when a deposit is not required?

YES. While deposits are not required for any services other than spay/neuter surgery, you may prepay part or all of your balance due prior to the clinic for faster service on the day of the clinic.

I'm not sure which clinic I need. How do I know if I have to schedule an appointment?

If you're not sure which clinic is right for you, please select the service you need for your cat or dog to learn more about our different clinic options.

How Do I Schedule An Appointment? - (856) 208-SPAY

How do I schedule an appointment?

To schedule an appointment, or for general Spay Our Strays Clinic information, please call our clinic appointment and information line at (856) 208-SPAY, which is (856) 208-7729. Please do not text message this number; it is voice only. All appointment calls must use this phone number. Remember, appointments are required for spay/neuter surgery at both clinics and for all services at our mega clinics.

Can I schedule an appointment online or through email?

We do not currently schedule appointments online or through email. Please call (856) 208-SPAY to schedule your appointment.

Why did I get your voicemail instead of a person when I called your appointment line?

When you call our appointment line, you'll most likely get our voicemail as we are often on the other line scheduling an appointment with another caregiver. Please leave us a message with your name, phone number, and the best times to reach you on the day that you called as well as on the following 2 business days, and we'll do our best to call you back during one of those times.

How long does it take to schedule an appointment?

The average appointment scheduling call takes between 20 and 30 minutes. However, the length of time it takes to schedule your appointment can vary based on the number of animals you're scheduling for the clinic, the types of services needed, how many questions you have, and whether you have all the necessary information ready when scheduling your appointment.

When Will You Call Me Back To Schedule My Appointment?

How long will it take you to return my call?

We try to return calls made to our appointment line within 1 business day, but it may take up to 3 business days to return your call due to our very high incoming call volume. If you leave us a message on our appointment line, you will get a call back. Please make sure your answering machine or voice mailbox is setup and not full so we'll be able to leave you a message if we don't reach you when we call you back.

What are your hours of operation? When can I expect a call back?

We do not have set hours of operation. We try to work appointment scheduling callbacks around your availability. Callbacks are usually done between 11am and 8pm Monday through Friday. Make sure to let us know what days and times are best to reach you over the next 3 business days when you leave us a message. When necessary, arrangements can sometimes be made for calls to be returned after 8pm in the evening or on weekends.

If callbacks are expected to be delayed due to holidays, inclement weather, or other reasons, the appointment line message greeting will inform you of the expected delay.

I'm worried I won't get a call back. Should I call the CSTAR Animal Care phone number or the post-surgery care line phone number?

No, please do not call the CSTAR Animal Care phone number or post-surgery care line phone number to schedule an appointment.

If you leave us a message on our clinic appointment line, (856) 208-SPAY, you will get a call back in 1 to 3 business days. The CSTAR representatives who schedule the appointments retrieve the messages from this phone number's mailbox only. So, if you're interested in scheduling an appointment, you must call the appointment line at (856) 208-SPAY and leave a message for the individuals who handle appointment scheduling.

Calls made to CSTAR Animal Care's main phone number and to the clinic's post-surgery care line regarding appointment scheduling will not be able to be returned in a timely manner.

It's been 2 days and I still have not received a callback. Should I leave another message?

No, please do not leave an additional message unless it has been more than 3 business days since you left your initial message. Our incoming call volume is very high, and it can take up to 3 business days for us to return your call. When caregivers leave multiple messages on the clinic voicemail, it takes longer to retrieve and log all of the incoming messages, and causes more delays in callbacks. Please allow us 3 full business days to return your call.

What Information Will You Need To Schedule My Appointment?

What personal information will you ask for when I schedule an appointment?

We will ask you for your name, your address, the best phone numbers to reach you at, and your email address (if you have one).

Please make sure you provide us with at least one phone number where we can reach you on the day of the clinic, and please ensure that we have a way to leave you a message on that number in case you don't answer (please make sure the phone number has an answering machine or voice mailbox, the voice mailbox isn't full, the phone number has call waiting, etc.)

What information about my cats and/or dogs will you need when I schedule an appointment?

Please have the following details about each of your cats and/or dogs ready when scheduling your appointment:

Name, age, and sex
- If you're not sure if your kitten or puppy is old enough for spay/neuter surgery and/or vaccinations, please check out our spay/neuter FAQs and vaccination FAQs
- If you're not 100% sure of your cat or dog's sex, please tell us "unknown" sex when making your appointment
Breed and colors/special markings
- For more information on identifying common breeds and colorings, please see our Cat Colors and Breeds Chart and our Dog Colors and Breeds Chart
Whether your cat is a pet, a stray (friendly and currently lives or recently lived outdoors), or a feral (untamed and lives outdoors)
- If your cat is a stray or feral and being scheduled for spay/neuter surgery, we'll also ask you whether or not you would like the cat eartipped

What if I am trapping feral cats and I don't know all of the cats' information yet? Can I still make an appointment?

YES. You should always schedule clinic appointments as far in advance as possible BEFORE you trap cats to ensure that you'll have a place to get them fixed after they are trapped. Since you might not know which cats you are going to trap when you are scheduling your appointment, you can leave a message on the clinic voicemail with the cats' names, ages, sexes, breeds, and/or colors after you trap them, or you can provide that information at the clinic when you come for your appointment.

Do you need to know what vaccinations and/or other services I want for my cat or dog when I make my appointment?

If your cat or dog needs vaccinations and/or other services, we recommend scheduling them in advance when you make your appointment. But, you can add additional services at the clinic when needed.

What do you need to know if I want to schedule my cat or dog for a rabies vaccination?

We need to know if it will be the cat or dog's first rabies vaccination or a booster vaccination. If you are unsure, assume that it will be the first.

If your cat or dog received a rabies vaccination in the past, please bring proof of that rabies vaccination to the clinic so we can update the due date of the next rabies vaccination to 3 years later instead of 1 year later when applicable.

What do you need to know if I want to schedule my cat or dog for one of the other vaccinations you offer, such as for a distemper vaccination?

We need to know if it will be the cat or dog's first vaccination of that type. If you are unsure, assume that it will be the first.

If it is NOT the cat or dog's first vaccination of that type, we may also ask you if the cat or dog has had just one or multiple vaccinations of that type in the past, when the last vaccination was administered, and how old the cat or dog was when the last vaccination was administered in order to provide you with accurate due dates for future vaccinations.

**Please let us know if your cat or dog has received any vaccinations during the 2-4 weeks prior to the clinic to ensure vaccinations aren't given too close together. Some vaccinations, such as distemper, should not be administered less than 14 days apart.

What if I don't know if I should schedule my cat or dog for vaccinations?

Always consult with your regular veterinarian regarding your cat or dog's vaccination needs. Supplemental information is available in our vaccination FAQs and additional questions can be answered when scheduling your appointment.

What if I don't know what other services I should schedule my cat or dog for?

Always consult with your regular veterinarian regarding your cat or dog's basic veterinary needs. Then, review the clinic services we offer to determine if you would like to schedule any of these services to be administered at one of our clinics. Additional questions can be answered when scheduling your appointment.

What other medical information about my cats and/or dogs will you need when I schedule an appointment?

Please let us know about any health issues, illnesses, diseases, injuries, or possible signs of a medical condition that may increase the risk of complications during or after spay/neuter surgery or that may increase the likelihood of a reaction to a vaccination, medication, or treatment. It is always best to take your cat or dog to your veterinarian for a wellness exam before your pet's spay/neuter appointment to ensure your animal is healthy enough for surgery. Remember, full physical exams are not performed at the clinic.

If your pet is in need of vaccinations or other services such as flea treatments, please let us know the last time your cat or dog received those services to ensure they are not performed too soon after the last time they were administered.

Can I bring a different cat or dog than the one I originally scheduled the appointment for?

On the day of the clinic, last minute changes such as this should be avoided whenever possible. If you need to bring a different animal, please contact us as soon as possible so that we can update the cat or dog's information in our system before the day of the clinic.

What Time Will My Appointment Be?

What time are spay/neuter surgery appointments?

Appointments for cat spay/neuter surgery at mega clinics are always in the morning, usually between 9:30am and 11:30am. Pick-up is usually between 7pm and 9pm that same evening; however, these times are subject to change.

Appointments for cat and dog spay/neuter surgery at mini clinics are always in the morning, usually between 9:00am and 10:30am. Pick-up is usually between 7pm and 9pm that same evening; however, these times are subject to change.

What time are vaccination/other services appointments?

Appointments for vaccinations/other services for cats and dogs at mega clinics are usually between 11:45am and 2:00pm. Remember, appointments are required for all services at the mega clinics.

Appointments for vaccinations/other services for cats and dogs at mini clinics are usually between 11am and 2:00pm. If you did not schedule an appointment in advance, you may bring your cats and/or dogs during our mini clinic walk-in hours from 1pm to 2pm for any clinic service except for spay/neuter surgery.

What if some of my cats and dogs need spay/neuter surgery and some just need vaccinations? Will their appointments be at the same time?

The animals who need spay/neuter surgery will be scheduled for morning appointments. We will most likely have you bring your other animals (that just need services) at the same time, and as soon as they are finished, they will go back home with you. You would then return later that day at your scheduled pick-up time to pick-up any animals that remained at the clinic their for spay/neuter surgeries.

Are appointments ever scheduled outside of these time slots?

In some instances, arrangements may be made for appointments outside of these time slots when needed and feasible.

How long will my appointment be?

The length of your appointment can vary. Please read through what to expect on the clinic day for more information regarding the length of your appointment.

How Do I Leave A Deposit? What If I Don't Use It?

What is the minimum deposit that I have to pay to reserve a clinic appointment?

You must pay a minimum of $20 for each cat and $50 for each dog that is being scheduled to get spayed/neutered at one of our clinics. You do not need to leave deposits for cats and dogs being scheduled to receive services other than spay/neuter surgery.

So, for example, if you are scheduling 2 cats to be fixed and vaccinated, you would need to pay a deposit of at least $40 ($20 x 2 cats getting fixed = $40).

But, if you are just scheduling 1 cat to be fixed and vaccinated and 1 cat to receive vaccinations only, you would need to pay a deposit of at least $20 ($20 x 1 cat getting fixed = $20, no deposit needed for the cat receiving vaccinations only).

Any remaining balance due for spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and/or other services will be due at check-in on the day of the clinic.

Can I pay more than the minimum deposit? Or can I pay in full in advance?

Yes. We encourage caregivers to pay in full in advance for all services for faster service on the day of the clinic. Furthermore, we accept CASH ONLY at the clinics for the remaining balance due. So, if you want to pay for clinic services with your credit card, you must pay in advance. Credit card payments are not accepted at the clinics.

What payment methods do you accept for deposits?

Deposits may be paid via Visa, Mastercard, or Discover. In special circumstances, money orders may be mailed to CSTAR, or arrangements can be made for you to drop off a cash deposit. Checks are not accepted.

Are deposits refundable?

NO. Deposits are NOT refundable. CSTAR incurs expenses related to appointment scheduling as well as veterinary costs based on the number of scheduled animals, and the deposits help ensure these costs are covered; therefore, they can not be refunded.

Can deposits transfer to a future clinic?

YES. Deposits may be able to be transferred to a future clinic if you need to reschedule your appointment. Please read through our rescheduling FAQs for more information.

Can deposits be combined at the clinic if one of my cats or dogs doesn't come?

NO. Deposits may NOT be combined. CSTAR incurs veterinary costs for each reserved spay/neuter appointment, and the deposits help cover these costs.

So, for example, if you schedule an appointment for 2 cats, Oreo and Fluffy, to be fixed for $55 each, and you prepay 2 $25 deposits, but only Oreo comes to the clinic, you will have a balance due for Oreo of $30 ($55 total - $25 deposit = $30 balance due). You will be able to transfer the remaining $25 deposit from Fluffy to a future clinic.

Remember, you'll need to call to reschedule Fluffy's appointment. The appointment will NOT be rescheduled automatically.

Can my deposit be applied to a different cat or dog at a future clinic?

YES. While deposits can't be combined if an animal is unable to attend the clinic, you can use the transferring deposit at a future clinic for a different cat or dog in your care.

So, in the example above, if you had a third cat, Rocky, who you decide you would like to fix next instead of Fluffy, you can schedule an appointment for the next clinic for Rocky, and you can apply the deposit originally left for Fluffy toward Rocky's appointment.

Can my deposit be transferred to another caregiver?

NO. Deposits cannot be transferred from one caregiver to another.

What If I Need To Reschedule My Appointment?

What if I am unable to attend the clinic? What happens to my deposit?

If something changes and you know that you won't be able to bring your cat or dog for your scheduled appointment, and if you call us at (856) 208-SPAY BEFORE the clinic and leave us a message regarding rescheduling, your deposit can be transferred to a future Spay Our Strays Clinic.

If you're unable to attend the clinic for one of the following reasons, and if you call us ASAP at (856) 208-SPAY and leave us a message regarding rescheduling, your deposit may be able to be transferred to a future Spay Our Strays Clinic.

An urgent or emergent situation arises just before the clinic
Your cat or dog is not healthy enough, big enough, or old enough for surgery or other scheduled services, or
If your appointment is for a stray or feral cat that you were not able to catch

For all other situations, or if you don't call us and leave us a message regarding rescheduling, your deposit will be forfeited and will not be able to be transferred to a future clinic.

Please make sure that you leave your name and phone number when you leave us a message regarding rescheduling your appointment, and one of our volunteers will be in touch to reschedule your appointment for a future clinic. Please note, if you call within a few days of the clinic to reschedule, it may take up to a week to receive a call back as our volunteers are extremely busy during the days just before and after the clinic.

Do I have to call to reschedule my appointment, or will my appointment automatically be rescheduled? Will my deposit automatically transfer to the next clinic?

You must call us at (856) 208-SPAY if you want to reschedule your appointment and to request that your deposit be transferred. We do NOT automatically reschedule you for our next clinic.

Do I have any other options for my deposit if I can't make my clinic appointment?

Please read through our deposit FAQs for more information regarding deposits.

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