Why Rabies Shots Cost You More

If you take your dog or cat to the vet for a rabies shot, expect to pay $3 more than usual. Your vet is required to collect the surcharge to help fund the Delaware Spay and Neuter Fund. That money, along with $250,000 from the state, will help low-income people and communities pay to get dogs and cats spayed or neutered. The idea is to reduce the number of cats and dogs that need to be euthanized by controlling the population before they breed.

Why do we need it?

2002: 22,165 dogs and cats were received at the state's primary animal facilities; 12,659 were euthanized
2003: Of 24,510 received, 13,653 were euthanized
2004: Of 21,254 received, 13,067 were euthanized
2005: Of 21,062 received, 13,583 were euthanized

In four years, 52,962 cats and dogs were euthanized in Delaware.

Nobody wants to be in the euthanization business. People who work at animal shelters and with animal rescues genuinely love animals; they want what's best for each of them. But we can't have an animal population that's out of control and growing. Spaying or neutering your pet -- unless your a registered breeder -- is the smartest way to keep the populations in check. The fund will help more people to be able to afford to do that, so if you look at that way, $3 is a small price to pay.