Item No.
1 TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
BY: JUDDY MONTENEGRO, INTERIM ASSISTANT TO THE CITY
MANAGER
DATE: SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION REGARDING A CAT SPAY AND NEUTER REBATE
PROGRAM
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City Council will discuss and consider approving a Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate Program. The program will offer residents the opportunity to receive a rebate of up to $200 to spay or neuter their household cats. The goal of the program is to help keep Downey’s pet community healthy and safe, as well as encourage responsible pet ownership.
RECOMMENDATION
That the City Council:
1. Discuss a Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate Program and provide staff with direction on the creation of such program within the City; and,
2. If approved, appropriate up to $20,000 from the General Fund - Fund Balance to implement a Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate program.
BACKGROUND
Spaying and neutering pets offers numerous benefits for animals, their owners, and the community at large. These medical procedures are important for preventing unplanned or unwanted litters, which help combat pet overpopulation. Unfortunately, nearly a million animals, primarily cats and dogs, are euthanized in the United States each year as a result of overpopulation.
More specifically, a single un-spayed female cat can produce multiple litters per year, and her offspring can begin to reproduce very quickly, leading to a rapid increase in cat populations. Spaying and neutering cats not only helps reduce the number of stray cats, it helps reduce other concerns related to stray cats, including injury, disease, and
CAT SPAY AND NEUTER REBATE PROGRAM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
PAGE 2
starvation. Further, studies have also shown that spayed and neutered cats actually tend to live longer and healthier lives.
Many communities experience issues with stray cats in their neighborhoods. In an effort to help deter this from occurring in the City and to maintain a healthy and safe pet community, Mayor Pro Tem Pemberton has requested a proposal for the creation of a Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate Program to assist residents with veterinary costs associated with these procedures.
ANALYSIS
City staff conducted research on similar Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate programs in other surrounding cities including Santa Fe Springs, Paramount, Norwalk, and Bell Gardens, and developed the following proposed program based on the information gathered.
The proposed program will provide one-time rebates of up to a $200 maximum for residents to help with the cost of spay and neuter procedures for their household cats.
However, Mayor Pro Tem Pemberton has indicated she would like the City Council to consider expanding the service to include feral cats as well. As indicated below, there an be several challenges to including feral cats in such a program.
When speaking to other cities about their respective programs, they specifically stated their programs only covered household cats due to:
1. Residents attempting to pick-up several stray/feral cats and apply for the program, which could result in exhausting funds fairly quickly;
2. Individuals attempting to spay or neuter a cat that may be perceived to be stray, but does in fact have an owner, creating liability issues;
3. Stray and feral cats do not necessarily have owners and most people are less likely to take them into their home, adopt them, and apply for the program;
4. Programs are not intended to encourage residents to go looking for stray/feral cats that could potentially be sick and carry diseases; and
5. Animal Hospitals/Veterinarian Clinics often only provide spay and neuter procedures to animals that have proper vaccinations (stray and feral cats typically are not vaccinated).
The proposed program eligibility criteria are as follows. Council may wish to augment this proposal based on its preferences.
• Applicant must be a resident of Downey;
• Household cat must reside at the address provided by the applicant;
CAT SPAY AND NEUTER REBATE PROGRAM
SEPTEMBER 9, 2025
PAGE 3
• Pet must have a valid pet license;
• Spay or Neuter procedure must be performed within the 60 days of application date;
• Procedure must be performed at a licensed Animal Hospital or Veterinarian Clinic;
• Applicant must provide an invoice or receipt from the facility where the Spay or Neuter procedure was performed;
• Applicant will be responsible for any costs in excess of the $200 rebate amount; • Rebates limited to one Spay or Neuter procedure per household; and • The rebate will not cover any optional costs or services associated with the Spay and Neuter procedure.
The Cat Spay and Neuter Program will be offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to residents. Rebates will be available until program funding is expended. Applications will be available in hard copy at the City Manager’s Office, as well as on the City’s website.
Once received, applications will be reviewed for program consistency to determine eligibility. If the program is approved, staff will work with the City’s Public Information division to advertise the program and launch October 1, 2025.
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Quality of Life, Safety & Infrastructure
Public Engagement
FISCAL IMPACT
Approval of the recommended action will result in an appropriation of up to $20,000 from the General Fund – Fund Balance to General Fund City Council Division, Account # 10- 4-1110-0140.
ATTACHMENT
Attachment A: Cat Spay and Neuter Rebate Program Application
1 CITY OF DOWNEY
CAT SPAY AND NEUTER REBATE PROGRAM APPLICATION
The City of Downey is providing one-time security rebates of up to $200 maximum for residents to help with the cost of spay and neuter procedures for their household cats. The rebate program is offered on a first-come, first-serve basis to residents. Rebates are available until program funding is expended.
ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA:
• Applicant must be a resident of Downey
• Household cat must reside at the address provided by the applicant • Pet must have a valid pet license
• Spay or Neuter procedure must be performed within the 60 days of application date • Procedure must be performed at a licensed Animal Hospital or Veterinarian Clinic • Applicant must provide an invoice or receipt from the facility where the Spay or Neuter procedure was performed
• Applicant will be responsible for any costs in excess of the $200 rebate amount • Rebates will be limited to one Spay or Neuter procedure per household • The rebate will not cover any optional costs or services associated with the Spay and Neuter procedure
Applications may be submitted during normal operating business hours Monday through Friday from 7:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. Applications are also accepted by mail. Please mail or drop-off applications to:
Downey City Hall – City Manager’s Office, 11111 Brookshire Ave, Downey, CA 90241, or emailed to [email protected].
Please make sure the following documentation is submitted with your application:
____ Copy of current ID/Driver’s License for proof of Downey residency ____ Copy of itemized vet invoice showing procedure completed ____ Copy of Pet License
GENERAL INFORMATION:
First Name: _____________________________ Last Name: _______________________________
Address: _________________________________________________________________________
Pet License Number: ____________________________
Resident Phone Number: _________________________
Email: ________________________________________
ATTACHMENT A
2 SPAY/NEUTER PET INFORMATION:
Pet Name Date of
Surgery
Name of Animal
Hospital/Veterinarian
Clinic
Veterinarian’s
Phone Number
Cost of
Procedure
APPLICANT AFFIRMATION:
I ___________________________________ certify that I am the pet owner and resident of Downey, and that the above surgical procedure was completed on the pet listed above, and that all the information provided on this application is accurate. I have read and fully understand the eligibility guidelines and have included all the necessary information and documentation required to process this rebate. I understand my application approval is contingent on review.
Signature: ____________________________________ Date: ______________________________
DOWNEY STAFF ONLY:
Date Received:
Received by:
Date Processed:
Processed by:
Approved: YES/NO
Total Eligible Rebate Amount: