Spay/Neuter Incentive Program (S.N.I.P.)

Spaying (female) and neutering (male) are surgical procedures performed by a veterinarian to remove a dog or cat’s reproductive organs. The pets are then unable to breed.

• Spay/Neuter will increase your dog/cat’s chance of a longer, healthier life by reducing cancer risk.
• Spaying/Neutering your dog/cat reduces his/her likelihood to roam, spray/mark (cats), or have aggressive behaviors.
• One unaltered dog/cat and his/her offspring can produce thousands of puppies/kittens in a lifetime.
• There are more cats/dogs than available homes. Spay/Neuter ensures that your pet will not contribute to the number of pets in shelters yearly.

Yes, when an animal is in heat, they follow its natural instincts and can escape from your home/leash to gain access to other animals.

No, your dog or cat may be less likely to exhibit certain behaviors like humping, spraying/marking, aggression, and roaming, but his/her personality will not change.

No, this is a myth! Pets who are spayed before their first heat are typically healthier.

• First, please review the qualifications on our website both for you and your pet. If you believe both you and your pet qualify for SNIP, click the corresponding orange button to submit an application for your dog or cat.
• Please read all application questions carefully and answer clearly and fully to the best of your ability. Missed or inaccurate information or typos may impact your approval and/or wait time. Please Note: Pay careful attention to the ‘Thank You’ screen after submitting your application. If your application is denied at the point of submission, this screen may be your only notification. All other applications will be reviewed in the order received. All communication for SNIP is delivered through email. Please verify that your email address is correct. Lollypop Farm is not responsible for failed email communications; you must confirm your email address and monitor your email closely.
• It may take a week or more to review your application. After review, your application will either be approved, denied, or placed on hold. If your application is placed on hold, you will receive follow-up questions via email; please answer them carefully and thoroughly. If your application is denied, you will receive an explanation through email. If your application is approved, you will receive notification that your pet has been added to our waitlist and an estimated wait time before you can schedule your pet’s procedure.
• When your pet reaches the top of our waitlist, you will be notified via email that you may schedule their appointment. Please read the email closely for important scheduling information. You will have two weeks from the date of notification to select an appointment date. If you do not schedule your appointment by the listed expiration date, you will need to submit your application again to rejoin the waitlist.
• To schedule your appointment, follow the instructions in your scheduling email and utilize our online scheduler. When submitting your appointment request, you will pay a non-refundable deposit by credit or debit card to secure an appointment ($25 for cats and $75 for dogs). Your deposit will be applied toward the cost of your services; your balance will be paid via credit or debit card on the morning of your appointment. Cancellation or failure to arrive for your appointment will result in the forfeit of your deposit.
• Your appointment request will be reviewed and confirmed, denied, or held for more info. Please watch your email and telephone closely for communications about your appointment request.
• After your appointment has been confirmed, you will receive detailed instructions via email regarding procedures and necessary paperwork to be completed prior to your appointment. Read this information very carefully to ensure a smooth appointment day.
• All SNIP services are facilitated curbside and require waiting in your vehicle prior to intake. On the day of your appointment, you will drop your pet off with a trusted team member curbside in the morning (7:30 AM for cats, 8:00 AM for dogs) and collect them in the afternoon (3:00 PM for cats, 3:15 PM for dogs). SNIP does not have a publicly accessible entrance or waiting area. Please plan to wait at least half an hour for intake after checking in.
• Post-operative instructions will be provided via email the day before and the day of your pet’s surgery. Please expect your pet to take two weeks to heal fully.

• Yes! Please submit a separate application for each pet you wish to have serviced through SNIP. Applications containing multiple animals will be denied.

• Please submit a separate application for each pet.

• Cats must be at least four months old, and dogs must be at least three months old to qualify for SNIP. Cats under four months and dogs under three months do not qualify for SNIP. Do not apply before your pet qualifies for SNIP.

• You may apply, but please note your application may be denied if our current waitlist does not allow us to service your pet before they reach our maximum age. Pets must be under six years of age both at the time of application AND the time of surgery to be eligible for SNIP.

• To ensure equitable access to services, we are unable to expedite any application over another. All applications are offered scheduling in the order received. If you require expedited service, please view our listing of alternative spay & neuter resources in the region here or contact your full-service veterinarian to explore other options for having your pet spayed or neutered.

• Qualifications are occasionally updated. Our current qualifications are listed on our website. We are unable to offer spay/neuter services for individuals who do not meet the qualifications for the SNIP program.

• We do not offer spay/neuter services for owned animals outside of the SNIP program. Please view our listing of alternative spay & neuter resources in the region here or contact your full-service veterinarian to explore options for having your pet spayed or neutered.

• We strive to review applications within a week of submission, but this time may vary based on demand and staffing. All applications are reviewed in the order received. There is tremendous demand for SNIP; we appreciate your patience as we work to service all applicants equitably.

• Applications may be denied for a variety of reasons. Please refer to the communication you received indicating that your application was denied for details.

• If you have an approved application, please reply directly to your approval email to check your position on the waitlist. If you are unsure if your application has been approved or accidentally deleted your approval email, you may call and leave a message on the SNIP line at (585) 223-1330 ext. 170. Please clearly state your name, phone number, and pet’s name in your message. Your call will be returned as soon as possible.

• Our estimated wait time changes periodically. Please refer to our website and/or your approval email for our current estimates. Please note that wait times are estimates only and may vary based on demands and staffing; while we do our best to provide accurate wait times, we are unable to guarantee a specific timeline for your pet. If you require a specific timeframe for spay or neuter, please contact your full-service veterinarian and/or view our listing of alternative spay & neuter resources in the region here to explore other options for surgery.

• You will be notified directly via email when your pet reaches the top of our waitlist and you may schedule their appointment. All communication for SNIP comes through email; you will not receive a call. Please ensure you have added snip@lollypop.org to your email provider’s safe senders list to ensure you do not miss important communications, such as your scheduling opportunity. You will have two weeks from the date of notification to select an appointment date. If you do not schedule by the end of those two weeks, your application will be purged. Lollypop Farm is not responsible for missed email communications. Ensure you monitor your email closely for updates.

• All SNIP appointments include spay or neuter surgery with anesthesia and pain medicine, rabies and distemper (DAPP/FVRCP) vaccinations, a general pre-operative exam, and a nail trim.

• Available optional services/products are a Serresto collar (eight months of flea & tick protection) for $70.19 and microchipping, topical 30-day flea & tick treatment (Frontline), or deworming (Drontal) for $10 additional dollars each. You may also choose to have your pet sent home with an e-collar (cone) for an additional $5. You must request additional services prior to your appointment.

• SNIP at Lollypop Farm is an HVHQ (high volume/high quality) spay & neuter program and is not equipped or staffed to provide additional services. For guidance on having other procedures performed, please contact your full-service veterinarian.

• SNIP at Lollypop Farm is an HVHQ (high volume/high quality) spay & neuter program and is not equipped or staffed to provide additional services or diagnose medical conditions. The preoperative examination that is performed prior to surgery is a broad examination to determine obvious conditions that may complicate anesthesia or surgery and is not a full wellness examination. For guidance on having other procedures performed, please contact your full-service veterinarian.

• While some veterinarians prefer to wait until an animal is no longer in heat, the nature of the SNIP program does not allow us the same flexibility in scheduling found at full-service veterinary facilities. Our veterinarians and staff are experienced and comfortable with spaying animals in heat.

• We have over 1000 active applications at any given time, in addition to general inquiries and concerns regarding other programs available at Lollypop Farm. As such, we field a very large number of calls daily. We understand that your pet‘s well-being is your top priority, and strive to respond to voicemail messages and emails as promptly as possible, but please understand all calls are triaged to ensure prompt response to more emergent situations. To reach us by phone, please leave a voicemail message at (585) 223-1330 x170 with your name, your pet’s name, your phone number, and your question, and a SNIP program representative will reach out to you shortly. You may reach out by email to snip@lollypop.org. If you are emailing regarding an already submitted application, please REPLY to your previous message for a faster response.

• There are generally no issues with another individual transporting your pet so long as all necessary paperwork and payments are completed prior to your appointment. Please see your appointment confirmation email for details regarding the necessary paperwork and timelines for completion. Please ensure the individual transporting your pet has access to or is aware of the location for drop off, the phone number for intake and discharge, and our curbside intake and discharge procedures. This information is available in your appointment confirmation email.

• Please do not feed your pet after midnight the night before your appointment; free access to water is fine. If your pet has free access to food bowls, please take those bowls up no later than midnight to remove access. If you have other pets in your home that share food dishes, you may isolate your pet in a room that does not have access to food bowls or remove access to food for all of your pets. Despite what they may tell you, most pets can go without access to food for this amount of time without any impact on their health! This information is available in your appointment confirmation email.
• If your pet takes any medications or is experiencing any acute medical issues, please contact us as soon as possible prior to your surgery to discuss if it is safe to proceed.

• SNIP at Lollypop Farm is an HVHQ (high volume/high quality) spay & neuter program and is not equipped or staffed to provide additional services or diagnose medical conditions. The preoperative examination that is performed prior to surgery is a broad examination to determine obvious conditions that may complicate anesthesia or surgery and is not a full wellness examination. For guidance on having other procedures performed, please contact your full-service veterinarian.

• Payment is due on the morning of your appointment. You will receive an email on the morning of your appointment containing a link to our payment portal which will allow you to make payment on the remaining balance for your appointment. Payment may be made via credit or debit card only. We do not accept cash, checks, or money orders.

• Payment links are available on the morning of your appointment. You will receive an email on the morning of your appointment containing a link to our payment portal that will allow you to make payment on the remaining balance for your appointment. Many clients do receive these emails while transporting their pet; you may check your email after you have parked for check-in, or if you do not have access to your email, we will make arrangements to take your payment over the phone at check-in. Payment may be made via credit or debit card only. We do not accept cash, checks, or money orders.

• Pricing for SNIP program services is available on our website, in your approval email, and in your scheduling email. Your total due is the amount of your requested services minus your $25/$75 deposit. As pricing may change, please refer to your scheduling and/or approval email for your pricing.

• We request that all cats come in their own carrier for ease of transport and comfort post-surgery.

• Please see your appointment confirmation email for details regarding the necessary paperwork and timelines for completion. You will receive an email notification of all completed paperwork and payments.

• While some veterinarians prefer to wait until an animal is no longer in heat, the nature of the SNIP program does not allow us the same flexibility in scheduling found at full-service veterinary facilities. Our veterinarians and staff are experienced and comfortable with spaying animals in heat.

• Call SNIP at (585) 223-1330 x170 as soon as possible to discuss your options. Cancellation of or failure to arrive for your appointment will forfeit your deposit. This program is in very high demand; please be considerate of others in need of services and do not schedule if you are unsure you will be able to keep your appointment. Repeated cancellations or no-shows may result in a removal of eligibility for future SNIP services.

• In addition to the signature line, there are five checkboxes that must be completed on the lower right-hand side of your consent form. If you are using a smartphone or tablet to sign, it is sometimes helpful to turn off your device’s rotation lock and turn your device sideways to view these checkboxes. You may wish to click the blue “guide me” button at the bottom of your consent form to highlight all sections that must be completed. When all necessary sections of your consent form have been completed, the blue “guide me” button at the bottom of your consent will change to a button that says “Send to clinic.” When you click this button, your consent form will be completed electronically, and you will receive an email confirmation that it has been completed.

• Rabies and DAPP/FVRCP vaccinations are included and required in all SNIP services. Once you have a scheduled appointment, please refer to your approval email for the email address to which you can send your pet’s vaccine records. Do not send records prior to scheduling your appointment. Please ensure vaccination records clearly show your pet’s name, your name, the name & license number of the administering veterinarian or facility, and the date the vaccine was administered and will expire. Please include your appointment date in your vaccine-proof email. Proof of vaccination must be provided electronically prior to your appointment date to have vaccines removed from your services; vaccines may not be removed electively.

• Cat intake begins at 7:30 AM, and dog intake begins at 8:00 AM. This information can also be found in your scheduling and confirmation emails as well as on the SNIP website. Please plan to arrive at your intake time. Intake may take up to 30 minutes; please be patient so that we can serve all of our clients and patients appropriately.

• Lollypop Farm is located at 99 Victor Road, Fairport, NY 14450. Veterinary Services is located at the BACK of the Lollypop Farm campus. Please follow the signs for incoming animals and keep the building on your right-hand side until you reach the parking area with numbered spots. This information, along with a small map, can also be found in your scheduling and confirmation emails. Once you have parked in a numbered parking spot, please remain in your vehicle and check your pet in.

• Once you have parked in a numbered parking spot, please remain in your vehicle and call or text (text preferred) our surgical intake and discharge line at (585) 204-0250 with your name, your pet’s name, and your parking spot number. If you call and we are unable to answer, please ensure you leave a voicemail message. We will verify your completed paperwork and payment, assist with any uncompleted steps, and collect your pet from your vehicle. Please do not remove your pet from your vehicle until directed to do so by a SNIP representative. This information can also be found in your scheduling & confirmation emails. Please note that our surgical intake and discharge line is not monitored routinely outside of intake and discharge hours and should only be utilized to check in for intake and discharge.

• We take the well-being of your pet and the trust you place in us to care for them very seriously. Our primary focus is always on providing exceptional care to our patients. With up to 50 surgeries daily, we are not staffed to provide individual updates to every owner, but will always reach out promptly by phone in the unlikely event of complications or concerns. No news is good news!

• Pets are monitored on our recovery floor until they wake up from their anesthesia and then are moved to a kennel until they are picked up in the afternoon. We continue to monitor your pet while kenneled to ensure they are recovering appropriately from anesthesia. They will be ready for discharge at your specified discharge time.

• Discharge times are 3:00 PM for cats and 3:15 PM for dogs. We ask that you respect these times to allow us to serve all of our clients and patients appropriately. Please plan to arrive at your discharge time. This information can also be found in your scheduling & confirmation emails, as well as on the SNIP website. In the rare event that your pet may leave early, we will contact you by phone as soon as possible. Please understand that each animal is a unique individual, and animals may occasionally have different responses and recovery times. In the extremely unlikely event that your pet is not medically cleared to leave at your specified discharge time, we will work with you to accommodate your schedule and discharge your pet when it is safe to do so. While we appreciate the inconvenience of having to make multiple trips to our facility, our first priority will always be the well-being of your pet.

• Please ensure your contact information is accurate and monitor your phone closely throughout the day. We may need to reach out with additional information and concerns, and it will be important that we are able to reach you in the unlikely event of an emergency. Please ensure your voicemail is set up and not full.
• Leaving other pets at home for drop off and pick up. The high level of activity during SNIP intake and discharge can be extremely stimulating to pets, and additional animals can add unnecessary stress for our patients. Animals being discharged may be nauseous or uncomfortable from anesthesia and surgery and should be given time alone to rest and recover before rejoining their friends for play. Additional pets can also limit our ability to safely transfer our patients from your care into ours and back and can distract from clear communication of important information.
• Leaving special items- blankets, toys, etc.- at home. Personal effects sent in with pets may become soiled or lost; Lollypop Farm is not responsible for the condition or return of personal items.
• Communicate any challenges in completing paperwork or necessary steps as soon as possible prior to your appointment.
• Requesting any desired additional services prior to your appointment day.
• Submitting proof of vaccination prior to your appointment day if your pet is current on vaccines. Submitting proof of vaccination ahead of time also incurs a discount on your services! See your scheduling and confirmation emails for details.