Animal Mission is a private, 501(c)(3) charitable organization based in Columbia SC. Originally formed in 1991 as a “Friends of the Shelter” type organization in support of our local municipal shelter, we redirected our efforts in 2006 to focus on funding affordable and accessible spay and neuter services for pet owners in Richland County SC. In the years since, we have also been able to introduce additional programs supporting the shelter and pet owners in our community. We are governed by a volunteer board of directors and managed a full-time paid Executive Director. We rely solely on public donations and fundraising events to support our work, and we receive no government funding. We are proud to be recognized as a certified Platinum organization by Candid/Guidestar, and our financials are independently audited each year. Since launching our voucher program, we have provided over 61,000 free or reduced cost spay and neuter procedures to pets in our community.
Animal Mission is not a clinic, and we do not provide services directly. Our vouchers are available to Richland and Lexington County residents to provide significant discounts on the cost of spaying and neutering their pets. Our vouchers are accepted at over 25 participating veterinarians throughout the Midlands, and there’s no limit to the number of vouchers you may receive for pets in your household.
Vouchers are welcomed at the three high-volume clinics in our area (The Humane Society, Pawmetto Lifeline, and Pets Inc) as well as dozens of private practices (please see the current list on our Spay/Neuter page). If you don’t see your preferred veterinarian on this list, please let us know! We’re always excited to welcome new providers to the program, and will be happy to reach out to them with information on how to participate.
Until November of 2022, our program was limited to pet owners in Richland County only, however we have expanded our coverage area to include Lexington County as well with a limited number of vouchers on a first-come, first-serve basis. We hope to be able to secure sufficient funding to commit to a permanent, unlimited program in Lexington. If you would like to help fully fund a program for Lexington residents, please donate here.
The Humane Society of SC often has additional grants, subsidies, and rebates available for counties outside of our coverage area. Please contact them to see if you qualify. Your county’s animal shelter, Humane Society, or private rescue groups are also good resources for low cost spay and neuter information. If you would like assistance finding resources in your area, please email us at info@animalmission.org.
You’ll need to contact your preferred provider directly to reserve an appointment. A deposit may be required upon booking, however if this presents a hardship or would prevent you from being able to schedule your appointment, please contact us and we will be glad to help. At this time, many clinics are booking appointments 6 or more weeks out, so please plan ahead. Once you know your appointment date, you can pick up a voucher or request one online. Most vets recommend waiting until your pet is at least 8 weeks old before spaying/neutering. Check with your veterinarian for their policies and age requirements.
Yes – most vets are happy to add on any additional services requested, including nail trims, microchipping, vaccinations, heartworm testing, or other diagnostic services. Additional fees are not covered by our vouchers.
You will contact the veterinary office that performed the procedure, unless your concern is related to your voucher or discount.
Together, we're working to address the root cause of pet overpopulation and neglect.
