The Illinois State Legislature is currently addressing a bill called the Animal Population Control Act which uses public funds to pay for spaying and neutering of pets. Basically, if you can't afford to fix your pet, your veterinarian can still perform the operation, and seek reimbursement from the State.

But not any veterinarian would be allowed to do this. Only those who agree to the State's terms, which is essentially a reduced fee.

My opinion is that the primary reason why pet owners don't get their pets spayed and neutered is because they are lazy. Not being able to afford the surgery is probably among the lesser reasons.

If the State is going to ask taxpayers to pony up for government-subsidized spaying and neutering, then I think that money would go further by contracting with one of those mobile spay/neuter clinics. These are those trucks converted into "rolling veterinary clinics". Emancipet is an example.

By taking the clinics to the people, you address the laziness factor. The mobile clinics travel around the state setting up week-long operations at pet supply stores, parks, kennels, neighborhoods, whereever people take their dogs to, and just do free fixings.

They could organize a "Bring Your Pet to Work Day", where employees at a work place bring their pets and leave them with the mobile clinic. At the end of the day, their pet is fixed. No cost, no hassel.