OUR HISTORY

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Altered Tails was founded in 2003 with a mission of providing affordable and accessible spay and neuter services. We began our journey by offering services through a mobile clinic that would travel to underserved communities in the metro Phoenix area where many residents had no means of transportation. 

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In 2007, local philanthropists Bea and Dick Barnhart donated the building at 950 W. Hatcher Road, honoring their love for Princess and their passion for spay and neuter. Their generosity helped open our first stationary clinic and it was named the Altered Tails Barnhart Clinic in their honor.  The doors to the new clinic opened in 2009 and by 2012, Altered Tails had become the first and only Humane Alliance-certified clinic in Arizona with spay and neuter surgeries topping 8,000, annually.

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In 2013, the Mesa clinic was opened to expand the reach of services, and the  two clinics performed more than 17,000 surgeries by the end of 2014.  The W.A.G.S. (Wheels for Animals Getting Spayed/Neutered) program was launched a year later, designed to provide transport assistance for pet owners without the means of getting the animal to the clinic for surgery.

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Today, Altered Tails provides services for owned pets, rescue organizations preparing their animals for adoption and groups practicing Trap Neuter Return with free-roaming cats.  We remain committed to offering high-quality services at an affordable price. In August 2024, Altered Tails made the decision to downsize and focus solely on its original location, in Phoenix.  
Since 2003, more than 225,000 dogs and cats have been sterilized by Altered Tails.