VOCAL Ocala: Voices of Change Animal League
The low-cost spay and neuter clinic, vaccine clinics, pet adoptions and Project FEED pet food bank on SW 52nd Street in Ocala.
What Is VOCAL in Ocala?
VOCAL stands for Voices of Change Animal League. It is a nonprofit animal welfare organization in southwest Ocala whose stated mission is to solve the homeless pet problem in Marion County through prevention, community outreach, adoption and collaboration. Its website and online store use the name VOCAL for Pets (vocalforpets.org).
Linda Norman, Lauren Carpenter and Kate Rengel founded VOCAL in 2015 with a plan to open a low-cost spay and neuter clinic for pet owners at every income level, rescue groups and the people who take in strays. Florida's Division of Corporations lists Voices of Change Animal League, Inc. as an active Florida not-for-profit corporation, filed Feb. 19, 2015, with its principal address at 6393 SW 52nd Street.
Today the VOCAL Community Clinic & Resource Center is the center of its work. VOCAL says the clinic sterilizes 5,000 cats and dogs a year and has added vaccine clinics, wellness care and specialty surgeries. Its stated priority is keeping pets with the families they already have, which is why the clinic and the pet food bank sit alongside its shelter, foster and adoption programs.
VOCAL is raising money for a campus expansion it calls the “Expanding Our Pawprint” capital campaign. Its published plan starts with a Welcome Center (exam rooms, a pet food pantry and meeting space), followed by an Intake & Recovery building for animals entering its care.
VOCAL Ocala at a Glance
What Programs and Services Does VOCAL Offer?
VOCAL groups its work into a community clinic, community outreach (including the pet food bank), and shelter, foster and adoption programs.
Low-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic
The VOCAL Community Clinic & Resource Center offers spay and neuter surgery for dogs, cats and feral cats, performed by licensed veterinarians with trained vet technicians. Each surgery includes a veterinary exam and pain medication, plus an e-collar for dogs. VOCAL says the clinic sterilizes 5,000 cats and dogs a year.
Vaccine & Wellness Clinics
Drive-thru vaccine clinics run weekly on Fridays unless VOCAL states otherwise, typically 8:30 to 11 a.m., with the owner waiting in the car. In-clinic wellness appointments are typically noon to 3 p.m. Registration is required, and each month’s schedule opens on the third Monday of the month before.
Project FEED Pet Food Bank
Project FEED gives pet food to Marion County families who need help, with pickup on Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. A separate rescue food warehouse, stocked weekly by Chewy from its Ocala distribution facility, supplies more than 70 nonprofit groups, according to VOCAL.
Low-Cost Procedures & TNR
Beyond spay and neuter, the clinic offers low-cost procedures and specialty surgeries and accepts cash, major credit cards and Scratchpay payment plans. For free-roaming cats, VOCAL’s trap-neuter-return team helps trap, fix and return community cats; VOCAL does not lend traps.
How Much Do VOCAL's Clinic Services Cost?
VOCAL posts its prices online. The figures below were listed on its appointment-booking page and vaccine clinic page in October 2026. Its separate clinic services page showed slightly different spay and neuter figures (for example, a $145 dog base price), so confirm the price when booking.
Spay & Neuter
| Dog spay or neuter (base price) | $144 |
| Dogs over 80 lbs | +$58 |
| Dogs in heat or pregnant | +$29 |
| Owned cat spay or neuter | $69 |
| Feral cat (includes rabies, ear tip, flea dose) | $40 |
| Deposit (credited to the surgery) | $20 |
Vaccine & Wellness Clinic
| Drive-thru exam (each animal) | $23 |
| In-clinic wellness exam | $52 |
| Dog DA2PPV (distemper/parvo) | $23 |
| Cat FVRCP | $21 |
| 1-year rabies (dog or cat) | $17 |
| 3-year rabies (proof of prior rabies) | $29 |
| Microchip | $23 |
The $20 spay and neuter deposit is credited to the surgery when the appointment is kept. VOCAL says the deposit exists because no-shows push back the surgery schedule for other clients. It also recommends that every pet keep a relationship with a private veterinarian; see our guide to veterinary services in Ocala.
How Can You Adopt a Pet from VOCAL?
VOCAL lists its adoptable cats and dogs on its website, with filters for species, age and sex. Walk-in adoption hours are every Wednesday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and meet and greets can also be scheduled by appointment. VOCAL describes its adoption process in four steps:
Submit an Application
Apply online through vocalforpets.org. VOCAL says the application carries no commitment if the animal turns out not to be the right fit.
Talk With an Adoption Counselor
Adoption counselors review the application, discuss the details with the applicant and answer questions.
Meet and Greet
If the counselor and applicant agree the animal and home could be a match, a meet and greet is held or scheduled.
Adoption Complete
If the pet and applicant are a good match, the adoption is completed.
For other shelters and rescues in the county, see our Ocala pet adoption guide.
Who Can Get Food From the VOCAL Pet Food Bank?
Project FEED (Food, Education, Encouragement and Direct Care) is VOCAL's pet food handout for Marion County residents who need help. Pickup is Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m., and VOCAL asks people to sign up through its website. To receive food:
- Show ID or proof of Marion County residency.
- Provide information about each pet, such as age and weight.
- Show that every pet is spayed or neutered, or in the process. VOCAL says it will help through its clinic and will not deny an application over the cost of surgery.
VOCAL does not ask for proof of income but asks people to take food only if they need it. The handout is not for rescues; 501(c)(3) rescues use a separate food warehouse program, which VOCAL said in October 2026 was not accepting new applications because of demand. VOCAL credits Chewy with supplying the warehouse each week from its Ocala distribution facility and says the food reaches more than 70 nonprofit groups and more than 600 community pet families.
How Can You Help or Volunteer at VOCAL?
VOCAL takes volunteer, foster and Youth Council applications on its website, and accepts donations online, including gifts to its capital campaign.
Volunteer
Listed roles include dog walker, shelter buddy (one-on-one time with a long-term resident), office buddy (taking a shelter dog to work for the day), facility maintenance and adoption team member.
Foster
VOCAL needs foster homes for dogs and cats. Fosters choose the type of animal, and VOCAL provides the veterinary care, food and supplies. Foster animals come from Marion County.
Youth Council
Founded in 2018, the VOCAL Youth Council is for Marion County middle and high school students, who help at adoption events, fundraisers, socialization and the clinic. VOCAL encourages a minimum 2.0 GPA.
Donate
VOCAL accepts donations through its website, and its 2025 Impact Report and capital campaign case statement are posted there for donors.
More ways to give locally are in our directory of Ocala nonprofits and charities.
What Should You Know Before Visiting VOCAL?
Location & Contact
Hours
Monday - Friday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday: 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Walk-in adoptions: Wednesday and Saturday, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM
Hours as listed on Google Maps; adoption hours from vocalforpets.org.
How We Checked This Guide
Programs, prices, adoption steps, food bank rules and phone numbers come from VOCAL's own website (vocalforpets.org: the home, founders, mission, clinic services, booking, vaccine clinic, adoption process, food bank, volunteer, contact and capital campaign pages). The address, hours and rating were checked against VOCAL's Google Maps listing, and the incorporation date and status against the Florida Division of Corporations (Sunbiz). All were checked on Oct. 15, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with VOCAL before booking.
AI tools helped gather the sources and draft this page; each fact was checked against those sources before publishing. Questions or corrections? Contact our team or read our editorial guidelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is VOCAL in Ocala?
VOCAL, the Voices of Change Animal League, is a nonprofit animal welfare group at 6393 SW 52nd St, Ocala, FL 34474. Founded in 2015 by Linda Norman, Lauren Carpenter and Kate Rengel, it runs a low-cost spay and neuter clinic, vaccine clinics, pet adoptions and the Project FEED pet food bank for Marion County.
What are VOCAL Ocala’s hours?
Google Maps lists VOCAL as open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, closed Sunday. Walk-in adoption hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Drive-thru vaccine clinics run on Fridays, typically 8:30 to 11 a.m.
How much does spay or neuter cost at VOCAL?
VOCAL’s booking page listed a $144 base price for a dog spay or neuter, $69 for an owned cat and $40 for a feral cat in October 2026, with added charges for dogs over 80 pounds or in heat or pregnant. A $20 deposit is required and is credited to the surgery. Prices include a veterinary exam and pain medication.
How do I adopt a pet from VOCAL?
Browse the adoptable cats and dogs on vocalforpets.org, then visit during walk-in adoption hours on Wednesdays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or submit the online application first. VOCAL says the application carries no commitment. Adoption counselors review it, talk with the applicant and schedule a meet and greet before the adoption is completed.
How do I get pet food from the VOCAL food bank?
Project FEED pickup is Tuesdays from 9 a.m. to noon and Thursdays from 4 to 6 p.m. Applicants show ID or proof of Marion County residency, share details about their pets, and all pets must be spayed or neutered or in the process. VOCAL does not ask for proof of income. The handout is not for rescues.
How can I volunteer or foster with VOCAL?
VOCAL takes a volunteer application on its website for roles such as dog walker, shelter buddy, office buddy, facility maintenance and adoption team member. Foster homes are also needed; VOCAL provides the veterinary care, food and supplies for foster pets. Middle and high school students in Marion County can apply to the VOCAL Youth Council.
What is VOCAL’s phone number?
The general line for VOCAL is (352) 289-0800 (info@vocalforpets.org). The clinic line for spay and neuter, vaccine and surgery questions is (352) 640-7387, written by VOCAL as 352-640-PETS (clinic@vocalforpets.org).
Where Can You Explore More?
Pet Adoption in Ocala
Shelters, rescues, and adoption events across Marion County
Veterinary Services in Ocala
Clinics, emergency care and equine vets
Pet-Friendly Ocala
Pet-friendly restaurants, stores, and activities
Dog Parks in Ocala
Off-leash parks and dog-friendly outdoor spaces
Nonprofits & Charities
Directory of nonprofit organizations in Marion County
Things to Do in Ocala
Activities, attractions, and events around Ocala
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VOCAL Ocala: clínica de esterilización, adopciones y banco de comida para mascotas
VOCAL (Voices of Change Animal League) es una organización sin fines de lucro en 6393 SW 52nd St, Ocala, FL 34474, fundada en 2015. Ofrece una clínica de esterilización a bajo costo, clínicas de vacunas en auto los viernes (normalmente de 8:30 a 11 a.m.) y adopciones sin cita los miércoles y sábados de 10 a.m. a 2 p.m. Su banco de comida Project FEED entrega alimento para mascotas a residentes del Condado de Marion los martes de 9 a.m. a 12 p.m. y los jueves de 4 a 6 p.m.; no se pide prueba de ingresos. Teléfono: (352) 289-0800; clínica: (352) 640-7387.