White and Black Cat

About The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation

The Companion Animal Clinic Foundtion (CACF) is a volunteer organization dedicated to eliminating the euthanasia of abandoned and unwanted animals in central North Carolina throuogh affordable spay/neuter opportunities. CACF specifically supports the Sandhills Spay/Neuter Veterinary Clinic (SNVC), thus making it possible for surgeries to be affordable to pet owners needing financial assistance, rescue groups, and county animal control groups. CACF owns and maintains the clinic building in Vass, NC and all the surgical equipment. The practice is owned by a team of veterinarians who take no salary. The surgeries are done by several expert veterinarians who are paid by the practice per diem, and they are assisted by a loyal staff of salaried vet techs and kennel assistants. Everything is held together by the practice manager. It took some time and work to get the balance just right, but it is now very effective. As the balance continues to grow and become self-sufficient, CACF has long range plans to purchase and staff a mobile surgical unit to help the more remote rural areas of central North Carolina.

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Animal control intake numbers escalate on average by 13% yearly. The consequence is a constant increase in the number of euthanized adoptable dogs and cats. The more rural and less affluent counties exhibit larger intake at animal control facilities and experience significantly higher euthanasia rates. Four of the counties in the CAC Foundation area fall into the lowest percentile in the State in their respective populations living at or below the poverty level.

Affordable spay/neuter both helps in reducing companion animal overpopulation and saves communities valuable tax dollars. In our operating area, counties spend from two to three times the cost of a spay/neuter to euthanize a companion animal because there are simply not enough adoption options to address the increasingly large numbers of animals surrendered to animal control agencies.

To address the insidious problem of near geometric growth in companion animal euthanasia, the founders of CAC met and planned during 2004‐2005 with local veterinary practitioners, veterinary academic experts and practitioners from the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University to assess and determine the needs for an affordable spay/neuter veterinary operation in this area. After careful research, operational planning and financial analysis, application was made to the State of North Carolina and the Internal Revenue Service to issue charitable corporation status to the CACF.

Companion Animal Clinic Foundation Timeline

2005

In 2005, 501c3 status was granted to the CAC Foundation by the Internal Revenue Service to function as an organization that supports the provision of low cost spays, neuters and ancillary activities. An affiliation with the Humane Alliance in Asheville and the spay/neuter clinics through the College of Veterinary Medicine at N.C. State University under the direction of Dr. Kelli Ferris, provided knowledge and understanding of the operational needs for such a facility. An anonymous donor provided a rent free facility for the clinic which provided the impetus to undertake a successful campaign that provided funding for renovation and equipping the building as a special purpose veterinary clinic dedicated to spay and neuter.

2006

CAC held their first fundraising event at the Pinehurst Fair Barn

2007

The Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic of the Sandhills (the “SNVC”) grand opening in Vass. In its first year of operation, the SNVC performed over 4,200 spay or neuter surgeries for the initial nine county service area.

2008

By the end of 2008, the SNVC was performing at the rate of over 40 surgeries a day for individuals and groups from all nine counties

2012

By December 2012, 30,000 spay/neuter surgeries were provided at the SNVC and the coverage area expanded from nine counties to eleven counties in Central NC.

2016

With the mortgage pay off in January 2016 on the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic building, more funds for capital improvements and support were made possible. Since the initial remodel of the par 3 golf shop into the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic (2005- 2007) service has been expanded from nine counties to eleven counties. Capital improvements (2008- 2017) include adding a third surgery room and equipment, new roof, insulation to the attic with HVAC improvements, office and kitchen and dog wet area remodeling, painting, signage enhancements, and fencing of the back yard to secure intake for animal groups.The SNVC was awarded a PetSmart©Charities grant in 2016 for specific categories of surgery which enhanced their ability to expand service to the community. This grant provided surgery for puppies, kittens, feral cats, and support for individuals with financial constraints spring/summer 2016.

2017

In early 2017 we replaced a surgery table and surgery lights in one of the original surgery suites and added a water distiller and larger capacity hot water heater. Social media and website improvements have significantly improved communication and ease of use for our clients at the Clinic. In Spring 2017, the surgery staff expanded with full time surgeon, which enabled the SNVC to respond to the demand for service and reduce the wait time to continue offering affordable spay/neuter at the SNVC.

2018

The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation received four new grants in 2018 for updates and equipment for the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass, NC.

  • We were awarded the funds for a patient warming bed from Moore County Community Foundation.
  • We were awarded the funds to refurbish the prep room from the DJ&T Foundation.
  • We were awarded the funds to cover replacement equipment from The Lauretta Boyd Charitable Trust.
  • We were awarded funds to assist in spay and neuter services from Moore County Kennel Club.

2019

A reassessment of the operational model suggested that the assets and goals of CACF would be better served if the clinic (SNVC) returned to its original model for having the owners be non salaried.

2020

During the Covid lock down, Deborah Wilson took on a major renovation of the clinic building. The renovations enhanced the safety of both animals and people by creating a cleaner building, a better air exchange system, and more distancing of animals and clients.

2021

The clinic building reopened January 19, 2021. Despite being closed for the first 19 days of the year and having another Covid scare prompt a short shut down, the clinic is increasing the number of animals “fixed.”

2022

Early in the year we hit a huge milestone by purchasing a mobile surgical unit — a longtime goal. By the end of the year we had completed 88,000 surgeries.

It costs substantially more to spay or neuter than the service fee Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic of the Sandhills charges. The SNVC operates at a serious cash loss. Fortunately, the CAC Foundation provides funds to subsidize the SNVC. The SNVC provides services for animal welfare groups, county animal control agencies, and individual pet owners who cannot afford a private veterinarian’s spay or neuter service. An average spay costs about $110.00 and an average neuter costs around $60.00 to perform.

The SNVC charges substantially less than these costs so that the mission of reducing euthanasia of companion animals can be met. Animal control facilities that utilize the SNVC report a decrease in intake numbers. It will still take several years to drastically reduce animal over‐population in the operating area, but after four years there is already a recognizable impact.

Supporters

Foundation Grant Support

    • Alley Cat Rescue
    • Amy Bresky-Schwab Charitable Trust
    • ASPCA
    • Best Friends Network Partner
    • Bissell Pet Foundation
    • Build-A-Bear Foundation
    • Charles C. Kane & Annie Eldridge Family Fund
    • DJ&T Foundation
    • George D. Patterson Fund
    • Hoke County Humane Society
    • The Lauretta Boyd Charitable Trust
    • Lloyd Kelly Foundation
    • McKissick Family Foundation
    • Moore County Kennel Club
    • North Carolina Community Foundation
    • On Shore Foundation
    • Peter and Nancy Doubleday Foundation
    • PetSmart Charities
    • Richard J. Reynolds III & Marie M. Reynolds Foundation
    • Ruth Camp Campbell Foundation (Olive Johnson)

Thank you for the generosity of many family foundations, annual donors, events sponsors and anonymous contributors.Become a Donor


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Education About the Benefits of Spaying or Neutering Your Pet

U.S. Animal Control Statistics

Dogs Euthanized in Shelters 60%
Cats Euthanized in Shelters 75%
Dogs and Cats Adopted from Shelters 25%

An estimated 6-8 million homeless animals enter shelters each year in the U.S.

Benefits of Spaying or Neutering your Pet

For Your Pet

  • Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live longer, healthier lives.
  • Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of health problems that can be very difficult or expensive to treat.
  • Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer and greatly reduces the incidence of breast cancer, particularly when your pet is spayed before her first estrous cycle.
  • Neutering eliminates testicular cancer and decreases the incidence of prostate disease.

For You

  • Spaying and neutering makes pets better, more affectionate companions.
  • Neutering cats makes them less likely to spray and mark territory.
  • Spaying a dog or cat eliminates her heat cycle. Estrus lasts an average of six to 12 days, often twice a year, in dogs and an average of six to seven days, three or more times a year, in cats. Females in heat can cry incessantly, show nervous behavior, and attract unwanted male animals.
  • Unsterilized animals often exhibit more behavior and temperament problems than do those who have been spayed or neutered.
  • Spaying and neutering can make pets less likely to bite.
  • Neutering makes pets less likely to roam the neighborhood, run away, or get into fights.

For the Community

  • Communities spend millions of dollars to control unwanted animals.
  • Irresponsible breeding contributes to the problem of dog bites and attacks.
  • Animal shelters are overburdened with surplus animals.
  • Stray pets and homeless animals get into trash containers, defecate in public areas or on private lawns, and frighten or anger people who have no understanding of their misery or needs. Some stray animals also scare away or kill birds and wildlife

Helpful Links

* By listing the organizations above, we are not endorsing or promoting any of these groups in particular, but they are educational organizations that provide educational information.

Companion Animal Clinic Foundation (CAC) is a volunteer organization dedicated to eliminating the euthanasia of abandoned and unwanted animals in our region through affordable spay/neuter.

CAC Foundation supports the Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic in Vass, NC by subsidizing the difference between the service fee and the “real” cost of the spay/neuter operation.

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Contact Info:

Companion Animal Clinic Foundation Foundation & Donation Information:
(910) 916-5577

Clinic Information & Surgery Appointments:
(910) 725-8188

info@companionanimalclinic.org
P.O. Box 148
Southern Pines, NC 28388

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