Our Story
Twenty years ago, a small group of visionaries (a retired veterinarian, an active vet, and a handful of dedicated citizens with guidance from the N.C. State College of Veterinary Medicine) banded together determined to create a solution to the endless stream of unwanted puppies, kittens, dogs, and cats in central North Carolina. We called ourselves the Companion Animal Clinic Foundation. Our vision was to create and support an affordable spay/neuter clinic that would serve low-income pet owners, 501c3 rescues and overburdened county shelters.
CACF was awarded non-profit status in 2006. We are a 100% volunteer organization. We get no government funding. We raise money through fundraising projects, grant writing and donations from individuals.
After several years of planning and fundraising, CACF opened the Sandhills Spay Neuter Clinic (SNVC) in 2007 in Moore County, N.C. CACF owns and maintains the SNVC clinic building and funds major building and equipment repairs. This substantial support enables the clinic to offer free or highly subsidized sterilization surgery to the groups named above. 97% of funds raised by CACF each year are passed through to SNVC to support surgery subsidies and equipment repair.
CACF Timeline
2005
501(c)3 status was granted to the CACF by the Internal Revenue Service to function as an organization that supports the provision of low cost spays, neuters and ancillary activities.
2006
CACF held 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 had been completed at the SNVC and the coverage area expanded from nine counties to eleven counties in Central NC.
2016
In January 2016, CACF paid off the mortgage for the Clinic building, opening up funds for capital improvements such as adding a third surgery room, more equipment, new roof, HVAC improvements, and remodeling enhancements.
SNVC was awarded a PetSmart© Charities grant for Surgery, enabling expanded service to the community.
2017
In Spring 2017, the Clinic’s surgery staff expanded with the hire of a full time surgeon, enabling a faster response to demand and reduced wait time. Additional improvements were made in the surgery suites. Social media and website improvements significantly improved communication and ease of use for clients at the Clinic.
2018
The Companion Animal Clinic Foundation received four new grants for updates and equipment for the Clinic. We were awarded funds for a patient warming bed, for the refurbishment of the prep room, replacement equipment, support for spay and neuter services.
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-19 lockdown, CACF 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 post-COVID on 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 continued to increase the number of animals “fixed.”
2022
Early in the year we achieved a major milestone by purchasing a mobile surgical unit—a longtime goal. By the end of the year we had completed 88,000 surgeries, edging closer to our goal of 100,000 spay and neuter surgeries.
2024
The Sandhills Spay Neuter Veterinary Clinic performed its 100,000th spay/neuter surgery! This long-time goal was performed on a feral cat who is now ready for adoption.