COMMUNITY ANIMAL MEDICINE PROJECT INC

To date, as the largest non-profit spay neuter organization in California, CAMP has proudly spayed and neutered nearly 275,000 animals at our three clinics in South LA, San Pedro, and Mission Hills. CAMP offers our services where pets need us the most: in low income communities where we can make a significant impact on shelter relinquishment rates and provide a compassionate and systematic solution to reduce economic euthanasia.

Our vision is to ensure that spay and neuter services are affordable and accessible to all local pet owners and to create an environment in which animal shelters no longer rely on euthanizing animals as a way of controlling pet population. Our wellness clinics make basic veterinary care accessible and affordable, preventing pets from being deprived of needed medical care due to the financial constraints of their families.
As the largest nonprofit spay and neuter animal welfare organization in California, we are able to significantly reduce shelter intake in Los Angeles and offer a systematic solution to the heartbreaking number of pets euthanized in local shelters. In May 2008, our first permanent clinic location opened in Pico Rivera. This success was soon followed by the launch of our San Pedro location in May 2009 and our Van Nuys location in July 2010. In just seven years, we spayed and neutered 150,000 pets. In 2015, SNP LA spayed and neutered over 21,000 pets and we are on track to provide services for another 20,000 pets in need this year.
Our Wellness Program, launched in 2012 at our Pico Rivera clinic, has already made a striking impact in the local community. Last year, we saw patients for a wide range of health issues including: dental cleaning, de-worming, eye conditions, and infections. We have also expanded the Wellness Program to San Pedro and Van Nuys with much success.
Our comprehensive approach to animal welfare and advocacy consists of four program areas: Affordable Spay and Neuter, Low Cost Wellness Program, Low Cost Vaccine Clinics Program, and Community Outreach and Animal Welfare Advocacy Program. Our three clinics are strategically located in Los Angeles communities with a high shelter intake and a low median household income: Pico Rivera, San Pedro, and Van Nuys.

As the largest nonprofit spay and neuter animal welfare organization in California, we are able to significantly reduce shelter intake in Los Angeles and offer a systematic solution to the heartbreaking number of pets euthanized in local shelters. In May 2008, our first permanent clinic location opened in Pico Rivera. This success was soon followed by the launch of our San Pedro location in May 2009 and our Van Nuys location in July 2010. In just seven years, we spayed and neutered 150,000 pets. In 2015, SNP LA spayed and neutered over 21,000 pets and we are on track to provide services for another 20,000 pets in need this year.

SNP LA OBJECTIVES:
1. Reduce Shelter Intake and Animal Euthanasia

a. Provide High Volume Spay/Neuter Services to Reduce Shelter Intake:
Four to five million dogs and cats are euthanized at shelters every year around the country. Like other shelters nationally, Los Angeles shelters are unable to care for animals for an extended period of time due to overcrowding and cost, resulting in euthanasia of healthy and highly adoptable animals. From recent data, in 2013 in the Los Angeles area, 50,000 animals were taken to local shelters, with 9,000 of that number euthanized. Three of our city's five shelters are located in low-income neighborhoods and impound 75% of all animals.
When low-income pet owners have access to affordable spay/neuter services, they are not forced into the untenable position of having unwanted litters and then surrendering those kittens and puppies to animal shelters, with euthanasia as a highly probable fate, or abandoning their pets to the streets. It is impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States; however, according to the ASPCA, estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
 
b. Improve Pet Behavior to Reduce Shelter Intake:
An important, often overlooked benefit of spay and neuter is the significant reduction of undesirable pet behaviors. A spayed or neutered animal makes a better companion pet, able to focus her or his attention and affection on their family, rather than being driven by hormones to reproduce. Unspayed and unneutered pets are much more likely to engage in undesirable or dangerous behavior, such as destroying household furnishings, soiling the house, or attacking other animals or people. Intact male dogs are seven times more likely, and intact female dogs are ten times more likely, to bite. Also, spay/neuter substantially reduces a dog's and cat's desire to leave home in search of a mate.
Due to these behavioral problems, a pet owner with an intact pet often surrenders their pet to the shelter or simply loses them to the streets. 80% of the adult dogs and cats that enter many shelters are unspayed and unneutered.

c. Provide Efficient, High Quality Services:
While our prices are low, we offer exceptionally high-quality service. Our mortality rate is significantly below industry standards. Offering excellent veterinary care at an affordable cost is our critical strategic focus, as the animals' wellbeing is our top priority.
Our clinics were designed to complete a high volume of surgeries each day. Our efficiency is not only a result of the practices in place but outstanding leadership and expertise of the staff. The results are that we complete approximately 2,000 spay/neuter surgeries each month across our three clinics.