March Forward with MFA: Expanding Our Impact and Resources
Michelson Found Animals (MFA)? kicked off February with a bang, leading the charge for Spay and Neuter Awareness Month. Thanks to your support, we spread the word about the importance of these life-saving procedures, helping even more pets find the care they deserve. Our Spay and Neuter Initiative held a free pet clinic with CAMP Clinics for veterans with pets, where 19 animals received free services. We also ended the month with the announcement of a historic partnership with CAMP Clinics. We look forward to you reading it first below.
We're also thrilled to share that our Better Neighbor Project (BNP) team held their first Pet Wellness Day at the beginning of March in East Los Angeles with Los Angeles County Supervisor Hilda Solis, where hundreds of families and pets received free services and supplies thanks to our devoted community of partners and volunteers. In addition, the BNP team celebrated the opening of a new, expanded warehouse jam-packed with free pet supplies for the community thanks to the continued support of donations from Greater Good Charities and Chewy. This means we can reach even more families in need, ensuring their furry family members stay happy and healthy. Stay tuned – there's so much more exciting BNP news coming soon!
And that's not all! We have so many great achievements and tools to announce to the community. So, settle in and get ready to discover all the incredible ways we're making a difference for animals everywhere.?
MFA Gives $1 Million to Tackle LA's Pet Crisis
This year, on World Spay Day, February 27, Michelson Found Animals, in stewardship of the Robert and Erika Brunson Fund, announced a transformative grant to the Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP). Since their launch in 2007, MFA has been an integral partner to CAMP Clinics, in which time CAMP has spayed and neutered over 300,000 dogs and cats. The $1 million grant will be used to:
- Expand access to affordable veterinary care: Fund a portion of the purchase of a new property in South Los Angeles, transforming it into a low-cost veterinary clinic and high-volume training center. This expansion will significantly increase the number of pets served annually by CAMP Clinics.
- Increase spay/neuter surgeries: Support CAMP’s spay/neuter program, offering affordable surgeries to pet owners in historically excluded communities. This will help control pet overpopulation, reduce the number of animals entering shelters, and ultimately save lives
- Enhance veterinary training: Fund training programs for veterinarians in HQHVSN surgeries, a proven method for increasing access to affordable spay/neuter services while maintaining high standards of care.
“This collaboration isn’t just about funding; it’s about community and a shared vision. This grant will aid in the opening of a new community clinic, support spay/neuter programs, and train more vets in HQHVSN. We’re building a future where every animal has a chance to thrive, and we’re doing it by working with great partners like CAMP.”
- Brett Yates, CEO, Michelson Found Animals.
This grant is a giant leap forward for animal welfare in SoCal! Together with CAMP Clinics, we're building a future where every pet receives the care they deserve.
Click here to read more about this monumental collaboration.
Leap Venture Studio & Academy Announces Cohort 8!
We're thrilled to announce the six startups joining Leap's 2024 accelerator program, each dedicated to revolutionizing how we care for our furry companions. From cutting-edge tech to impactful initiatives, these innovators are set to redefine the pet care landscape.
?Click here to meet Cohort 8 and register for Demo Day on June 13!
领英推荐
Introducing the Pet-Inclusive Scorecard! A New Tool by the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative
Is your rental housing property truly pet-inclusive, or is it just pet-friendly? Our new scorecard helps rental housing operators reveal whether their property is ‘pet-friendly' or if they have achieved ‘pet-inclusive’ status. Ready to see how your property stacks up?
Click here to learn more and score your property.?
L.A. Moves to Protect Renters Who Got a Pet During the Pandemic Lockdown
Great news for Los Angeles pet parents! The L.A. City Council has passed an ordinance that prevents landlords from evicting tenants who adopted a pet during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Click here to read the full article from the L.A. Times.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Maddies Fund Community Conversations
March 25, 2024 l Virtual
Maddie’s Fund hosts a weekly Zoom call for animal well-being professionals. These calls are a collaborative space to share exciting new programs and research, discuss uncomfortable topics, connect with peers in the industry, and more. Upcoming guests include our very own Ross Barker and Judy Bellack from the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative.?Click here to register and join the conversation.
My Dog is My Home Co-Sheltering Conference 2024
March 26 - March 28, 2024 l Virtual
Michelson Found Animals is a proud sponsor of My Dog Is My Home’s Co-Sheltering Conference 2024: Together We Thrive. This year's conference aims to create a virtual space where advocates, providers, policymakers, and people with lived experience can work hand in hand to redefine the landscape of care and transform pathways to housing for people and animals together.
Click here to register.