Investment will expand spay/neuter access, fund large-dog and cat clinics, and create a dedicated mobile clinic for Council District 3
LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield and Michelson Found Animals today announced a $1.3 million public-private partnership to expand access to affordable veterinary care and spay/neuter services for pet families in Council District 3 and across the San Fernando Valley.
The announcement comes as Los Angeles continues to face serious animal welfare challenges, including overcrowded shelters, limited affordable veterinary access, and an urgent need for greater spay/neuter capacity. By combining City resources, philanthropic funding, and trusted community-based providers, the partnership offers a replicable model for how Council offices can use discretionary dollars to address local needs while contributing to broader citywide animal welfare goals.
The partnership combines an $800,000 grant from City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield with a $500,000 commitment from Michelson Found Animals through the Robert & Erika Brunson Spay/Neuter Fundwhich honors Erika Brunson’s decades-long commitment to expanding spay and neuter access.
Together, the funds will support immediate mobile veterinary services, expanded large-dog spay/neuter capacity, cat-focused clinics, and the purchase and launch of a dedicated Community Animal Medicine Project (CAMP) mobile clinic serving CD3 pet families.
“One of the most important things we can do to address the crisis at our shelters, is to bring more spay, neuter and wellness services to our residents and I’m grateful to partner with Michelson Found Animal as we create this new partnership,” said Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. “Spaying and neutering our pets is imperative because it helps eliminate preventable illness, unwelcomed litters and it’s fiscally smart for our city to invest in more of these programs.”
The investment will deliver near-term relief and long-term infrastructure. Immediate services will begin through CAMP’s existing Wellness Waggin’ mobile unit and additional clinic partners, while the dedicated CD3 mobile clinic is developed and launched. Once operational, the new clinic is expected to provide an estimated 3,500 to 4,500 spay/neuter surgeries annually, creating a lasting district resource to help reduce preventable shelter intake and keep pets with the families who love them. The partnership will support additional spay/neuter clinics with Animal Balance and CATS at the Studiosfunding over 500 additional surgeries.
“Councilmember Blumenfield recognized that Los Angeles’ animal welfare crisis requires creative, scalable solutions. We are incredibly grateful to partner with him and CD3 on this new public-private funding approach to tackle the upstream drivers of shelter intake,” said Dr. Gary Michelsonfounder and co-chair of Michelson Philanthropies. “This partnership shows what is possible when the City, philanthropy, and trusted community providers come together to keep pets healthy, keep families together, and reduce preventable shelter intake. It is a model that can and should be replicated across Los Angeles.”
“We are grateful to partner with Councilman Blumenfield and Michelson Found Animals to strengthen access to affordable veterinary care in Los Angeles, which is extremely limited,” says Zoey Knittel, CEO of Community Animal Medicine Project. “Public, private, non-profit partnership is a model that works, and we’re honored to have been selected as the service provider for additional high-quality, low-cost veterinary care in the San Fernando Valley.”
The June 30 announcement was marked by a press conference at Los Angeles City Hall, featuring Michelson Found Animals, Councilmember Blumenfield, CAMP, Animal Balance, CATS at the Studios, and other veterinary and community animal welfare partners.
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Michelson Found Animals (MFA) is an operating division of Michelson Philanthropies, a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) foundation. MFA provides animal welfare services and champions pets at every point they intersect with our society. Founded in 2005, MFA operates a range of initiatives, including grants and programs that put resources in the hands of communities in need, research that promotes pet-friendly housing policies, and efforts to expand access to spay/neuter services. Learn more at foundanimals.org.