On World Spay Day, new accelerator centers scalable, sustainable solutions to tackle root causes of shelter intake
LOS ANGELES — This World Spay Day, Michelson Found Animals Foundation (MFA), along with the Robert & Erika Brunson Fund, is launching the Spay & Neuter Initiative (SNI) Accelerator Grant Program to support the development of sustainable, scalable models for spay and neuter clinics in high-need areas of Los Angeles.
Unlike traditional grantmaking that funds individual surgeries, the accelerator focuses on building long-term clinic infrastructure through seed funding, mentorship, and operational training for organizations expanding high-quality, high-volume spay and neuter services in Los Angeles.
The inaugural cohort of the accelerator commences this month with grantees Kitten Rescue, The Spay(ce) Project, and Loving Paws. Each organization will receive $50,000 in funding, expert mentorship, and training through a six-month curriculum in partnership with Open Door Veterinary Collective, covering clinic operations, budgeting, fundraising, and business development for newly launched stationary, mobile, or MASH-style clinics.
“To truly solve Los Angeles’ shelter overcrowding crisis, we must ensure that spay and neuter services are accessible and affordable for every Angeleno,” said Jennifer Naitaki, Managing Director of Michelson Found Animals Foundation. “Through the SNI Accelerator Program, we are investing in self-sufficient, community-based spay and neuter infrastructure designed to expand access at scale. This represents a deliberate shift for MFA away from short-term grantmaking toward a long-term strategy to address our city’s animal welfare challenges at their source rather than simply managing their consequences.”
This cohort follows a successful pilot run of the SNI Accelerator in 2025 with grantees Little Lion Foundation and The Rescue Train. A second grant cycle with three additional grantees is scheduled for mid-year.
A New Model to Address a Systemic Gap
Spay and neuter access in Los Angeles has historically been constrained by inconsistent funding and limited clinic capacity, particularly in underserved neighborhoods. With fewer than 100 veterinary clinics in the city of Los Angeles serving over 3.8 million residents, the need for increased access to care is dire. By providing seed funding to startup clinics and strengthening sustainable practices for new and existing clinics, the SNI Accelerator aims to increase the capacity of high-quality, high-volume spay/neuter procedures available to Angelenos while improving affordability and long-term sustainability.
A Citywide Strategy
The SNI Accelerator Program is one key pillar of MFA’s broader strategy to reduce shelter intake rates across Los Angeles. Other pillars include expanding pet-inclusive housing and community access to veterinary care and pet supplies through MFA’s Pet Inclusive Housing Initiative and Better Neighbor Project. By investing in scalable, high-volume clinics and expanding their capacity, MFA aims to support a robust network of spay and neuter providers that can meet the city’s pressing needs now and in the future.
About the Grantees
- Kitten Rescue: A Los Angeles-based, volunteer-run nonprofit devoted to finding loving homes for unwanted and homeless cats and kittens. Since 1997, the organization has rescued and placed over 35,000 cats in loving homes, adopting out over 2,000 cats and kittens each year, and recently merged with Heaven on Earth Animal Clinic.
- The Spay(ce) Project: A volunteer-powered Los Angeles nonprofit working to curb dog overpopulation by providing affordable, accessible spay and neuter services to underserved communities. In addition to prevention-focused services, the organization improves the quality of life for dogs in shelters, on the streets, and in remote areas by supplying food, medical care, and essential resources.
- Loving Paws Inc.: A nonprofit animal organization dedicated to supporting low-income pet owners and their beloved animals. The Los Angeles-based organization provides essential support and care for pets in underserved communities, strengthening the human-animal bond through compassionate initiatives.
In 2025, the South Los Angeles/Chesterfield Square Animal Shelter saw a 32% increase in dog intake compared to the year prior, mirroring the surge across city shelters. National data from Shelter Animal Count reports that the proportion of dogs entering municipal shelters already spayed or neutered declined by more than 10% during the same period.
Through expanded access to affordable spay and neuter services, improved clinic capacity, and proven models that can be adopted across communities, the program is designed to address the problem at its source.
MFA plans to scale the SNI Accelerator with future cohorts to build the long-term infrastructure needed to meaningfully reduce, and ultimately resolve, one of the main drivers of preventable shelter intake in Los Angeles.
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Michelson Found Animals Foundationfounded in 2005, directly provides animal welfare services and champions pets at every point they intersect with our society. The foundation operates a range of initiatives, including grants and programs that put resources in the hands of communities in need, research that promotes pet-friendly policies, and more. Learn more at foundanimals.org.