FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
San Diego, CA – September 4, 2025
Funding will help SNAP continue to reduce the number of animals entering local shelters from rural and urban communities in North San Diego County.
Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP) has received a new grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program. This $49,620 grant is the 4th awarded to SNAP from this important California program. It will help SNAP continue to provide affordable spay and neuter to pets of low-income residents of the unincorporated areas of San Diego County including Fallbrook, Julian, Ramona, San Pasqual Valley, Santa Ysabel, Valley Center, and Wynola, and the cities of Escondido and Oceanside.
Low-income pet owners living in North County rural communities have limited options for veterinary care and transportation. SNAP’s mobile clinics are critical to decreasing the number of unwanted litters and abandoned animals. Local animal welfare partners and businesses have welcomed SNAP’s “Neuter Scooter” mobile surgical suite to their parking lots to host no- and low-cost spay/neuter clinics. This grant will cover the cost of surgical and medical supplies for 48 affordable mobile clinics for 1,440 pets. Clients must meet SNAPs low-income criteria to schedule an appointment.
Since 2003, SNAP has provided no- and low-cost spay/neuter to more than 95,000 pet dogs, cats, and rabbits. At the time of their surgery, pets also receive a free pre-anesthetic health exam, vaccinations, nail trimming, flea and tick treatment, deworming, pain medication, recovery collars, cardboard carriers, and wound care as needed. Pets are microchipped for $10.
“We are grateful for the continued support from this wonderful grant program, which is funded by California drivers and taxpayers. Our local animal shelters are overcapacity and in crisis. SNAP has joined our shelter partners and rescue groups to increase services to the community, and spay/neuter is the best way to reduce the number of unwanted litters from entering local shelters,” said Dorell Sackett, SNAP’s Executive Director.
About the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program
The California Department of Food and Agriculture’s (CDFA) Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program was developed to stop pet overpopulation in California by providing funds for spay/neuter services to California municipalities and nonprofit organizations. The Program is funded by fees from the purchase, renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the California Department of Motor Vehicles and contributions from California individuals when filing their tax returns through the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund.
California drivers can purchase their Pet Lovers license plates online.
About Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP)
Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP)’s mission is to save lives by reducing pet overpopulation. SNAP provides no- and low-cost spay and neuter for pet dogs, cats, and rabbits of low- and middle-income clients in underserved communities. These services are delivered by licensed veterinarians on the “SNAP North Neuter Scooter,” a mobile surgical suite that travels across San Diego County to meet clients where we are most needed, and in the SNAP East Spay Center El Cajon. In early 2026, the new “SNAP San Diego Neuter Cruiser” mobile unit will hit the road to spay and neuter pets in Central and South San Diego County. SNAP serves urban areas as well as unincorporated rural communities and Indian reservations. Since 2003, SNAP has sterilized more than 95,000 San Diego County pets. Visit www.snap-sandiego.org to learn more, or follow SNAP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram to keep up with our latest news and events.
This project is supported by the California Department of Food and Agriculture’s Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program