In November 1998, a small group of West Michigan Animal Welfare activists met to address the need for a reduced-fee dog and cat sterilization clinic open to the public. They applauded the fact that Kent County has long encouraged sterilization by offering reduced license fees for sterilized dogs and that both the Kent County Animal Shelter and the Humane Society of Kent County required the sterilization of adopted shelter animals long before it became state law. Still, these two shelters are forced to kill many thousands of healthy dogs and cats each year because there are simply too many for the community to absorb.

Even beautiful puppies like these face euthanasia

Most animal control/welfare agencies spend the bulk of their budgets on capturing, accepting, sheltering, feeding, inoculating and adopting their animals and in euthanizing and disposing of the bodies of those unclaimed or unplaced. Nationwide, less than 5% of their budgets is spent on measures to prevent unwanted litters. Yet everyone can agree that preventive measures are essential to progressive animal welfare/control programs.

C-SNIP's founders set out to establish the area's only reduced-fee pet sterilization clinic and decided, for the convenience of its clients, to make it a mobile clinic. They shared their dream with neighborhood leaders, law enforcement personnel, government officials, animal control and rescue groups and officials for the Health Department. All agreed the need was there. C-SNIP researched established spay/neuter programs to determine what would work well in our area. They submitted grants to local and national foundations and received the funding necessary to put a substantial down payment on a fully equipped $100,000 mobile clinic accommodating 28 animals. Just two years after their initial meeting, they took delivery of the clinic.

The Board hired a veterinarian and two assistants who began sterilizing animals for the public in early March 2001. On average the clinic sterilized 4500 animals a year. These are pets that would not have been spayed or neutered were it not for C-SNIP's reduced fees and accessibility. Imagine the impact this service has had on our community. If each of these animals had remained fertile and produced just a single litter over their lifetime, another 20,000 (a modest projection) animals per year would have been born unplanned, unwanted and largely homeless in the West Michigan area.

In May of 2006, C-SNIP opened the doors of it's Kentwood clinic.  A permanent location has allowed C-SNIP to better serve the community and double the number of daily sterilizations.

C-SNIP is grateful to the Dyer-Ives, Steelcase and Grand Rapids Community Foundations, PETsMART Charities and other national animal welfare foundations as well as local individuals and businesses for their financial commitment. Fees for service (which are reduced or waived when necessary) cover only a fraction of the funds needed to sustain our program.
C-SNIP depends on individual donors, businesses, day sponsors, grantors and fundraisers for the balance.

Board of Directors

Pamela Olsen — President
Present: Co Founder and President, Presto Print, Inc.
Past: Social Worker, Kent County DSS; Board Member, Humane Society of Kent County

Sue Carl — Treasurer

Betsy Pullen — Secretary
Present: Retired
Past: Executive Director, Humane Society of Kent County; President, Michigan Federation of Humane Societies; Member, Kent County Animal Control Advisory Committee

Kristie Swan
Present: Owner/Operator Diamond Dogs Training, on-air WMRR Muskegon
Past: Volunteer, Humane Society of Kent County; Vicky's Pet Connection

Mark Haslem
Present: Attorney

Elaine Sterrett Isely

Cindy Reamsma

Advisory Committee:

Sally Allers, Marge Byington, Sandra Carlton, Doug Clarke, DVM, Dottie Clune, Carrol Cook, Ginny Mikita, Gretchen Neering, DVM, Karen Krummel, Vicky's Pet Connection, Bob Woodrick, Twink Frey, Jim McKay,  Congressman Vern Ehlers, Ann Sullivan Soet, Cynthia Mader, PhD. C-SNIP depends on these committee members for advice in business, veterinary medicine, public relations, marketing, fund raising and the law.