$25,000 Will Help Keep Mobile Spay, Neuter Clinic Rolling

From H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation: A grant from the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation will bring low-cost spay and neuter for pets directly to their area. Catharine Reed, program director for the Foundation, presented a $25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight grant to Melanie Scherer, founder of the SNIP Bus, at the organization’s annual fundraising luncheon.

SNIP (Spay Neuter Imperative Project) is a nonprofit organization that offers mobile, reduced-cost spay and neuter clinics for dogs and cats throughout the Coachella Valley. Founded in 2016, the clinics have “snipped” more than 5,000 animals.

“Our efforts actively prevent the suffering and deaths of unwanted animals due to overpopulation,” said Scherer. “One hundred percent of this gift will go directly to spay and neuter clinics, which keeps us on the road fulfilling our mission.”

Each time the SNIP bus travels into the community offering a spay and neuter clinic, it costs $3,000. Beyond travel costs, expenses include a licensed veterinarian, two veterinarian technicians, medications and medical supplies.

“The SNIP Bus is an innovative way to help control the pet population, which decreases the number of homeless animals,” said Reed. “We’re excited that this grant will benefit people and animals throughout the Coachella Valley by bringing the project to their neighborhoods.”

The Coachella Valley Spotlight partnership also offers recipients media exposure. SNIP is being featured on CBS Local 2’s “Eye on the Desert,” in public service announcements and on the cbslocal2.com website throughout March.

“SNIP runs on the energy of passionate volunteers. Their efforts are commendable,” said Mike Stutz, General Manager of Gulf California Broadcast Company, which owns and operates CBS Local 2.

To find out more about SNIP, visit snipbus.org. For more information about the Coachella Valley Spotlight grant, go to cbslocal2.com, and click on the Coachella Valley Spotlight logo on the home page.

Photo courtesy of the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation (Catharine Reed, program director for the H.N. and Frances C. Berger Foundation, presents a $25,000 Coachella Valley Spotlight grant to Melanie Scherer, founder of SNIP, and one of the organization’s many volunteers, Melody Farnick. (Left to right: Farnick, Scherer, Reed))