Spay-Neuter Action Project

What Spay-Neuter Action Project does

Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 1990 and headquartered in Encinitas, California, that provides low-cost and no-cost spay/neuter surgical services to financially-challenged pet owners across San Diego County. The organization's mission is to reduce pet overpopulation and shelter euthanasia by preventing unwanted litters at the source, and since 2003 it has performed more than 95,000 spay/neuter surgeries on dogs, cats, and rabbits.

SNAP delivers services through a hybrid mobile-stationary model consisting of the Neuter Scooter mobile surgical buses (hospital-grade operating suites that travel to underserved communities) and the SNAP East Spay Center, a stationary clinic opened in April 2024 in El Cajon. The mobile units run 32 clinics per month across San Diego County's North, South, East, Central, and rural unincorporated regions including Fallbrook, Julian, Ramona, and tribal reservations, with each clinic performing 25-50 surgeries per day using high-volume protocols delivered by California-licensed veterinarians and credentialed medical assistants. Service offerings are organized into Tier 1 (low-income, $20-$125) and Tier 2 (mid-income, cost-based) pricing, with specialized programs for seniors (Maryann's Mission), tribal communities (Tribal-SNAP), unhoused pet owners (Project Homeless Connect), and junior enlisted military (MIL-SNAP). Comprehensive bundles include anesthesia, surgery, pain medication, vaccines, microchips, flea treatment, nail trims, and aftercare.

The business model is a charitable hybrid combining modest client fees with foundation grants, corporate sponsorships, individual donations, planned giving (SNAP Legacy Society), and merchandise sales. SNAP maintains Charity Navigator 4-star and GuideStar Platinum transparency ratings and is funded by 20+ repeat foundation partners including PetSmart Charities, Petco Love, Banfield Foundation, the S. Mark Taper Foundation, CDFA Pet Lover's program, and Las Patronas. Distribution occurs through direct appointment booking, referral networks spanning 50+ community partners, partner-hosted clinic sites at businesses, community centers, and tribal locations, and a small full-time team of 15 staff supplemented by volunteers.

Name

Spay-Neuter Action Project

Legal name

Spay-Neuter Action Project

Website

https://snap-sandiego.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Spay-Neuter Action Project (SNAP) is a San Diego County 501(c)(3) nonprofit operating mobile Neuter Scooter buses and the SNAP East stationary clinic to deliver low-cost spay/neuter services to financially-challenged, senior, tribal, unhoused, and mid-income pet owners across the region.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veterinary Services

NAICS

Freestanding Ambulatory Surgical and Emergency Centers (621493)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000)

akta.pro primary industry

Spay/Neuter & High-Volume Sterilization Clinics (HLAMAAAC)

Keywords

• Affordable spay neuter
• Mobile veterinary clinics
• Pet overpopulation reduction
• Animal welfare services
• Low-cost veterinary care

Headquarters

HQ city

Encinitas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Client Service Fees: Low-cost spay/neuter fees paid by pet owners ($20-$125 for standard procedures, $25-$90 for senior/mission programs), with some services free for lowest-income clients. Fees are subsidized by grants and donations to remain affordable.
2. Grants and Foundation Funding: Primary funding from foundations and government programs including Petco Love, PetSmart Charities, Banfield Foundation, S. Mark Taper Foundation, County of San Diego, California Department of Food and Agriculture, and numerous other donors. Covers surgical supplies and operational costs for specific programs.
3. Individual Donations: Tax-deductible donations from individuals supporting SNAP's mission to reduce pet overpopulation. Accepts donations via credit card, PayPal, check, Venmo, Zelle, and Cash App.
4. Sponsorships and Naming Opportunities: Corporate and individual sponsors can fund specific services, clinics, equipment, or facility elements (e.g., $20,000 surgical suite naming, $7,500 Neuter Scooter garage naming, $5,000 sponsor a free spay/neuter day).
5. Merchandise Sales: SNAP branded merchandise sold through the SNAP Store, with proceeds supporting spay/neuter services.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

SNAP operates mobile and stationary spay/neuter clinics delivering affordable sterilization services to financially-challenged pet owners in San Diego County. The Neuter Scooter mobile surgical buses travel directly to underserved communities, while the SNAP East Spay Center in El Cajon serves as a stationary clinic. Surgical teams perform 25-50 high-volume spay/neuter procedures per clinic day with comprehensive all-inclusive care (anesthesia, pain medication, vaccines, microchips, nail trims).

Product overview

SNAP (Spay-Neuter Action Project) operates a dual-model service delivery system consisting of mobile and stationary spay/neuter facilities. The core offering includes the Neuter Scooter fleet (mobile surgical buses) and the SNAP East Spay Center (stationary clinic in El Cajon). Services are delivered through two pricing tiers: Tier 1 for low-income families and Tier 2 for mid-income pet owners. SNAP's comprehensive surgical package includes sterilization, anesthesia, pain management, vaccinations, microchipping, and aftercare. Specialized programs include Maryann's Mission for seniors, Tribal-SNAP for Native Nations, MIL-SNAP for military personnel, and Big Dog Clinics. The organization operates 32 clinics monthly, serving dogs, cats, and rabbits with 25-50 pets per clinic.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Neuter Scooter Mobile Surgical Suite Fully-equipped 40-foot mobile surgical unit that travels to local communities providing spay/neuter services. Contains hospital-grade operating suite with California State-licensed veterinarians performing high-volume surgeries (25-50 pets daily). Serves underserved areas of San Diego County where access to veterinary care is limited.
• SNAP East Spay Center Stationary 420 sq. ft. spay/neuter clinic in El Cajon serving East San Diego County. Provides the same services as the mobile units in a permanent location, including surgery, vaccines, microchipping, and post-operative care.
• Tier 1 Spay/Neuter Services (Low-Income) Low-cost sterilization services for low-income families. All-inclusive pricing ($20-$125 per procedure) covers anesthesia, surgery, pain medication, aftercare, e-collars, nail trims, vaccines, flea control, deworming, rabies vaccination, recovery collars, and cardboard carriers. Microchips available for $10.
• Tier 2 Spay/Neuter Services (Mid-Income) Mid-income pricing tier for pet owners who don't qualify for low-income assistance but cannot afford $600-$1,200 at private veterinary clinics. Same comprehensive all-inclusive care as Tier 1 covering sterilization, anesthesia, surgery, pain medication, and aftercare services.
• Maryann's Mission (Senior Discount Program) Special discounted spay/neuter program for pets of low-income San Diego County seniors (age 65+). Seniors pay $40 per cat or $90 per dog, with grants subsidizing the remaining cost to make care affordable for fixed-income seniors.
• Tribal-SNAP Program No-cost spay/neuter services for pet dogs and cats of Native American Tribal members on reservations throughout San Diego County. Includes health exam, vaccinations, flea treatment, and other services at no charge.
• MIL-SNAP Program Free spay/neuter services for pets of junior enlisted military personnel (E1 to E4 pay grade) stationed in San Diego County. Relieves the financial burden of pet care for military members. Funded by MuttNation Foundation and Doris Day Animal Foundation.
• Big Dog Clinics Specialized high-volume clinics spaying and neutering up to 30 large dogs per event. Addresses the need for big-dog services since approximately one-third of SNAP's calls come from individuals with large dogs, and private vet costs range from $300-$800 for fixing a big dog.
• Microchipping Services Microchip implantation for $10 (regular) or free through grant funding for qualifying low-income, rural, military, and unhoused residents. Facilitates recovery of lost pets and helps reduce shelter intake.
• Vaccination Services Free vaccines including rabies, DAPPv for dogs, and FVRCP for cats, often donated by Petco Love. Administered at time of spay/neuter surgery as part of the comprehensive service package.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 95,000 dogs, cats, and rabbits spayed/neutered since 2003
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered minor.

• Spay and Neuter Surgical Education & Training Program (SANSTEP)minorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Partnership with nationally recognized SANSTEP surgeon Dr. Laura Paris and Rancho Coastal Humane Society for first-of-its-kind collaborative spay/neuter in San Diego County at Charlotte's Medical Center.
• Rancho Coastal Humane SocietyminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 May 2026Partner in spay/neuter collaborative offering affordable surgeries for dogs and cats using SNAP's 23+ years of expertise with SANSTEP's Dr. Laura Paris at Charlotte's Medical Center.
• Project Street VetminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partnership to bring Neuter Scooter to 'O' Safe Lot providing free spay/neuter for 30 resident pets of unhoused individuals on December 3 (#GivingTuesday). Project Street Vet provides wellness checks, wound treatment, and supplies.
• Dreams for ChangeminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 December 2024Partner in 'O' Safe Lot initiative providing services for unhoused pet owners, combining SNAP's spay/neuter with Dreams for Change resources.
• Indian Health Council (IHC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in Tribal-SNAP program since 2017, working with SNAP and Native America Humane Society to provide spay/neuter to tribal communities.
• Amplified Impact PartnersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in SNAP's Vision 2030 initiative, helping develop new mobile unit and strategic planning.
• San Diego Animal Welfare CoalitionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCoalition of animal welfare organizations working together to address pet overpopulation in San Diego County.
• Combined Federal CampaignminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFederal employee workplace giving program allowing government employees to donate to SNAP through payroll deductions.
• Cars Helping CharitiesminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorVehicle donation program allowing donors to contribute cars to SNAP, which are sold at auction with proceeds supporting spay/neuter services.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights7 records

Direct peers

• tag_company: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused exclusively on high-volume
• Emancipet: National nonprofit operating low-cost, high-volume veterinary clinics with a focus on spay/neuter and preventive care for underserved pet owners. Closest functional peer to SNAP's high-volume, mission-aligned veterinary care model across multiple U.S. cities.

Regional players

• Helen Woodward Animal Center: San Diego County animal welfare organization offering adoption, education, and veterinary services. Regional peer with overlapping pet-overpopulation mandate in the same geography SNAP serves.
• San Diego Humane Society: The largest animal welfare organization in San Diego County, operating shelter, adoption, and veterinary services including spay/neuter. Directly comparable peer given overlapping service line and shared partner ecosystem with SNAP in the same regional market.

Broad incumbents

• ASPCA: National animal welfare organization running community veterinary care, spay/neuter, and mobile programs nationwide. Comparable broad incumbent peer; both organizations overlap in providing subsidized spay/neuter to underserved pet owners.
• Humane Society of the United States (HSUS): National animal welfare umbrella organization that funds and supports spay/neuter programs across the U.S., including via Pets for Life. Comparable as a broad incumbent in the same mission space, though SNAP operates at the on-the-ground delivery layer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/SNAPspayneuter
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCR2T6p3YMgORNeDQqtLQMxQ?view_as=subscriber
• Facebookfacebook.com/SpayNeuterActionProject
• Instagraminstagram.com/snap_spayneuter
• TikToktiktok.com/@snapsandiego
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/spay-neuter-action-project

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Spay-Neuter Action Project