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Furry Friends raising $500K to build Vancouver veterinary clinic for cats

No-kill rescue plans to offer low-cost spay and neuter services and run a Trap-Neuter-Return program out of the clinic

By Chrissy Booker, Columbian staff reporter
Published: December 6, 2024, 6:10am

No-kill Clark County cat rescue Furry Friends needs to raise another $200,000 to build a new medical facility for spay and neuter services for cats.

The nonprofit shelter committed to rescuing, re-homing and adopting out stray, relinquished and abused cats plans to expand its current central Vancouver property to include the facility.

So far, the organization has raised about $300,000 of the $500,000 needed for the project. Executive Director Jenn Hutchman said she hopes the clinic will be completed by fall 2025.

“We just started fundraising, but we want something that’s going to last forever. We’re hoping to have that money within the next month or two, and then we can start building,” Hutchman said.

Furry Friends

Contact: information@furryfriendswa.org or 360-993-1097

To adopt or foster a pet, visit www.furryfriendswa.org/adopt

To donate, visit www.furryfriendswa.org/donate

Hutchman said building a medical facility will allow Furry Friends to provide spay and neuter surgeries on-site, saving money in the long run so the group can operate more sustainably.

Annually, Furry Friends rescues about 800 cats, most of which need to have a spay or neuter surgery.

With the new clinic, the nonprofit also plans to launch a community Trap-Neuter-Return program for cats, which will help reduce the population of stray and feral cats in Clark County.

In addition, the shelter will implement a low-cost spay and neuter program specifically for seniors and community members who are low income. Furry Friends will handle transportation to ensure that there are no barriers for people seeking spay and neuter services.

“I feel like the community seeing our passion in helping these cats will almost light a fire for other people to get involved and realize that we can make a difference,” Hutchman said. “I feel like a lot of people think it’s always going to be this way, but with our passion and education, the community will want to help more.”

The Humane Society for Southwest Washington recently announced it will also open a clinic for low-income pet owners next year
.

The Vancouver-based animal welfare nonprofit will begin remodeling a facility in Hazel Dell’s Holly Park Center, 10501 N.E. Highway 99, and offer low-cost, subsidized veterinary care for pets of income-qualifying families in Clark County.

However, Hutchman said Furry Friend’s clinic will differ by focusing on caring for stray cats, including feral cat colonies or cats that have been dumped outside.

Hutchman said she hopes Furry Friends’ new clinic will fill the gaps in the services that aren’t being provided to the community.

“I don’t want people to think we’re competing, we’re all just trying to fill in the gaps to make sure all the services are provided,” Hutchman said. “There will be different services and different cats to be helped.”

Community Funded Journalism logo

This story was made possible by Community Funded Journalism, a project from The Columbian and the Local Media Foundation. Top donors include the Ed and Dollie Lynch Fund, Patricia, David and Jacob Nierenberg, Connie and Lee Kearney, Steve and Jan Oliva, The Cowlitz Tribal Foundation and the Mason E. Nolan Charitable Fund. The Columbian controls all content. For more information, visit columbian.com/cfj.

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