A transformational investment from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation will help Emancipet expand its reach, grow its mobile clinic fleet, and make essential veterinary care accessible to more communities.
Every pet deserves access to veterinary care, and every family should have the opportunity to keep their beloved pets healthy and at home. But for many families, the cost of care and the distance to a veterinary clinic can make getting the services their pets need a challenge.
A transformational $3 million gift from the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation, through its Big Bet for Pets initiative, will help Emancipet reach more pets and families with affordable veterinary care. Over the next three years, this investment, together with ongoing fundraising, will enable us to permanently expand our mission by more than 20%, increasing access to affordable veterinary care for pet families in the communities we serve.
“This extraordinary gift means more pets will be able to receive the veterinary care they need and more families will be able to experience the joy and comfort of keeping their pets healthy and in their homes,” said Cheryl Katon, chief executive officer of Emancipet. “Support like this not only helps Emancipet advance our strategic plan, it strengthens our ability to reach more communities and be there for pet families for years to come.”
Bringing Veterinary Care Closer to Home
A major part of this expansion is growing Emancipet’s mobile clinic fleet from one to four. In recognition of the Foundation’s investment, Emancipet’s mobile clinics will be renamed the Duffield Community Pet Clinics.
The Duffield Community Pet Clinics will bring free or discounted preventive veterinary services directly into communities, helping families access essential care closer to home. By reaching urban and rural communities with the greatest need, the mobile clinics will complement Emancipet’s existing brick-and-mortar locations, expand access to low-cost veterinary care, and help reduce wait times.
With this investment, Emancipet expects to:
- Reach 56,000 additional pets each year
- Provide more than 15,000 additional spay and neuter procedures annually
- Expand access to affordable veterinary care in more communities through a larger mobile clinic fleet
“One of the goals of Big Bet for Pets is to invest in exceptional nonprofit veterinary clinics to help them scale and expand their capacities,” explained Amy Zeifang, co-president of the Duffield Foundation. “This opportunity is the Big Bet for Pets’ first investment aimed at scaling, and we are thrilled to partner with Emancipet to deliver veterinary care to families and pets in need.
“Emancipet’s deep experience with mobile clinic programming and their commitment to expanding access to care for rural and other underserved pet families made them an ideal partner for this investment,” added Zeifang.
Making a Lasting Difference for Pets and Their Families
Since 1999, Emancipet has worked to make veterinary care affordable and accessible for everyone. Today, our 11 clinics across Austin, Killeen, Houston, and Philadelphia provide more than 260,000 veterinary visits each year.
Philanthropic support makes this work possible. It helps Emancipet reach more communities, provide more essential services, and reduce the barriers that can prevent pets from receiving the care they need.
The Duffield Foundation’s investment is an important step toward a future where more pet families can access the care they need, when and where they need it. By expanding our mobile services alongside our existing clinics, we can help more people care for their pets and strengthen the bonds that make our lives better.
We are grateful to the Dave & Cheryl Duffield Foundation for investing in this vision and helping Emancipet bring affordable veterinary care to more pets and the people who love them.
Learn more about Emancipet and our mission and how you can help support making veterinary care accessible for everyone.
