Protecting Pets, Empowering People: Celebrating a Year of Animal Wellbeing Achievements

By Michelson Found Animals

As 2024 draws to a close, we at Michelson Found Animals reflect on a year filled with incredible achievements and steadfast commitment to our mission of saving pets and enriching lives.

“Looking back at this year, I am filled with immense gratitude for the indelible dedication of our community. From our hardworking staff and volunteers to our valued partners and elected officials, each of you has played a vital role in our mission to enrich the lives of animals and their people. Together, we have hosted impactful events, advocated for policy change, and provided essential resources to pet owners in need. I extend a special thank you to our founders, Dr. Gary K. Michelson, and Alya Michelson, for their visionary leadership and unwavering commitment to animal wellbeing. As we look ahead to the future, I am excited to continue our work and make a lasting impact on the lives of animals and the people who love them.” – Jennifer Naitaki, VP of Programs & Strategic Initiatives, Michelson Found Animals

Thanks to the unwavering support of our remarkable pet-loving community, here’s a glimpse at the impact we made this past year.

Empowering Communities Through the Better Neighbor Project (BNP)

BNP Clients receiving free supplies at a Pet Wellness Day in Los Angeles

BNP is a community-based initiative dedicated to improving the lives of pets and their families. This program provides free essential resources and services, including pet food, vaccinations, microchipping, spay/neuter surgeries, and so much more. They also offer education and training to promote responsible pet ownership and prevent animal homelessness. By building strong relationships with community partners, they empower individuals and families to provide the best possible care for their furry companions. The BNP team continued this vital work, providing a lifeline to countless families and their furry companions.

This year, the BNP team:

Distributed 83,426 lbs of pet food
Served 25,388 pets
Supported 11,261 families
Collaborated with 52 event partners and vendors
Partnered with more than 8 elected officials in the LA area to provide free care and resources to those communities most in need.

This is only a snippet of the work and joy the BNP team has spread to the Los Angeles community. BNP fostered a sense of community through 16 events, forging strong partnerships that directly benefit animals in need. To learn more about BNP, find resources, and volunteer opportunities visit betterneighborla.org.

Championing Pets in Housing with the Pet-Inclusive Housing Initiative (PIHI)

A happy dog and parent at an apartment complex in Portland, Oregon, free of breed and weight restrictions.

PIHI is dedicated to creating a world where pets and people can thrive together. Its work centers on the development of actionable resources, tools, strategic partnerships, and research designed to increase reach and positively influence outcomes through balanced legislation and collaboration with the housing industry. In this way, PIHI ensures more housing availability for all companion animals.

This year, the PIHI team:

Provided data and recommendations to elected officials and housing providers to help them continue to move toward housing policies that are inclusive for all pets.
Recognized seven outstanding companies and organizations for their commitment to pet-inclusive practices at the third annual Pets and Housing Awards.
Launched the Pet-Inclusive Scorecard, a simple online tool that uses a 100-point scale to rate rental properties based on the strength of their pet-inclusive policies.
Presented or exhibited at 21 conferences and webinars advocating for pet-inclusive policies and sharing best practices.
Expanded its library of resources and tools for pet owners, housing providers, and animal welfare organizations.

PIHI’s efforts bridge the gap between pet-friendly and pet-inclusive, ultimately creating housing that keeps people and pets together. Want to learn more? Check out their full Impact 2024 Report here.

Fueling Innovation with Leap Venture Studio & Academy

The Leap Cohort 8 team of founders at this kickoff in London.

Leap is the leading pet investment accelerator program that is managed in partnership with Mars Petcare. The program empowers entrepreneurs to innovate and transform the pet care industry. By providing mentorship, funding, and resources, Leap helps talented individuals build successful businesses that improve the lives of pets. Through its accelerator programs, workshops, and community events, Leap fosters a thriving ecosystem of pet care innovators, driving positive change for animals worldwide.

This year, the Leap team:

Leap has now completed 8 cohorts of their studio program to date, investing in 52 companies. Collectively these companies have gone on to raise more than $200+ million in follow-on investment.
Launched their 8th Cohort, introducing 6 new partners to their portfolio, and also included the first-ever social impact company.
Partnered with Black Pet Business Network, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering black professionals and entrepreneurs in the pet and animal industry, for the second year at SuperZoo for a live pitch competition.
Leap has selected 6 companies for their 2025 studio program, along with an impact company. The 7 companies participating in cohort 9 will be announced in early 2025.

Leap continues to be a catalyst for groundbreaking ideas and impactful ventures in the pet care industry.

Sowing the Seeds of Change: Strategic Grants

MFA’s Strategic Grants program made a significant impact in 2024 by providing nearly $1 million in funding to 60 organizations dedicated to animal welfare. These grants supported a wide range of initiatives, including legal assistance for pet owners facing eviction, rescue operations, and community outreach, helping to reduce shelter overpopulation and promote responsible pet ownership.

Some highlights include:

Provided $50,000 in funding to this year’s Open Arms Challenge, where 23 national animal welfare organizations came together to encourage animal shelters, rescues, and organizations to pilot new approaches that increase inclusivity for new adopters and volunteers and provide a welcoming environment for all community members. In total, 107 organizations received a total of $500,000 in grant prizes.
MFA was a proud sponsor of CARE’s The Gathering free library at its annual conference this year. The CARE team curated a diverse and extensive collection of books available for free for attendees. The exceptional variety of literary works showcased the profound and authentic voices of BIPOC authors and individuals from disenfranchised communities.
MFA sponsored Pet Week on Capitol Hill, an annual event hosted by our partners Human Animal Bond Research Institute (HABRI). Pet Week brings the power of pets to Capitol Hill, delivering the message to our elected representatives that pets are important for human health and quality of life. The event featured Members of Congress, industry leaders, the veterinary community, animal welfare advocates, and research organizations coming together to share information about the importance of pet ownership in America and the scientific evidence that shows how policies that strengthen the human-animal bond can improve wellbeing for both people and companion animals.

Focus on Spay & Neuter Initiatives

A happy pup and parent signing up to receive free spay and neuter services at a BNP Pet Wellness Day in Los Angeles.

MFA remains committed to tackling pet overpopulation through the Spay & Neuter Initiative (SNI), powered by the Robert & Erika Brunson Fund. We provide financial support to organizations across the country that offer affordable spay/neuter services, helping to reduce the number of unwanted litters and promote responsible pet ownership. By investing in these programs, we are working to create a future where all animals have the opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives.

This year, SNI provided:

Over $1.3 million in grants, making crucial financial assistance available to pet families most in need.
More than $125,000 in funding to support 40 community clinics, which provide free spay and neuter procedures for dogs and cats in Los Angeles.
Launched the first of six scheduled high-quality, high-volume (HQHVSN) clinics for Los Angeles Animal Services with Animal Balance, focused on providing much needed spay & neuter support to the dogs and cats within the shelter system or those waiting on spay & neuter in foster homes. Approximately $278,000 will be granted to this program throughout six months.
Presented CAMP Clinics with a $1 million grant to aid in the opening of a new community clinic in 2025, support spay/neuter programs, and train more vets in high-quality, high-volume spay & neuter (HQHVSN). This new clinic will become a national training center for all veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians so that they can conduct more procedures every time they scrub in. CAMP Clinics also honored our founders, Dr. Gary K. Michelson & Alya Michelson, and the Robert & Erika Brunson Fund with the Pioneer Award at their Gala this year, attended and praised by Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

“Thank you to Community Animal Medicine Project and Dr. Michelson for your work to support veterinary services and to help make them affordable and accessible to pets in Los Angeles,” said Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. “With a national overcrowding crisis across the country, Los Angeles Animal Services has been working with urgency to prioritize the safety of animals in the City’s care while protecting the public and the dedicated staff and volunteers who work in the shelters. This urgent work to develop and implement the most effective policies will continue in partnership with local and national animal welfare organizations as LA Animal Services continues to save lives and prioritize safety.”

Advancements in Scientific Research

The Michelson Prize & Grants program (MPG) is a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to developing nonsurgical alternatives to spay and neuter for companion animals. The program incentivizes research through prize philanthropy, funds external research through grant funding, and directly carries out its own research projects, all with the ultimate goal of developing one or more single-dose, permanent, nonsurgical sterilants for cats and dogs. These innovative technologies will revolutionize animal welfare by ultimately reducing pet overpopulation and improving the lives of countless animals worldwide.

To date, the Michelson Prize & Grants program has committed over $20 million in grant funding to 40+ research projects around the globe.

Innovation for Animal Health and Pet Care: Compass

This year, MFA announced an exciting new collaboration with the North American Veterinary Community (NAVC) to launch a groundbreaking initiative, Compass Animal Health & Pet Care Conference. This conference, which will take place in Washington, D.C., April 10-11, 2025, will bring together industry leaders from across the sector to shape the future of animal health and pet care.

Register now to join other changemakers in envisioning and developing solutions to catalytically change the way we care for and value our pets. If you want to be a part of changing the industry for the positive, this is the conference for you.

Keep an eye on our channels for exciting speakers and presentations to be announced in January 2025.

Shelter Engagement: Advocating for Change

MFA was at the forefront of tackling the animal shelter crisis in 2024. We’ve championed animals through media efforts and on-site operations to advocate for policy change and realistic solutions. Efforts included:

Gina Knepp, our National Director of Shelter Engagement, penned an op-ed for the Los Angeles Daily News on a back-to-basics approach to providing shelter relief. Gina is a force in the industry and advocates nationally, having represented MFA at 12 state and national conferences this year, with one on one presentations via zoom with individual organizations. Through MFA’s Return to Home program, Gina has impacted thousands of animals.
Our CEO, penned an op-ed in the LA Times highlighting the connection between California’s housing crisis and pet homelessness.
Daily Breeze published an article by our founder, Dr. Gary K. Michelson who delved into our proposed low-cost solutions to the crisis, emphasizing preventative measures and community outreach.

Through these efforts, MFA is leading the charge towards a future where animal shelters are not overflowing and every pet finds a loving home.

Michelson Institute for Pet Professions: End of an Era

After a successful 3.5-year run, MFA sunsetted the Michelson Institute for Pet Professions (MIPP) program this year, while still supporting pet care professionals through other means, including grants and other programming focused on access to care.

We are proud of the 150+ graduates who launched successful careers in pet grooming. We will continue to support our partner West Coast Grooming Academy, who will now lead this initiative to educate and create more opportunities for pet-loving professionals.

Surpassing Milestones and Looking Forward

In 2024, Michelson Found Animals surpassed a significant milestone, reaching over 6 million pets and their families helped since our founding in 2005. This number reflects the transformative impact of our dedicated staff, passionate volunteers, and unwavering supporters. We are incredibly grateful for your commitment to animal welfare!

As we look towards the future, we remain steadfast in our mission. With your continued support, we can continue to champion the well-being of animals and create a world where every pet, and their people, thrives. Thank you for an impactful year!

With Gratitude – The Michelson Found Animals Team