WALKER, Mich. — In an effort to expand access to affordable veterinary care, Community Spay Neuter Initiative Partnership (CSNIP) is opening up a new location in Walker.
CSNIP first opened in 2001 as a mobile clinic providing spay and neuter services to West Michigan. As the community need for affordable vet care grew, CSNIP opened a stationary clinic in 2006.
Since then, the nonprofit has expanded to have multiple Grand Rapids locations and a clinic in Fruitport. Now, they're gearing up for their next big move.
The new 12,000-square-foot facility will be located on Walker Village Drive NW and consolidate the other locations. It will have six exam rooms, more kennel space, a larger reception area, a surgical suite and even an education room for staff training and community lectures.
Sharon Caldwell-Newton, executive director of CSNIP, said the work they do at the clinic is essential, and that this larger facility will make it easier for West Michiganders to handle their pets' care.
"In today's society, pets are members of our family, and just imagine how that is when you have a pet and you can't get it the care that it needs because of cost," Caldwell-Newton said. "CSNIP has been a bridge to access for that community of where people are working, but maybe making moderate or lower wages. So we are very important to increasing that access for everyone who has a pet."
New CSNIP location in Walker under construction
While CSNIP may be associated with sterilization procedures, Caldwell-Newton said the clinic covers many procedures, from checkups to dental work to surgeries. She said pet owners are often referred to CSNIP when their pet needs care that they cannot afford.
"More and more families own a pet. Unfortunately, the cost of veterinary care is going up. In fact, 45% of the people nationwide say the cost of veterinary care is prohibitive, and in some cases they're having to surrender their pets because they can't afford that care," Caldwell-Newton said. "We're here to be able to keep pets and families together, because pets are our passion."
Caldwell-Newton said CSNIP also works to keep the feral cat population down. She said volunteers regularly catch feral cats, which are then sterilized and given a rabies shot before being released again. CSNIP does this with about 1,000 feral cats each year, according to Caldwell-Newton.
The new clinic will also have plenty of room for cats—with their kennel boasting a capacity of about 90 cats—and an area to keep feral cats separate from pets.
The new facility is expected to cost $3.6 million. As of Tuesday, $3.03 million has already been raised, partially due to a $1 million ARPA grant and a $600,000 grant from PetSmart Charities.
The new CSNIP clinic is hoping to open in January. CSNIP is not an emergency vet and does not handle emergency care. It will be open Monday through Friday to begin.
Clinic staff are still looking for donations to help them meet their fundraising goal. You can learn more about CSNIP and donate here.
