Download the Winter 2007 Mission Report (.pdf)

The Mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) is to eliminate the killing of dogs and cats in our community through free and low-cost spay and neuter programs.
                               
Since 2002, First Coast No More Homeless Pets has been helping needy families take responsibility for their pets and the pet overpopulation crisis here on the First Coast by providing low/no cost spay/neuter assistance. We have facilitated over 25,000 spay/neuter surgeries since we began.

We are making a difference! Since our inception, we have seen a 15% decline total shelter intake.  
Through our adoption support programs we have placed over 3,000 dogs and cats in forever homes. We continue to educate the public on the benefits of spay/neuter as the only real solution to ending the pet overpopulation crisis.

We still have a long way to go. But thanks to our generous donors, community partners and the support of our wonderful volunteers we will reach a day when there are truly No More Homeless Pets.

History of FCNMHP
Rick DuCharme is the Founder and Director of First Coast No More Homeless Pets. In 1995 he began volunteering with local animal shelters, gaining first-hand experience of the wide-ranging effects of pet overpopulation. Rick was appointed by Mayor Delaney as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force on Animal Control in 2000. While on the Task Force Rick learned that over 20,000 cats and dogs are euthanized every year in Jacksonville. Through research he also learned that it has been proven in San Francisco, the state of New Hampshire and other places that aggressive spay and neuter programs combined with high-volume, high-quality adoption programs can eliminate the need to kill dogs and cats simply due to over-population.

One of the key aspects of the Task Force Report to the Mayor was the importance of an effective pet sterilization program in reducing the number of unwanted pets entering shelters. As a result of the Mayor’s Task Force Report, in 2002 the City of Jacksonville put out a request for proposals to set up and manage a countywide spay/neuter program.

Rick wanted to take what he had learned while on the Task Force and put it to work here in Jacksonville. He founded First Coast No More Homeless Pets and, working with the Jacksonville Veterinary Medical Society, put together a proposal for an effective program targeted to low income pet owners. FCNMHP’s proposal was chosen and in October 2002 the SpayJax program was started. SpayJax is now in its fourth year and over 25,000 pets have been sterilized!

The success of FCNMHP has been recognized around the country and Rick is frequently asked to speak at animal conferences on the effectiveness of targeted spay/neuter programs.

Any of you who have met Rick or heard him speak will hear him say: 
“Together we can make a difference!”