The Mission

The Mission of First Coast No More Homeless Pets

To end the needless killing of cats and dogs in our community by offering free and low-cost spay/neuter programs.

 

www.fcnmhp.org

 

 

Since 2002, First Coast No More Homeless Pets (FCNMHP) has been helping families take responsibility for their pets and helping reduce the pet overpopulation problem in our communities by providing FREE and Low-Cost spay/neuter surgeries. We have facilitated over 95,000 spay/neuter surgeries since we began.

We are making a difference! Since our inception, we have seen a 65% decline in the euthanasia rate. 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 25,000 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 high volume and high quality spay/neuter programs can eliminate the needless killing of dogs and cats in the community simply due to overpopulation.

 

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.

 

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!”