FixNation in the San Fernando Valley is a non-profit 501c3 that performs free and low-cost cat neuters and spays in addition to a full range of support for people involved in cat TNR (trap-neuter-release), such as loaning traps, limited medical treatment for fleas, tapeworms, pain, vaccines, and fluids.  FixNation is entirely volunteer run, and donation supported.  Volunteer opportunities include animal care, photography, graphic design, event planning, public speaking, fundraising, and administrative support.

In addition to tax-deductible monetary donations, FixNation also accepts donations of items such as bleach, paper towels, copier paper, postage stamps, masking tape, towels, cat food, and silent auction items. Call them to arrange pick up of these items. If you wish to purchase such times and have them shipped directly to FixNation, visit their Amazon Wish List.

FixNation was founded by Mark Dodge, an attorney, and Karn Myers, an entertainment executive, a husband and wife team who have long been cat lovers. The idea to try to help homeless cats started in 1998 when Karn was working for a special effects company. Every morning and afternoon, she noticed two women feeding a colony of feral cats in the adjacent property. Karn quickly befriended the two caregivers, and began a year-long education on the world of homeless, stray and feral cats. Karn began investigating what could be done to help and soon developed momentum. With Mark’s research and networking help, they began working with others who also wanted to offer assistance.

Mark and Karn learned that monthly spay/neuter clinics were being held in San Diego by Feral Cat Coalition (FCC). To duplicate that program and bring it to Los Angeles, they videotaped FCC for reference purposes, put together an organizational plan and made a formal proposal to the outreach program directors of Best Friends Animal Society. Best Friends adopted the traveling clinic model and provided initial funding to begin Catnippers in October 1999.  A bi-monthly, all-volunteer clinic still run by Mark and Karn, the Catnippers program continues today and has fixed 14,000 homeless cats since 2000.

After nearly ten years of successful Catnippers clinics, Karn and Mark knew a permanent facility was needed in order to address the still-growing homeless cat population in L.A. So in 2007, after much planning and fundraising, FixNation was launched – a full-time TNR clinic under a new 501(c)(3) organization.

FixNation became the first, full-time spay-neuter facility in Los Angeles in 2007, providing comprehensive TNR support including free spay/neuter services for homeless cats, TNR outreach and education, as well as affordable care for companion cats.  FixNation is a model for TNR and cat population management across the country.