Anicira $10,000 VFHS Grant Fully Utilized
200 Family Cats Scheduled to Receive $20 Spay/Neuter Surgeries
Anicira received a $10,000 grant from SpayVA, a program of the Virginia Federation of Humane Societies (VFHS), to launch the Healthy Cats Access Project, a new initiative designed to expand access to affordable spay/neuter care for family cats and reduce the number of cats entering local shelters. The program began on March 30, 2026, and by April 6, 2026—just one week later—all grant funds were fully utilized as more than 200 family cats were scheduled for surgery appointments.
Through this program, Anicira is providing $20 spay/neuter surgeries for the first 200 family cats scheduled at its Harrisonburg and Manassas veterinary hospitals. Eligible cats must reside with families living in Harrisonburg, Rockingham County, Manassas, Manassas Park, or Prince William County. Grant funding did not cover feral or community cats, and assistance was limited to eight cats per household.
The $20 surgery fee covered pre-operative health evaluation, the sterilization procedure, and post-operative care. All cats assisted through the program also receive free core vaccines and microchipping.
“Anicira was founded on the belief that cost should never stand between a pet and the care they need, and spay and neuter services remain central to that mission,” said Mary Golden-Hughes, Director of Advancement at Anicira. “This generous grant from SpayVA and VFHS allowed us to extend affordable services to family cats across our communities. The rapid response from families — filling all available appointments within a week — underscores the significant need for accessible veterinary care. This program will help families care for the pets they love, support the health of family cats, and contribute to reducing overpopulation and the number of cats entering local shelters.”
Local shelters in the program’s service areas experienced increased cat intake last year. The Healthy Cats Access Project was created to help meet the needs of family cats, a population that often falls between traditional assistance programs and full-cost veterinary services.
