Committee advances $10,000 ARPA subgrant to PetFix for Garfield Heights spay-neuter clinic

The Cuyahoga County Education, Environment & Sustainability Committee on Sept. 17 voted to refer Resolution 20250260 — authorizing a sum not to exceed $10,000 from the District 11 ARPA Community Grant Fund to PetFix Northeast Ohio — to the full council for second reading with a recommendation of passage.

PetFix Executive Director Kristi Luco told the committee the group's Euclid clinic is at full capacity and the organization plans to open a second clinic in Garfield Heights to serve underserved East Side neighborhoods. "We currently have a facility in Euclid and now we're looking to expand, with a second clinic in Garfield Heights," Luco said. She said the Euclid clinic's appointment slots for spay-neuter surgeries "fill within 48 hours" and that some shelters have again been forced to euthanize because of space constraints.

Luco said PetFix has purchased a building at 13315 Broadway in Garfield Heights, has an architect and construction team lined up and has received a building permit from the city. "Our goal is to have the clinic renovations finished by the end of this year or early next year," she said. Luco described the overall project cost as "probably like a million dollar project for the building and the renovations" and said a capital campaign had raised about $750,000.

The organization described how the second clinic would increase capacity and lower wait times. Luco said PetFix has performed "more than a 130,000 spay neuter surgeries" since 2006 and that, with a second clinic, it expects to "double our surgical capacity to 20,000 surgeries per year." She said the new clinic will serve Garfield Heights and surrounding communities and help shelters adopt animals more quickly.

Luco described the clinic's pricing and funding model: the typical fee for a privately owned cat surgery would be about $50 to $70; community or feral cats in traps would be charged $25; dog surgeries vary by size, generally about $75 to $125. She said fee revenue, plus small additional services, covers roughly 80% of operating costs and the remainder is raised from donors and foundations. Luco also said PetFix operates a transport van to pick up animals and partners with neighborhood organizations to reach residents without reliable transportation.

Committee members asked about location, cost and partnerships. Councilman Jones thanked PetFix for locating in Garfield Heights and asked for the address; Luco confirmed 13315 Broadway. Councilman Schlepper asked about ongoing needs beyond capital costs; Luco said recruitment of veterinary surgeons and support staff is the group's largest staffing challenge.

The committee moved the resolution to the next full council meeting for second reading with a recommendation of passage. The motion was made from the floor, seconded, and approved by voice vote. The record shows no opposition.

If the full council approves the resolution and the county executes the subgrant, PetFix intends to use the ARPA funds toward renovation and equipment needed to convert the purchased building into an operational spay-neuter clinic.