Our Mission & History
Mission Statement
The mission of EveryPet is to make veterinary care affordable and accessible to all as we save lives by keeping dogs and cats in homes and out of shelters, provide low-cost spay/neuter services with emphasis on feral/community cats, and deliver a broad range of related programs and services.
Our History
EveryPet, formerly known as First Coast No More Homeless Pets, was founded in 2002 when more than 23,000 animals were being euthanized each year in Jacksonville shelters.
At the time, the city’s mayor convened an animal welfare task force, where our founder, Rick Ducharme, volunteered to serve. Through his research and travels, Rick discovered that targeted spay/neuter programs were the most effective solution to pet overpopulation. When no other organization stepped forward, he launched FCNMHP to fill that critical need.
What began as a simple voucher program quickly grew. In 2009, we opened the Norwood Spay/Neuter Center and Community Clinic—one of the largest in the nation. By 2016, we expanded again with the Cassat Avenue Regional Veterinary Hospital, now one of the largest safety-net veterinary hospitals in the Southeast.
Today, as EveryPet, we serve tens of thousands of pets and the people who love them each year. Through innovative programs, expanded access to veterinary care, and a steadfast commitment to saving lives, we continue to transform animal welfare across the region.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we remain dedicated to building a future where every pet has the chance to thrive.
What We Do
We operate the nation’s largest spay/neuter clinic, performing more than 20,000 surgeries each year to help the animals most at risk of overwhelming our partner shelters.
We provide affordable, accessible veterinary care through sustainable, industry-leading programs designed to support both pets and the people who love them.
While we are not a shelter, we strengthen shelters with a wide range of comprehensive services—including our Pet Food Bank and low- or no-cost spay/neuter programs.
High Quality, Low-Cost Veterinary Services
EveryPet helps keep pets in homes by ensuring that any pet owner can afford to spay/neuter their pets and get medical care that is less expensive than other veterinary hospitals and clinics. By keeping veterinary costs affordable, we reduce shelter relinquishment and achieve our mission.
Feral Freedom
In 2008, we partnered with the Jacksonville, FL public shelter to launch a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, sterilizing feral cats and returning them safely to their territories. This program now saves more than 8,000 cats each year and stands as the most responsible, cost-effective way to manage community cat populations—serving as a national model for success.
Jacksonville Pet Food Bank
For many of our neighbors, putting food on the table is hard enough—feeding their beloved pets can feel impossible. Our volunteer-driven Pet Food Bank helps ease that burden, keeping pets in loving homes and out of shelters. Since its launch in 2012, the program has distributed more than 1.8 million pounds of pet food to families in need.
Why We Do It
Many of our clients—our neighbors—cannot afford traditional veterinary care. With EveryPet’s support, they avoid heartbreaking choices such as surrendering a pet or facing economic euthanasia. As the Southeast’s leading fully integrated animal welfare organization, we are dedicated to creating life-saving solutions through innovative programs and community partnerships.
