Nonprofit Spotlight: Animal Coalition of Tampa

Animal Coalition of Tampa is a local nonprofit organization that was founded 10 years ago with the goal of helping animals in the community.

Patch recently talked to Jennifer Anderson, ACT's program director, to find out more about what the organization does and how the community can get involved.

Patch: What is the purpose of ACT, and where is it located?

Anderson: Animal Coalition of Tampa (ACT) is a non-profit organization that offers low-cost, high quality spay and neuters, vaccines and dentals. Our mission is to end pet overpopulation in Hillsborough county and to offer low cost services to do the right thing. Our goal is to live in a place where all animals are treated with respect and kindness, instead of cruelty and neglect. ACT is located at 1719 West Lemon St. in Tampa. The phone number to the clinic is (813) 250-3900.

Patch: When was ACT founded? Also, is there a staff that works there full-time?

Anderson: ACT was founded in 2001 with a dedicated group of volunteers that wanted to help the feral cat problem. Through the years, we discovered that there was a huge need to offer low-cost spay and neuters to all dogs and cats. We opened the Lemon Street clinic in March of 2006. We've completed 48,000 surgeries. We are thankful for our dedicated, licensed veterinarians and our hard-working, highly trained, and professional, full-time veterinarian and administrative staff.

Patch: How do your organization's services differ from the National Humane Society or Big Cat Rescue?

Anderson: ACT and the National Humane Society have the same goal and mission, and although many Humane Societies offer low-cost spay and neuters and vaccines to their communities, they are mainly known as a shelter and adoption agency.  ACT puts all of their effort into their veterinarian services by offering low-cost spay and neuters and educating the public on the importance of spaying and neutering. We perform between 40-60 surgeries and can see another 50-120 animals for vaccines a day, six days a week. ACT differs from the Big Cat Rescue in that we deal with small cats and also dogs, not big cats and we are not a rescue facility.

Patch: How important is your organization to communities like Carrollwood and Northdale?

Anderson: Our organization is important to all communities. We want to make it easy for people to do the right thing. That is why we offer a free service called the Neuter Scooter. On the first Wednesday of every month, our Neuter Scooter van stops at the PETCO in Carrollwood early in the morning to pick up your pet and bring the animal to the clinic to get spayed or neutered, and we return your pet to the same location in the late afternoon. Please call the clinic at (813) 250-3900 to get more information on this free service and to set an appointment.

Patch: How can people become involved with ACT if they wish to volunteer?

Anderson: If people are interested in volunteering with ACT, please contact Jennifer at jennifera@actampa.org. There are upcoming fundraising events and tabling events that we need volunteers for.