Humboldt Spay and Neuter Clinic Seeks $11K for New Surgical Equipment

The Humboldt Spay and Neuter Clinic in Eureka is asking the North Coast community to help cover $11,000 in equipment costs, the remaining half of a $22,000 replacement project after an anonymous donor stepped in to cover the rest.

The two pieces of equipment at the center of the campaign are a surgical table and a dental machine, both more than 10 years old and both used daily. Sarah Dunn, the clinic's Community Engagement and Communications Coordinator, put it plainly: "They're two of the most sought after. They've both seen thousands of patients and they both have hit their expiration time." She added that the items are "just so outdated."

The stakes are not abstract. The clinic performs up to 30 surgeries per day, and its dental program is booked months in advance. If the equipment cannot be replaced soon, staff say several programs could be affected, though no appointments have been disrupted yet.

"While it hasn't affected our scheduled appointments, our main concern is being able to keep up with the demand for these services," Executive Director Trudy Stanfield-Terres said.

Since opening in 2003, the nonprofit has helped more than 35,000 animals through spay and neuter surgeries and other veterinary services, making it one of the most consistent providers of accessible veterinary care on the redwood coast. Stanfield-Terres described the clinic's purpose in terms of the gap it fills for Humboldt County pet owners with limited options.

"The impact has been incredible," she said. "Having a resource for people to turn to when they feel like they don't have any other options is really our driving force here."

The clinic is accepting donations through a GoFundMe campaign, its website, by mail, and in person. The fundraiser's own language frames the ask in direct terms: "Your support is an investment in compassionate, accessible veterinary care and in the thousands of animals and families who rely on us every year.