17 Years of Advancing this Field

Our organization is the brainchild of three individuals: Drs. Henry Baker, Stephen Boyle, and Brenda Griffin. Together, they recognized the need for non-surgical options for companion animals, as well as the need for collaboration in order to see progress.

For Stephen Boyle, involvement came about somewhat by chance. In 1998 he was working on refinement of a cattle brucellosis vaccine at Virginia Tech’s Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine. A second year veterinary students approached Dr. Boyle to perform research during the summer and proposed that he get involved in more “meaningful” research – namely, fertility control for free-roaming and feral cats. The student’s zeal had a profound impact and made a lasting impression on Dr. Boyle.

According to Brenda Griffin, “It was Esther Meckler who actually connected the initial group together. She invited several of us to do a panel on non-surgical sterilization at the 2000 Spay USA Conference that year. I went and Henry asked me to deliver a message to the others there. He wanted to create a network of researchers working in the field specifically for cats and dogs. I met Stephen there and he was thinking just exactly the same thing - so the three of us got together! Voila! Esther was always so good at networking people, so I often think of her when I remember the beginning.”

Dr. Boyle then convened a meeting at Virginia Tech in August 2000, which drew 12 experts interested in improving contraceptive technology for cats and dogs. Up to this point, researchers and veterinarians interested in the cause had largely been working independently, and meeting participants felt strongly that non-surgical fertility control needed greater support and collaboration than was currently being used. The pivotal meeting was funded by Gerald R. Dodge Foundation, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), and Virginia Tech.

The Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs grew out of this meeting, motivated by a unique mix of scientific acumen and dedication to animal welfare. 

Henry Baker remembers, “Some might get a chuckle about how ACC&D got that name. The elements, Alliance, Contraception, Dog and Cat were obvious, but some thought was given as to how the words would be organized. The first suggestion was Alliance for Contraception of Dogs & Cats, but the acronym was ACDC. Being devout professionals, we wanted no part in being identified with punk-rock, so it was quickly agreed to adopt ACCD. Problem solved.”

After the 2004 symposium, it was clear that ACC&D had garnered the interest and support to become an independent nonprofit and further drive momentum in this field.

A 2005 white paper authored by Linda Rhodes, VMD/PhD, and Katherine Moldave, MBA, asked provocative questions about how this initiative might be structured and advanced, with examples from human health as inspiration. In a 2005 strategic retreat, 14 leaders gathered to design a pathway forward; together, they represented the expertise in the diverse fields needed to steer the effort.

Calling themselves the Gang of Five, a core group from the retreat volunteered to translate the retreat ideas into an action plan. Dr. Boyle, former PetSmart Charities Executive Director Joyce Briggs (now ACC&D President), then Animal Assistance Foundation Executive Director David Gies, Veterinarian Don Polley, and former ASPCA Executive Vice President Steve Zawistowski together pursued independent 501(c)3 nonprofit status for the organization and, in 2006, created ACC&D’s first five-year plan. Among the goals: to raise $10 million for the advancement of promising technologies. 

ACC&D’s expanding Board of Directors continued the pattern of diversity, convening leaders from the stakeholder groups needed to advance this mission. National animal welfare leaders, scientists, veterinarians and leaders from animal health and foundations found common ground in ACC&D’s mission and vision. In 2007 ACC&D's Scientific Advisory Board was created.

From 2006 to date, the ASPCA has provided annual grants as our largest funder and has also offered Board leadership and strategic support. HSUS, as well, has offered significant annual support both financially and through Board participation to the current day. We are also grateful to the dozens of organizations and many individuals who have supported this work. Our leadership funding since 2011 has come from our Council of Stakeholders.

Soon after incorporating, ACC&D played a key role as the catalyst to inspire the Michelson Prize & Grants Program (MPG). Launched in 2008, it incentivizes research through a $25 million prize and $50 million in grant funding to develop a single-dose, non-surgical sterilant for male and female cats and dogs. Click here to see a presentation from ACC&D’s 5th International Symposium on the first five years of MPG research, or visit their website for more about the research they’ve funded.

The commitment of the Found Animals Foundation to fund and operate their Michelson Prize & Grants Program was a huge step for the field of non-surgical animal sterilization. It has both energized many talented scientists and funded many research endeavors aimed at developing and refining the science necessary to create new tools.

ACC&D has continued to convene key stakeholders as well as advocates and educate the public about non-surgical sterilization for cats and dogs. We have held five international symposia to facilitate circulation of resources and information in the field. We have coordinated Think Tanks to jumpstart discussion of pertinent issues surrounding non-surgical fertility control, published a comprehensive e-book that has been downloaded well over 1000 times in 70 countries, and worked to inspire creative and effective uses of a permanent non-surgical sterilant for male dogs, EsterilSol™ launched internationally in 2008, and under the name Zeuterin™, in the US in 2014. ACC&D produces Product Profile and Position Papers on available products and has launched three Flagship Initiatives. 

We recognize that we will need to persevere to see this field reach its potential. Drug development is slow work. Yet there are many ways to work toward making good use of the tools we have and preparing the marketplace for those tools to come. We are committed to progress in developing effective dog and cat contraceptive technology. In addition, we see our role as helping these new tools fit into holistic programs to improve the well-being of cats, dogs, and communities alike. We hope you’ll explore the many future-focused sections of our website for our current strategies, activities and goals.