About the Luke and Lily Lerner Spay/Neuter Clinic

student assisting veterinarian during a spay/neuter procedure

Luke and Lily Lerner Spay/Neuter Clinic (Lerner Clinic) provides low-cost spay/neuter services to community animals in need while providing veterinary students at Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University with opportunities for surgical training.

History of the Clinic

Lerner Clinic was opened in 2003 through a collaboration between Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine and the Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC). Construction of this specially designed, dedicated space was made possible by a lead gift from the Leonard Bosack and Bette Kruger Foundation. Additional construction and start-up support was provided by The Biber Foundation, Rarie Dye, The Martha Morse Foundation, Elmina B. Sewall Foundation, Lucia H. Shipley Foundation and anonymous donors. Between 2003 and 2008 MAC offered a Friday spay neuter clinic for area shelters and rescues while Tufts used the clinic space to train veterinary students during the week. In 2008, Cummings School began to fully utilize Lerner Clinic for veterinary student surgical training. MAC and Lerner Clinic continue their collaboration today to help provide spay and neuter services to animals in need through the MAC License Plate Grant.

Who were Luke and Lily Lerner?

Luke and Lily were two very special cats belonging to Sandy Lerner, one of the founders of the Bosack and Kruger Foundation. Both cats were adopted from shelters. Because of her love for these special animals Ms. Lerner wanted to do something to honor their memory that would help improve the lives of other companion animals.

Community Cats

Lerner Clinic aims to hold one monthly clinic for community cats. Community cats are those cats that are not privately owned but live freely in a community, and they are most often collectively cared for by local residents. Residents may schedule a cat for the spay/neuter clinic by contacting Arianna Peluffo at communitycats@tufts.edu. The fee for a community cat clinic is $55 per cat and includes an exam, vaccinations, spay or neuter surgery, and ear tipping.