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MDA to Award nearly $600K in Grants to Help Reduce Euthanasia Rates of Companion Animals and Unowned Cats Across the State

The Statewide Spay and Neuter Program Announces its Second Cycle Grant Recipients

petsANNAPOLIS, MD (Nov. 9, 2015) – The Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) statewide Spay and Neuter Grant Program is awarding nearly $600,000.00 in its second cycle of grants to 19 nonprofit and governmental organizations across the state.  These projects will provide low-cost spay and neuter services targeted to low-income pet owners and managers of unowned cats across the state.

The Spay and Neuter Grants Program was created by the General Assembly during the 2013 Legislative Session as a new program within MDA. The goal of the program is to reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized in shelters across the state by providing competitive grants to local governments and animal welfare organizations that promote and provide spay and neuter services and education. The legislation requires the program to give priority, whenever possible, to those projects that serve low-income communities and populations. All funding for this program comes from a special fee paid by pet food companies that sell product(s) in Maryland.

A total of 30 applications, requesting more than $1 million were received during this cycle.  The Spay and Neuter Advisory Board spent the last several months carefully reviewing all submissions, choosing the best possible projects to recommend to the Secretary.  Secretary Bartenfelder approved the 19 grantees, with projects to occur in 13 counties, as listed below.  Grantees are:

104      The Lifesaver Spay/Neuter Program by HART for Animals, Inc. targeting Garrett & Allegany Cos. ($38,800.00)

  • A continuation of FY15 project, to provide services to 200 additional pet dogs and 200 additional pet cats of low-income pet owners in two counties.

108      Don’t Have a Litter-We’ll Fix Your Critter by the Animal Welfare League of Queen Anne’s County targeting Queen Anne’s Co. ($11,250.00)

  • Provides free spay and neuter to 100 pet dogs and 150 pet cats of low income pet owners in seven zip codes in the eastern part of the county and provide bilingual education.

111      Thurmont Ferals Project by Tip Me Frederick targeting Frederick Co. ($23,736.00)

  • Targets Thurmont, Emmitsburg, and the surrounding area to spay and neuter 600 unowned cats.

106      Don’t Pay to Spay by the Caroline County Humane Society targeting Caroline & Dorchester Cos. ($41,058.00)

  • A continuation of FY15 project, to provide free services to 124 additional pet dogs and 400 additional pet cats of low-income pet owners in two counties. Targets low-income pet owners throughout Caroline County and low income pet owners in Federalsburg and Hurlock in Dorchester County.

113      Eastside Spay & Neuter Program (ESNP) by the Baltimore County Department of Health  targeting Baltimore Co. ($45,514.00)

  • Targets low-income pet owners in Dundalk/Turner’s Station and Sparrow’s Point in east Baltimore County and will provide outreach and no-cost surgeries to 770 pet cats and 346 pet dogs.

122      Partnering to Provide Free Spay/Neuter Services for Low-Income Residents in Baltimore City by the MD SPCA and BARCS targeting Baltimore City ($110,450.00)

  • A continuation of FY15 project, to provide free services to 250 additional pet dogs and 1,000 additional pet cats of low-income pet owners in six zip codes in Baltimore City.

125      Jessup Community Cat Colonies by Sunshine’s Friends Cat Rescue and Sanctuary, Inc. targeting Anne Arundel & Howard Cos. ($7,106.40)

  • Targets cat colonies five locations in the Jessup area and will alter 112 unowned cats.

101      A Bigger & Better Spay Spa & Neuter Nook by Rude Ranch Animal Rescue/ Spay Spa and Neuter Nook targeting Anne Arundel Co. ($35,707.91)

  • To provide equipment to expand surgery capabilities of facility used by organizations and citizens throughout the state. The expansion will increase service capacity this year by 3,800 low cost surgeries.  Also, as a continuation of the FY15 project, to provide no-cost surgeries to low income pet owners in Glen Bernie, Severn, Brooklyn Park, and Pasadena for 60 pet cats and 60 pet dogs.

107      Spay/Neuter Mid-Shore by Talbot Humane & Baywater Animal Rescue targeting Talbot & Dorchester  Cos. ($48,355.00)

  • Provides no-cost spay/neuter services to low-income pet owners throughout Talbot County and the city of Cambridge in Dorchester County. This project will provide surgeries to 350 pet cats and 250 pet dogs.

126      Stop Over-Population and Suffering (SOPA) by Snip/Tuck Inc. targeting Dorchester Co. ($8,046.00)

  • Provides surgeries to 450 unowned cats in colonies in Cambridge, Vienna, Toddville, Crepo, Lakes & Straights, Thomas, Hurlock, Secretary, and East Market.

128      Sunshine’s Friends Jessup Spay and Neuter Your Pet by Sunshine’s Friends Cat Rescue and Sanctuary targeting Anne Arundel & Howard Cos. ($11,629.48)

  • Provides low-income pet owners in Jessup with transportation and no-cost surgeries for 100 pet cats and 50 pet dogs.

109      Gaithersburg Free Spay & Neuter Program by the Animal Welfare League of Montgomery County Inc. targeting Montgomery Co. ($10,035.00)

  • Provides transportation and no-cost surgeries to low-income residents in Gaithersburg for 70 pet cats and 30 pet dogs.

121      Spay It Forward MCPAW by Montgomery County Partners for Animal Wellbeing targeting Montgomery Co. ($19,820.00)

  • Provides surgeries to 358 unowned cats in 11 colonies in the county.

117      Community Spay Neuter Project by Last Chance Animal Rescue targeting Charles Co. ($37,700.00)

  • Targets low-income pet owners in four zip codes in Waldorf and will provide no-cost surgeries to 200 pet cats and 300 pet dogs.

103      Free Spay/Neuter at HSCC by the Humane Society of Charles County targeting Charles Co. ($31,097.10)

  • A continuation of FY15 project, to provide free services to 190 additional pet cats and an additional 160 pet dogs.

118      Keep Cumberland Litter Free by the Allegany County Animal Shelter Management Foundation targeting Allegany Co. ($42,261.05)

  • Provides funding for equipment for a much-needed low cost spay/neuter clinic on the shelter property that will serve all of Allegany County. Also provides 200 free surgeries to pet cats and dogs of low income residents in the City of Cumberland.

102      Fix Somerset County by the Humane Society of Somerset County targeting Somerset Co. ($25,800.00)

  • Provides free spay and neuter to 600 pet cats of low income pet owners in Crisfield, Deal Island, Marion Station, Princess Anne, and Westover.

127      Embedded Community Outreach in Baltimore City by Charm City Companions, Inc. targeting Baltimore City ($17,160.00)

  • A continuation of their FY15 project to provide free surgeries to 200 pet cats and pet dogs in two zip codes in Northeast Baltimore City.

119      Cecil County MD Targeted TNR/Spay Neuter Program by the Chesapeake Feline Association targeting Cecil Co. ($25,103.00)

  • Provides surgeries to 400 unowned cats in cat colonies located in two low-income areas in the county: Woodlawn Estates in Port Deposit and Hollingsworth Manor in Elkton.

 

The next call for proposals is expected to be announced January 2016.  For more information about the Program and the projects funded so far, visit the MDA Spay and Neuter Program website.

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Contact Information

If you have any questions, need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jessica Hackett
Director of Communications
Telephone: 410-841-5888

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