ASPCA Announces Second Year of National Shelter Grant Initiative to Improve Outcomes for Animals

NEW YORK, NY - The ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) today announced the second year of its National Shelter Grant Initiative, which will provide more than $2.5 million in funding to support animal shelters across the country that are struggling with ongoing capacity challenges, long-term staffing and veterinary care shortages, and an increasing number of animals requiring specialized care. This grant initiative coincides with The Rescue Effect - the ASPCA's national campaign helping more animals find homes - and builds off of last year's funding to address some of the most urgent issues shelters are facing to continue increasing positive outcomes for homeless dogs, cats, and equines.

"Many shelters across the country are full, and animals are often staying longer in their care before being adopted. With the ongoing staffing and veterinary shortages, paired with barriers to housing and veterinary care that prevent many families from adopting new pets, shelters are struggling to meet the needs of all the animals in their care," saidChrista Chadwick, vice president of shelter services at the ASPCA. "The ASPCA's National Shelter Grant Initiative will provide shelters with funding that can be used for equipment, supplies, staffing, or veterinary care, to help support their critical work caring for animals in their community."

Nearly 6 million dogs and cats entered animal shelters last year and only 4.2 million animals were adopted. With limited resources and too many animals in need, shelters are working hard to find loving homes for the animals in their care, including an increasing proportion of animals with greater medical and behavioral needs that cause them to stay longer in shelters. As a national organization, the ASPCA collaborates with hundreds of local shelters and rescues, working together to save and improve the lives of animals by providing life-changing tools, resources, and relocation services to help give even more animals a second chance.

Last year, the ASPCA's National Shelter Grant Initiative provided nearly $5 million to 100 organizations across the country, helping reduce the strain on local shelters and improve outcomes for thousands of animals.

"Thanks to the ASPCA's National Shelter Initiative Grant for Animal Psychological Health, Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region has been able to improve the work our behavior team does for the pets in our care," said Jessica James, vice president of philanthropy of Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region. "Our behavior specialist role was expanded to focus on re-tooling training materials, oversight of volunteer roles, and increased managerial responsibilities of emerging services. We launched a behavior helpline, developed post-adoption follow-ups, created new behavior resources and materials, and added individualized training plans for dogs needing behavioral care. As a local, independent nonprofit, we offer compassionate care to animals, support safe communities, and provide socially conscious sheltering. We are dedicated to giving every animal that comes through our doors the care and respect they deserve, and this grant helps us to create the best outcomes for animals while nurturing the human-animal bond."

Grants are just one example of how the ASPCA is helping animals and communities in need, with funds supporting a variety of programs ranging from increasing pet adoptions to helping communities build strong programs to rescue, shelter, transport, and support animals during natural disasters, improving access to veterinary care, and advancing research that either directly or systemically benefits animals. Since 2001, the ASPCA has provided more than $200 million in grant funding to over 4,000 organizations and programs nationwide dedicated to helping vulnerable and victimized animals.

Applications for the ASPCA shelter grant initiative are open now through October 17. For more information about the eligibility requirements, or to submit a proposal, please visit https://aspcapro.org/national-shelter-grants.