State Tax Check-off

Pet Overpopulation Fund
Colorado
http://www.savecoloradopets.org/

The state of Colorado was the first state to use the voluntary state tax check-off for pets. It has been used in other states for various issues including wildlife.

Grants for educational programs and for subsidizing spay/neuter services are made possible primarily by donations from citizens checking off a box on their state income tax returns.

The Pet Overpopulation Fund was established by Colorado statute. The fund exists to educate the public about the importance of controlling pet overpopulation and to work with animal shelters, veterinarians and local communities to curb pet overpopulation in Colorado, ultimately ending the need for animal euthanasia due to unwanted pet births. The fund subsidizes sterilizations for Colorado's pets by providing grants that support collaborative efforts between local veterinarians and animal care and control agencies statewide.

The fund has seven board members representing different humane organizations who serve without compensation for a period of two or three years. They donate their time in support of the fund's cause and decide how the grants will be distributed. They are appointed by the commissioner of the Department of Agriculture.

As of May 31, 2003, 56% of the funds had been expended, with 58% of the grant year completed. A total of 3,580 surgeries had been preformed at a cost of $112,164. These funds were spent in underserved areas in Colorado using private veterinary clinics and nonprofit shelters. The coalition estimates that 60% of these sterilizations were performed on cats and 40 percent on dogs, at an average cost of $33.57.

In 2002, the fund awarded a total of $200,244 to 25 groups.

How to do something similar in your community

The state legislature would need to pass legislation creating a special fund for the monies and setting requirements for the program.

Published by Best Friends Animal Society.
http://www.bestfriends.org/