ASPCA Grants $2 Million to Animal Welfare Organizations Impacted by COVID-19
As part of the ASPCA COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Initiative, the ASPCA has awarded $2 million in emergency grant funding to over 50 animal welfare organizations in 30 states whose programs, operations, or fundraising capabilities have been impacted by the pandemic.
“We are proud to support the animal welfare community and grateful to them for stepping up, thinking creatively and courageously, and forging new paths to meet the needs of their communities during these challenging times.”
Recipients include private humane societies, municipal animal shelters, animal rescue and transport groups, spay/neuter clinics, and organizations focusing on the adoption of dogs, cats, equines, and farm animals. On average, each shelter received nearly $40,000 in grants to help them continue their lifesaving work.
“Like so many animal welfare organizations, our shelter had to completely reconfigure operations, postpone fundraising events, and in our case, suspend our lifesaving transport program. This grant provides critical, general operating funds to ensure we can continue pulling animals from area municipal shelters and provide veterinary and sheltering services until we can find an adoptive home.” – Acadiana Animal Aid Executive Director Jeanine Foucher
“The coronavirus pandemic had the potential to destroy the lifesaving systems all of us have worked so hard for on behalf of vulnerable animals. Due to the need for land and the higher costs of feed and care, horses tend to be more vulnerable during times of financial crisis than other pets. With this financial support from the ASPCA, Nexus Equine will be able to keep our intake programs operating and continue to provide crisis relief for the horses of Oklahoma." –Nexus Equine President & CEO Rita Hoch
The ASPCA would like to give a special thanks to The Alex & Elisabeth Lewyt Charitable Trust for donating $500,000 to support the ASPCA’s efforts, helping make this relief grant funding possible.
In addition to the $2 million in grants awarded to animal welfare organizations, the ASPCA COVID-19 Relief & Recovery Initiative also includes assisting more than 100,000 animals across the country through the creation of regional pet food distribution centers, which give dog, cat, and equine owners free access to food and supplies.
Read the press release.