Awards totaling $103,829 will go for spay and neuter activities
March 30, 2010
Lansing - Michigan Department of Agriculture (MDA) officials today announced the recipients of the 2009 Companion Animal Welfare tax check-off funds, which in 2009 generated $103,829. Under the competitive grant cycle, the 11 animal shelters, registered (licensed) with the state, will receive between $7,060 and $10,000 in reimbursement for the purchase of surgical equipment, contracting with veterinarians to perform sterilizations or, in one case, for the purchase of post surgical recovery crates.
The Animal Welfare Fund was established under Public Act 132 of 2007. The fund supports efforts relating to the spaying and neutering of animals, and helps finance the costs for protecting and caring for animals that have been subjected to cruelty or neglect. Taxpayers may elect to contribute $5, $10, or any other amount to the fund.
The grantees include:
Al-Van Humane Society (Van Buren County)
KalamazooAnimal Service and Law Enforcement (Kalamazoo County)
Adopt-A-Pet (Genesee County)
K-9 Stray Rescue League (Oakland County)
Northwoods Animal Shelter (Iron County)
JacksonCountyAnimal Shelter
Allen Park Police Department (Wayne County)
SaginawCounty Animal Care Center
IoniaCountyAnimal Shelter
Humane Society of Alger County
KentCountyAnimal Shelter
"This tax check-off was created to provide funding to sterilize pets before adoption, to increase the knowledge and awareness of Michigan's anti-cruelty laws, and to help fund the care of animals as it relates to the enforcement of those laws," said State Veterinarian Dr. Steven Halstead.
The tax check-off allows individuals to voluntarily donate to the Companion Animal Welfare Fund via the State of Michigan tax form starting with the 2008 tax year. Approximately $104,000 was collected in 2009 and the funds collected will reimburse the the grant winners for spay and neuter related activities.
"MDA received 35 proposals requesting a total of $334,713 in fundng, which indicates to me there is much greater need out there," Halstead said. "The grant selection process was competitive with each proposal being evaluated and rated on its merits."
The call for proposals required shelters to be registered with MDA. The selection criteria included providing their2008 and 2009 Activities Reports, and the shelter had to be in good standing to be eligible for the award. Although pet rescue groups may be non-profit 501C3 entities, they are not registered with MDA and have no regulatory oversight. For this first round of grants, only organizations registered with MDA were eligible to receive funds.
"We encourage these groups to partner with a registered shelter and apply for funds that way," Halstead said. "By partnering with a registered shelter, a non-profit group becomes accountable to Michigan tax payers, ensuring there is transparency on how these taxpayer contributions are being used."
MDA is planning the next round of requests for proposals in October 2010, assuming the fund receives sufficient donations.
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