NORTHERN MICHIGAN- The Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) is proud to announce the recipients of the 2023 Animal Welfare Fund grants. This year, MDARD will distribute $150,000 to 34 registered animal shelters throughout the state to support various animal welfare projects thanks to Michiganders who check the “Animal Welfare Fund” on their annual state tax returns.
According to statistics from the American Veterinary Medical Association, Michigan is home to approximately 2.4 million dogs and 1.8 million cats; and some of these animals are in living one of Michigan’s 204 registered animal shelters, waiting to become someone’s beloved pet.
Grants through Michigan’s Animal Welfare Fund help shelters finance spay/neuter programs, educate others about proper animal care, train staff, and provide the means for maintaining animal health throughout local communities. Collectively, these efforts help shelters to adopt more animals and promote animal health and welfare in their communities.
One hundred percent of the contributions made to the Animal Welfare Fund goes directly to registered Michigan animal shelters to help them better care for local animals and support their broader community. Since 2010, MDARD has distributed more than $1.8 million to over 283 animal shelters.
For this year’s grant cycle, MDARD received 96 applications from 64 organizations, totaling more than $2 million in requests. Some of the innovative projects selected this year include:
- Supplying local law enforcement agencies with microchip scanners so lost pets can be scanned in the field and more quickly reunited with their owners.
- Protecting both shelter animals and owned animals throughout the community by expanding vaccination capabilities and opportunities at shelters.
- Funding and equipping surgical suites at local animal shelters to not only reduce the stress and cost of shelter animals traveling for care but also serve as a resource for veterinary care for the pets throughout the community.
The following local animal shelter organizations received 2023 Animal Welfare Fund grants:
- Alpena County Animal Control – $3,000
- Arenac County Animal Control – $5,200
- Clare County Animal Shelter – $10,000
- Gladwin County Animal Control Shelter – $4,000
- Roscommon County Animal Control – $2,000
For more information on the Animal Welfare Fund and how to contribute, please visit michigan.gov/animalwelfarefund.
