ASPCA Providing $5 Million in Grant Funding to Support Struggling Animal Shelters Nationwide

NEW YORK, NY – The ASPCA^® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals^®) today announced a new grant initiative providing $5 million in critical 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. To address some of the most urgent issues shelters are facing, the ASPCA is providing funding to increase positive outcomes for homeless dogs, cats, and equines, address the psychological health of animals in shelters, and improve access to veterinary care for under-resourced pet owners. At least $3 million of this will be available to fund qualifying proposals submitted by non-profit and municipal shelters, with the remainder going to support select existing ASPCA partners. As one of the country’s largest animal welfare grant makers, the ASPCA is providing more than $15 million in grant funding in 2024 alone, to animal shelters, municipal and governmental agencies, rescue groups, and other mission-aligned organizations.

“Animal shelters across the country are dealing with the impacts of ongoing staffing and veterinary shortages, an increasing number of animals with medical and behavioral needs who often stay longer in shelters, and the devastating economic hardships paired with a lack of pet-friendly housing making it difficult for pet owners to keep their pets healthy and in their homes,” said Christa Chadwick, vice president of shelter services at the ASPCA. “These grant funds are intended to help alleviate some of the stressors put on shelters by providing them with equipment, supplies, staffing, or veterinary care, to help support their critical work caring for animals in their community.”  Chadwick added: “Through our extensive shelter partnerships and lifesaving initiatives, together we have positively impacted tens of thousands of animals so far this year. The ASPCA’s new grant initiative will further this work.”

Shelters across the country are full, with 6.5 million dogs and cats entering animal shelters last year and only 4.8 million animals adopted. With limited resources and too many animals in need, shelters are working overtime to find loving homes for the animals in their care. Grant funding is just one of many ways the ASPCA supports animal 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.

Since 2001, the ASPCA has provided more than $200 million in grant funding to over 3,500 mission-aligned organizations nationwide. These funds support a variety of programs ranging from increasing pet adoptions to helping communities build strong programs that assist animals during natural disasters, improving access to veterinary care, and partnering with food banks to serve more than 4.3 million pet food meals since 2017.

Applications for the ASPCA shelter grant initiative are open now through October 18. For more information about the eligibility requirements, or to submit a proposal, please visit https://aspcapro.org/national-shelter-grants.