Local Animal Shelters Receive Spay/Neuter Grants From Georgia Ag Dept

Several local animal shelters have received grants from the Georgia Department of Agriculture.

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black has announced the issuance of $711,000 in grants to assist with spaying and neutering Georgia’s companion animals.

Out of 130 applicants, 97 state-licensed animal shelters and animal rescue organizations will be awarded the grants.

Those include two groups in Hart County: Granite County Animal Partners, Inc. and Hart County Animal Rescue, Inc.

Both received a $5,000 grant to help pay for spaying and neutering dogs.

Other local animal shelters in our area to receive grants included the Madison Oglethorpe Animal Shelter, Habersham County Animal Control, and Rabun Paws 4 Life, Inc.

“Often local communities have citizens that are burdened by the high costs of having their pets spayed or neutered,” Commissioner Black said. “This grant will target and aid these communities across Georgia by keeping strays off the street and controlling the animal population in a humane manner.”

This is the fifth set of grants to be issued through the Dog and Cat Sterilization Program which is funded by the purchase of the Dog and Cat Sterilization Auto Tag, income tax check-off, and direct contributions to the program.

Since the program began, the Dog and Cat Sterilization Program has been used to spay or neuter over 100,000 companion animals.

Grants ranged from $1000 to $230,000 and were awarded based on the highest priority after considering factors such as targeting of important animal populations, ability to increase surgery numbers, cost-benefit ratio, record of grant applicant and sustainability.