2022 was our most impactful year yet in our 18-year history: we were able to award grants totaling over $700,000 to 36 organizations that aid in our mission of reducing pet overpopulation!
Many people don’t realize that, as a granting organization, we do not perform any spay and neuter surgeries. Instead, we use every donation along with the money received from sales of Florida specialty license plates to award grants that help fund free or low-cost spay and neuter programs throughout the entire state of Florida.
So, this is where you come in! There are three key ways that cat and dog lovers like you can support our work at Florida Animal Friend:
- Donate directly to us via our website
- Purchase one of our specialty Spay and Neuter license plates
- Spread the word to help raise awareness for our mission
You may wonder if one small donation actually does any good in the grand scheme of things, but every penny truly counts when it comes to ensuring that cats and dogs have safe and loving homes. We have made the donation process as streamlined and as simple as possible by integrating Paypal on our website. This means that you have the option to donate directly from your bank account (think of it like a digital check), or you can even use a debit or credit card to make your donation. Also, you have the option to set up a monthly recurring donation, which is a very simple and effective way to automate your contribution to a good cause each month without worrying about forgetting! Another perk to donating: as a 501(c)(3) organization, all direct donations to Florida Animal Friend are tax deductible.
We are incredibly grateful for every single penny that is donated directly to us, but a stand-out feature of purchasing a Florida Animal Friend license plate is that it both directly and indirectly increases our impact. Not only do we receive $25 from each license plate sale, but you are also able to help raise awareness for our organization and mission whenever you proudly display one of our Florida specialty license plates. Also, the $25 from each plate is not limited to your first-time purchase; we are beneficiaries of your plate purchase on renewals, too!
It may seem passive, but the impact of simply choosing one of our spay and neuter license plates really is huge. You can think of it like having a portable billboard; anywhere you drive, other people can see your direct support for Florida Animal Friend. In turn, they may do a quick Google of us to see what we are all about (and then hopefully get their own adorable license plate, too!).
This leads to another added benefit that our license plates have: they provide an opportunity to educate others on the importance of reducing pet overpopulation. This mission directly contributes to animal welfare because it helps ensure that cats and dogs are loved and can live happy, healthy lives. It also helps animal shelters that are strapped for resources, as many shelters throughout Florida are currently struggling with being over capacity.
Not only is purchasing a Florida Animal Friend plate a fun (and adorable) way to express your support for keeping pet overpopulation at bay, but it’s also easy and convenient. There are many different options for securing your very own spay and neuter specialty license plate, including:
- Request a plate online
- Purchase or renew by mail
- Replace your current plate by mail if you don’t want to wait for renewal
- Get your plate in person
Did you know that you can even gift a Florida specialty license plate to anyone in the state of Florida? This makes for an incredible birthday gift for the pet lover in your life. The gift certificate program is run by the Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles department, and it works like any other gift certificate program. The person you gift this to doesn’t even need to take their gift certificate to their local office; when you buy the gift certificate for the license plate, it’s notated in their system. And yes, we still receive $25 from the sale of gift certificates, too! Talk about a win-win.
We are so grateful to everyone who donates to us, purchases a license plate, and amplifies our mission. It’s because of the compassionate generosity of animal lovers like you that we are able to sustain our grants and provide needed funds to programs that help reduce pet overpopulation throughout the state of Florida. Thank you! If you have any questions about donating, getting your spay and neuter license plate, or helping us raise awareness, please do reach out and contact us. Lastly, if you need a quick pick-me-up, be sure to visit our Pet Portal. These are the faces of why we do what we do — and they are sure to brighten your day!