TAMPA, Fla., August 29, 2023 – Florida Animal Friend announces the organization’s 2023 grant recipients, granting $779,590 to fund spay and neuter programs in Florida. The annual grants fund up to $25,000 for municipal and nonprofit organizations in Florida that provide free or low-cost spay and neuter services for cats and dogs. Florida Animal Friend, well known for its adorable Florida dog and cat license plate, is a nonprofit organization devoted to ending pet overpopulation. This year’s grants total, funded through license plate sales, is the largest amount granted to worthy organizations in the organization’s 18-year history.
Florida Animal Friend is delighted to award funding to the following organizations:
ANIMAL WELFARE LEAGUE OF CHARLOTTE COUNTY, FL
COMMUNITY CATS OF BONITA SPRINGS
FELINE FRIENDS OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MANATEE COUNTY
HUMANE SOCIETY OF MARION COUNTY
HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE TREASURE COAST
HUMANE SOCIETY OF VERO BEACH & INDIAN RIVER COUNTY
IT’S MEOW OR NEVER FOR FERALS, INC.
JACKSONVILLE ANIMAL CARE AND PROTECTIVE SERVICES
KEY WEST CAT SOCIETY DBA VENICE CAT COALITION
MIAMI-DADE COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES
OSCEOLA COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES
PEGGY ADAMS ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF THE PALM BEACHES
PET ALLIANCE OF GREATER ORLANDO
PINELLAS COUNTY ANIMAL SERVICES
RESCUE PETS (CATS?) OF FLORIDA INC.
SUWANNEE VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA FOUNDATION
VOICES FOR CHANGE ANIMAL LEAGUE
YOUCANMAKEADIFFERENCE.COM, INC.
The first quarter of each year, municipal and nonprofit agencies are encouraged to submit funding proposals for spay/neuter projects in Florida. The grant program is a highly competitive process where organizations are scored for strengths, including targeting of important animal populations, ability to increase surgery numbers above the existing baseline, cost to benefit ratio, track record of the applicant and sustainability.
There are 6 to 8 million homeless cats and dogs in the United States and more than 1 million of these animals are euthanized each year. The best way to help decrease these numbers is to increase access to free and low-cost spay and neuter programs. The grant program is funded through the sale of a specialty license plate, available through the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles in every county in Florida.
About Florida Animal Friend
Incorporated in 2005, Florida Animal Friend’s mission is to help save the lives of countless cats and dogs by supporting organizations that offer free or low-cost spay and neuter services across Florida. The organization strives to reduce pet overpopulation by increasing awareness of programs available to pet owners and homeless pets. Grants are awarded annually and are funded through the sale of the specialty Florida Animal Friend license plate. For more on the organization or how to purchase a plate, visit www.floridaanimalfriend.org.