Victorian animal care services will receive a $1.6 million boost through the latest round of the Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program.
Ros Spence, Minister for Agriculture, named 33 grant recipients under Round 12 of the program, with $1.14 million going to not-for-profit shelters and rescue organisations to support the rehoming of companion animals. An additional $460,000 has been allocated to community vet clinics to expand services or establish new low-cost facilities in areas of need.
“The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program is making a real difference in the lives of Victorian companion animals and their owners, helping as many pets as possible into loving families.
“We are proud to work with animal care organisations to secure affordable care and we look forward to seeing the benefits of this work for many years to come,” said Minister Spence.
Pets In The Park, a national organisation providing free veterinary care to pets owned by people experiencing homelessness, will use its $131,000 grant to open a new clinic in Wangaratta.
Jaclyn Symes, Member for Northern Victoria, said the funding will help improve outcomes in the region.
“The grants will strengthen local communities in the north east, enabling animal welfare groups to expand their services and help pets find their forever homes.”
The Cat Protection Society of Victoria (CPSV) said it was delighted to be one of the organisations to receive funding and said it will use its $20,000 grant to expand its critical work in helping cats through desexing, rehoming, and community education.
Since 2014, the Victorian Government has distributed more than $14.76 million through the program, supporting improved animal welfare and responsible pet ownership across the state.
A full list of Round 12 recipients is available at agriculture.vic.gov.au.
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