Grants are available from the state to help with local animal shelters.
The Animal Welfare Section of the Veterinary Division of the N.C. Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is accepting applications from local governments for grants from the Animal Shelter Support Fund. Information on the grant funds and the application process can be found on the Animal Shelter Support Fund page of the AWS website at: https://www.ncagr.gov/divisions/veterinary/aws/ShelterSupportFund.
“Shelters can apply to use these one-time funds for shelter improvements or to help with damage from a natural or man-made disaster,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler. “We are grateful for the funding from the Legislature. Funding is limited so shelters are encouraged to get their requests in quickly.”
Local governments are eligible to apply for these funds for the mitigation of violations or improvements in the compliance of their animal shelters with the Animal Welfare Act and its associated rules.
Grants can also be applied for in the event of damage incurred from an unforeseen catastrophic disaster such as a hurricane, tornado, fire, flood or other natural or man-made disaster at the animal shelter.
Shelters must submit copies of their AWS facility compliance report citing specific violations or a date and description of an incident and the damage incurred. Applications must also include an itemized listing of the costs for which funding is sought.
“The Animal Welfare Section inspects more than 900 facilities annually for compliance with the Animal Welfare Act, including local government-run shelters,” said Troxler. “Facilities receive unannounced inspections on an annual basis or more often if needed. These funds should help some of these shelters make improvements to better care for the animals in our communities.”
For more information on the Animal Shelter Support Fund grants or the application process email the Animal Welfare Section at agr.aws@ncagr.gov.
