In honour of Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, February, the B.C. SPCA has announced more than $100,000 with which communities can tackle pet overpopulation.
Applications for the 2018 B.C. SPCA Community Animal Spay/Neuter Grant program are now being accepted and money will be doled out to projects that improve the welfare of vulnerable companion animals, the B.C. SPCA said in a press release. Interested parties have until March 21 to apply and the grant is open to non-profits, veterinarians, First Nations and municipal and regional-level governments.
The 2018 amount is the largest sum of money available through the program since it began six years ago, according to Marieke van der Velden, B.C. SPCA outreach specialist.
“Preventing unwanted litters through spaying and neutering is the most effective and humane approach to solving environmental, conservation and welfare issues and we are seeing communities across B.C. coming together to help cats,” said van der Velden. “In addition to preventing population growth, fixing these cats also improves the health of the individual cats and the human community in which they live.”
Since its inception, the grant program has assisted in the spaying and neutering of 3,217 cats, 339 dogs and 100 rabbits, the B.C. SPCA said.