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Cuomo earmarks $500,000 for Niagara County SPCA

Press Release

Tue, Jan 29th 2019 12:30 pm

Nearly $4.5 million supports construction, renovation & expansion projects at state animal shelters

Projects to enhance animal care & health, help ensure adoptions for New York's dogs & cats

Gov. Andrew Cuomo on Monday announced nearly $4.5 million was awarded to 13 animal shelters and humane societies across the state through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund. The funding will support construction, renovation and expansion projects that will enhance animal care and health, and help ensure adoptions for New York's dogs and cats.

This is the second round of the Companion Animal Capital Fund, the first state-funded program in the nation to support critical improvement projects at animal shelters.

As part of the award, the Niagara County SPCA will receive $500,000 to construct an in-house surgical suite to provide much-needed medical services and procedures to sheltered animals.

"New York is proud to be home to the first program in the country dedicated to supporting local animal shelters and humane societies improve their facilities and better care for the animals they serve," Cuomo said. "This continued funding will better equip facilities across the state to provide for the animals in their care, promote the health of both pets and people, and help to encourage adoptions."

"Animal shelters are vital to ensuring the care and safety of cats and dogs in our communities,” Lt. Gov. Kathy Hochul added. "This funding will allow shelters to expand and make improvements, ensuring quality services for animals at facilities across the state. We want to make sure that all cats and dogs who are up for adoption find families who provide them with a good, loving home."

Funded in the 2018-19 state budget, the Companion Animal Capital Fund provides matching grants to shelters and humane societies to offset the costs associated with capital projects such as renovating dog kennels, improving medical facilities, or building more efficient shelters to reduce overall operational costs. Funds are also used to construct, renovate, rehabilitate or acquire buildings or equipment needed to house, treat and care for sheltered dogs and cats.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on need and the readiness of projects.

Also in Western New York, the City of Dunkirk received $100,000. This money will be used to acquire a new building to relocate the current animal control holding center and establish a larger shelter that exceeds minimum standards requirements.

"For a second year, the state's commitment to our network of animal shelters speaks for itself," said Libby Post, executive director of the New York State Animal Protection Federation. The federation has championed the fund since its inception. "Once again, the $5 million Companion Animal Capital Fund will help shelters across New York improve their existing buildings or build new ones so that the quality of life for the dogs and cats in their care will be greatly improved. Better facilities equal more community support and more adoptions."

The New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets administers the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund. The New York State Animal Protection Federation states more than 150,000 animals annually are brought to nonprofit and municipality-run shelters and humane societies. The capital fund is designed to help these organizations continue to provide sheltering services to local communities, promote better care for the animals, and facilitate more adoptions.

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