Governor Announces Funding for Animal Shelter Improvements Across the State

Governor Announces Funding for Animal Shelter Improvements Across the State

Nearly $4.5 Million Supports Construction, Renovation, and Expansion Projects at New York Animal Shelters

Projects Will Enhance Animal Care and Health and Help Ensure Adoptions for New York’s Dogs and Cats

 

Governor Andrew M. Cuomo today announced nearly $4.5 million has been 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.

“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,” Governor 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,” said Lieutenant Governor Kathy Hochul. “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. The following shelters are receiving an award in this second round of the program:

Mid-Hudson Valley

Humane Society of Port Jervis-Deer Park, Inc. (Port Jervis, Orange County): $367,500 to increase capacity, repair damage, improve housing quality, and separate living areas for dogs and cats.

Humane Society of Westchester (New Rochelle, Westchester County): $500,000 to expand and upgrade its facilities by adding a new structure to improve animal socialization, training, and community education.

Rockland County Department of Health/Hi-Tor Animal Care Center (Pomona, Rockland County): $500,000 to replace the current animal shelter to improve enclosures, surfaces, drainage, air quality, lighting, and noise control.

Dutchess County SPCA, Inc. (Hyde Park, Dutchess County):  $312,381 to renovate its 60-year-old facility to improve animal housing, ventilation, and flooring to ensure the safety, sanitation, and health of humans and animals.

Warwick Valley Humane Society, Inc. (Warwick, Orange County): $500,000 to construct a new facility to improve sanitation, drainage, lighting, and ventilation for improved overall animal wellbeing.

Long Island

North Fork Animal Welfare League, Inc. (Peconic, Suffolk County): $500,000 to renovate its recently purchased facility to create separate rooms for dogs, cats, intake, and isolation, and to improve overall housing quality.

Western NY

City of Dunkirk (Dunkirk, Chautauqua County): $100,000 to acquire a new building to relocate the current animal control holding center and establish a larger shelter that exceeds minimum standards requirements.

Niagara County SPCA (Niagara Falls, Niagara County): $500,000 to construct an in-house surgical suite to provide much-needed medical services and procedures to sheltered animals.

Southern Tier

Hornell Area Humane Society (Hornell, Steuben County): $93,760 to renovate the current canine housing area to create a separate area for isolation, creating better living surfaces and drainage, and improving ventilation and noise control.

Mohawk Valley

Stevens-Swan Humane Society of Oneida County, Inc. (Utica, Oneida County): $373,500 to increase capacity for animal holding, provision of medical care, isolate sick animals, and improve the structure of enclosures.

Montgomery County SPCA (Amsterdam, Montgomery County):  $500,000 to construct a new facility that significantly increases capacity, sanitation, physical wellbeing, and behavioral health.

Finger Lakes

Wayne County Humane Society (Lyons, Wayne County):  $138,565 to enhance the dog holding area by improving climate control, ventilation, surfaces, drainage, and lighting.

Central NY

Country Acres Animal Shelter, Inc. (Homer, Cortland County): $101,365 to construct a quarantine area, outdoor play area, and update current housing facilities.

State Agriculture Commissioner Richard A. Ball said, “We are proud to be providing an unprecedented amount of funding to support New York’s shelters, humane societies and SPCAs. These projects are supporting much-needed improvements to provide better care for New York’s animals and to help further our goals of ensuring more dogs and cats are adopted into loving homes.”

Senate Agriculture Chair Jen Metzger said, “I am glad to see the success of this program and funds going to these important community organizations, particularly in rural areas. Our animal shelters provide top-notch care to animals and great opportunities for pet adoption.”

Assembly Agriculture Committee Chair Donna Lupardo said, “Animal shelters provide wonderful care to countless dogs and cats throughout the state. As the owner of a rescue cat, I have seen firsthand the compassion employees and volunteers dedicate to ensuring these animals find their forever homes. Unfortunately, the population of homeless pets continues to grow; this funding will help these shelters perform much needed renovations so they can increase their capacity and continue providing the best care for their animals.”

Senator Phillip M. Boyle said, “When programs work, they deserve support. I thank Governor Cuomo for recognizing the great work being done through the Companion Animal Capital Fund in protecting and assisting our four-legged friends in New York State.”

Senator Monica R. Martinez said, “Shelters play a crucial role in protecting the welfare of animals, and we need to make sure that they have the capacity to do so. This funding will make it possible to adequately equip the facilities with the means necessary to ensure that animals are well taken care of to increase their chances of finding a forever home.”

Assembly Member Deborah J. Glick said, “Animal shelters across New York do an incredible job of caring for animals and finding them loving homes. As more shelters adopt no-kill policies, their need for more kennel space and improved medical facilities has grown. For the third year in a row, the Companion Animal Capital Fund is key to ensuring compassionate care for New York’s companion animals. I am proud to have proposed and championed this funding and I thank the Governor for his continued support. We look forward to a continued partnership with the Governor to continue to meet the growing demand.”

“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. According to the New York State Animal Protection Federation, more than 150,000 animals annually are brought to non-profit and municipality-run shelters and humane societies. The NYS Companion Animal Capital Fund will help these organizations continue to provide sheltering services to local communities, promote better care for the animals, and facilitate more adoptions.

Author: Harlem Valley News