Pet Assistance and Support Program

Pet Assistance and Support Program is sponsored by California Department of Social Services (through the California Grants Portal). This program funds homeless shelters to provide shelter, food, supplies, and veterinary services to pets owned by people experiencing homelessness.

2025 Pet Lover's Spay and Neuter Grant Program - California Grants Portal The purpose of this program is to help stop pet overpopulation in California by providing funds for spay/neuter services to municipalities and non-profit organizations in California.

This program is funded by the Pet Lover’s License Plate Program, from the sale and renewal of the specailty license plate and the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund, supported by California taxpayer contributions. The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce a competitive solicitation process to award grants under the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program.

CDFA anticipates that up to $500,000 will be awarded to projects that help provide spay/neuter services to alleviate pet overpopulation. Individual grant award amounts can range from $25,000 to $50,000. CDFA reserves the right to offer an award amount different than the amount requested.

Applicant organizations may only submit one grant proposal to the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program. This program is funded by the following sources:• Pet Lover’s License Plate Program: Fees associated with the original purchase,annual renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the CaliforniaDepartment of Motor Vehicles.

• Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax ContributionFund: Contributions provided by California individuals in excess of their taxliability when filing their annual tax returns. To be eligible, an organization must be a veterinary facility, operated by a licensee manager. Both the facility and the manager must be registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board.

The veterinary facility must be operated by either: - A California city or county animal control facility that provides spay and neuter services to the public; or, - A California non-profit 501(c)(3) organization holding a municipal contract for animal control service; or, - A California non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that offers low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services and is registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State.

A city, county, or city and county animal control agency or nonprofit shelter holding a municipal contract that offers spay and neuter services for dogs and cats owned by individual members of the public is required to be current on its yearly rabies reporting requirements to the California Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section.

Organization must be a veterinary facility operated by a licensee manager (facility and manager must be registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board). Operated by a California city or county, an animal control agency, or a nonprofit meeting the requirements of Section 501(c)(3). The date (and time, where applicable) by which all applications must be submitted to the grantmaker.

Time listed as “00:00” equates to midnight. Expected award announcement The date on which the grantor expects to announce the recipient(s) of the grant. The length of time during which the grant money must be utilized.

Total estimated available funding The total projected dollar amount of the grant. Expected number of awards A single grant opportunity may represent one or many awards. Some grantors may know in advance the exact number of awards to be given.

Others may indicate a range. Some may wish to and wait until the application period closes before determining how many awards to offer; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Estimated amount per award Grant opportunities representing multiple awards may offer awards in the same amount or in varied amounts.

Some may wish to wait until the application period closes before determining per-award amounts; in this case, a value of “Dependent” will display. Letter of Intent Required? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) provide a letter of intent.

Requires Matched Funding? Certain grants require that the recipient(s) be able to fully or partially match the grant award amount with another funding source. The funding source allocated to fund the grant.

It may be either State or Federal (or a combination of both), and be tied to a specific piece of legislation, a proposition, or a bond number.

This program is funded by both the Pet Lover’s License Plate Program from fees associated with the original purchase,annual renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the California Department of Motor Vehicles, and the Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax ContributionFund from contributions provided by California individuals in excess of their taxliability when filing their annual tax returns.

The manner in which the grant funding will be delivered to the awardee. Funding methods include reimbursements (where the recipient spends out-of-pocket and is reimbursed by the grantor) and advances (where the recipient spends received grant funds directly). CDFA reserves the right to offer an award different than the amount requested.

State agencies/departments recommend you read the full grant guidelines before applying. For questions about this grant, contact: Office of Grants Administration, 1-916-657-3231, grants@cdfa. ca.

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