Every year, the Georgia Department of Agriculture awards grants to animal shelters and rescues through its Dog and Cat Sterilization Program, which aims to provide financial assistance for procedures that target pet overpopulation.
Recently, the Circle of Friends Animal Society, Lake Oconee Humane Society, and Humane Society of Morgan County were named grant recipients for 2024.
Circle of Friends Animal Society, a rescue serving Greene, Putnam, and Hancock counties, received $20,000—the largest award given in the Lake Oconee area this year. COFAS chairman Cathy Wood said the grant will help spay or neuter community pets.
“Since Circle of Friends Animal Society was founded in 2007, we’ve rescued more than 12,200 animals, but we know we cannot rescue our way out of the heartbreaking problem of pet overpopulation,” Wood added. “In 2018, we enhanced our spay/neuter program to help pet owners in Greene, Putnam, and Hancock counties with the cost of spay/neuter surgeries. With help from our veterinary partners, Durham Veterinary Clinic and Lake Oconee Animal Hospital, COFAS has funded surgeries for more than 2,600 owned animals at a cost to COFAS of $202,300.”
“COFAS is a small, 100% volunteer rescue group, funded entirely by adoption fees, donations, and grants, so we are absolutely thrilled and grateful to be recognized with a grant from the Georgia Department of Agriculture’s Dog and Cat Sterilization Program. Go to www.cofas.org to sign up for our program or learn more about Circle of Friends.”
Lake Oconee Humane Society received a $18,000 grant, which executive director Diane Robinson says will help address the community’s increasing demand for low-cost sterilization procedures.
“Last year, our low-cost spay/neuter and TNR program doubled with the alteration of nearly 800 dogs and cats from the community,” she said. “Without grants like this and donations from our supporters, we wouldn’t be able to provide these kinds of services for the community.”
“This generous grant will significantly impact our mission to reduce pet overpopulation and ensure healthier, happier lives for our furry friends,” Robinson added in a Facebook statement. “With these funds, we can provide more spay and neuter services to the animals in our community, preventing countless unwanted litters and giving every pet a chance at a loving home.”
The Humane Society of Morgan County received a grant for $6,000.
“What an honor it is to be one of the recipients of this wonderful grant,” Director of Operations Miranda Johnson said. “This will help tremendously with our veterinary expenses and help prevent unwanted litters. Thank you so much to our volunteers for their dedication in writing this grant. They spent a great deal of time working on this.”
Residents can help fund the grant program by purchasing a cat or dog license plate or by donating directly to it at https://agr.georgia.gov/dog-and-cat-sterilization-program-dcsp.