Animal shelters receive funding through state Income Tax donations
Lansing –Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD) State Veterinarian Dr. James Averill today announced that 22 facilities have been awarded $184,772 from the Michigan Animal Welfare fund.
The Marquette County based Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter will receive $9,567.
The Michigan Animal Welfare fund was established under Public Act 132 of 2007 as a tax check-off to support animal shelters statewide. This year’s awards will go to the spaying and neutering of animals, fund registration fees and speakers for large animal anti-cruelty training conferences, and help cover costs for protecting and caring for Michigan animals subjected to cruelty or neglect.
“Each year, Michigan taxpayers generously donate funds by checking a box on their tax returns,” said Dr. Averill. “The program began distributing funds in 2010, and MDARD has been able to support the important work conducted by these shelters by providing nearly $700,000 to 82 animal shelters across the state.”
This past grant cycle, MDARD received 56 applications totaling close to $480,000 in requests. The selection committee, consisting of the Assistant State Veterinarian, a Field Veterinarian, Animal Industry Division’s Deputy Director, and the Animal Welfare Fund Grant Administrator, determined which applications met the criteria: 1. they had to be registered with MDARD, and 2. had no fines in the previous two years. The committee then determined which projects best met the guidelines for the 2014 Animal Welfare Fund grant. The funding ceiling for the animal welfare grants is $10,000.
The following shelters received 2014 Animal Welfare Fund grants:
Upper Peninsula Animal Welfare Shelter
$ 9,567