Governor Hochul Announces $7.6 Million Awarded to Animal Shelters for Improvements

 

Funding Supports Construction, Renovation, and Expansion Projects at New York Animal Shelters that Enhance Animal Care and Health

Over $33 Million Dedicated to State's Companion Animal Capital Fund Since 2017

 Governor Kathy Hochul today announced nearly $7.6 million will be provided to 21 animal shelters and humane societies across the state through the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, which is in its fifth round. 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. As the first in the nation to fund capital projects for animal shelters, New York State continues to demonstrate its commitment to securing safe housing and care for sheltered dogs and cats as they await adoption.

"Animal shelters and humane societies across New York provide essential care for dogs and cats as they await their new families and forever homes," Governor Hochul said. "New York's Companion Animal Capital Fund is making a real difference for our shelters and humane societies, and the animals in their care, helping them make critical upgrades to better care for the animals and provide greater support for the staff and volunteers that care for them."

Since the launch of the Companion Animal Capital Fund program in 2017, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state has dedicated over $33 million to the program, including funds committed in this year's budget. The fifth round of funding awarded builds on previous initiatives to offset the costs associated with capital projects run by New York State animal shelters, such as renovating dog kennels, improving medical facilities, or building more efficient shelters to reduce overall operational costs. Projects funded this year include new living spaces for additional cats, new medical facilities, and improved outdoor spaces, and shelter renovations to include additional kennels.

Competitive grants were awarded to shelters based on a need assessment, detailed project description, and reasonableness of cost. The following shelters are receiving an award in this round of the program:

Capital Region

• Albany County Sherriff's Office (Albany, Albany County): $500,000 to create an auxiliary animal shelter in partnership with the Mohawk Hudson Humane Society.
• City of Schenectady (Schenectady, Schenectady County): $200,000 for updated larger kennels.

New York City

• Animal Care & Control of NYC (Manhattan, New York County): $143,175 to outfit their new shelter system with updated equipment, installation of new kennel tops, a new washer and dryer, and replacement of an aged water heater.
• Brooklyn Bridge Animal Welfare Coalition (Brooklyn Heights, Kings County): $164,719.67 for shelter expansion, design of cat wards dedicated to health and compatibility, installation of windows, and the creation of a full-service medical suite.

Mohawk Valley

• Animal Shelter of Schoharie Valley (Howes Cave, Schoharie County): $500,000 for the renovation of a medical suite and roof renovation.

Southern Tier

• Broome County Humane Society (Binghamton, Broome County): $110,879 to improve cat housing and dog kennel design, and acquisition of a generator and a grooming basin.

Finger Lakes

• Finger Lakes SPCA of CNY (Auburn, Cayuga County): $482,491.50 for a new facility design including HVAC system.
• H.S. of Rochester (Lollipop) (Fairport, Monroe County): $500,000 for the redesign of kennels, to increase animal capacity, and expand the isolation ward.
• Wayne Co. Humane Society (Lyons, Wayne County): $500,000 for a new and updated shelter facility including new HVAC.
• Wyoming Co. (Warsaw, Wyoming County): $318,318 to improve facility design, upgrade mechanical equipment, and provide outdoor enrichment area.
• Wyoming Co. SPCA (Attica, Wyoming County): $62,825.89 for roof replacement, repair of driveway and parking area, acquire cat caging and update record keeping technology.

Hudson Valley

• Hudson Valley SPCA (Pomona, Rockland County): $200,000 to upgrade dog kennels, replace cat enclosures, and increase animal capacity.
• Hudson Valley Animal Rescue & Sanctuary (Poughkeepsie, DutchessCounty): $398,495 to increase animal capacity including quarantine area.

North Country

• Jefferson Co. SPCA (Watertown, Jefferson County): $200,000 to expand shelter size and obtain new HVAC system.
• Potsdam Humane Society (Potsdam, St. Lawrence County): $100,067 for housing and environmental improvements, including updates to laundry room, caging, heating, and renovation of flooring.
• Lewis Co. Humane Society (Lowville, Lewis County): $500,000 for new HVAC system, new laundering equipment, creation of cat isolation room, and to repair and update damaged shelter structures.

Long Island

• Town of Oyster Bay (Oyster Bay, Nassau County)- $200,000 for shelter renovation and new HVAC system.
• Town of North Hempstead (Manhasset, Nassau County) - $200,000 for new HVAC system.
• Ada Howe Kent Memorial Shelter (Calverton, Suffolk County): $200,000 for new shelter facility with isolation area, including new kennels for dogs and cats.
• Pioneers for Animal Welfare Society (Hicksville, Nassau County): $200,000 for down payment of new facility.

Western New York

• Erie County SPCA (W. Seneca, Erie County): $200,000 to improve kennels and outdoor exercise area, renovate cat recovery and nursery area, obtain new HVAC system and security system.

New York State Agriculture Commissioner Richard Ball said, "Animal shelters provide so much more than just a refuge; from offering essential medical care to daily enrichment activities, the hardworking staff at humane societies, shelters, and SPCAs throughout the state work tirelessly to provide the best care for dogs and cats while they wait to be adopted into their forever families. Over the last few years, we've seen the funding from the Companion Animal Capital Fund go to critical upgrades and projects that mean better care for New York's animals. We are proud to announce this latest round, which will build on the successes we have seen so far."