58 animal rehoming organisations will receive critical funding to care for vulnerable cats and dogs under the first phase of the NSW Government's $6 million Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grants program.
A total of $1.5 million has been awarded to 58 organisations in the first round of funding to help support rehoming organisations care for cats and dogs across the state.
The grant funding can be used in a number of ways including to purchase equipment, upgrade facilities for animal rehoming and welfare services, and cover veterinary treatments such as desexing and vaccination.
Rehoming and rescue organisations play an invaluable role in cat and dog welfare in NSW. Their work, largely carried out by volunteers, takes pressure off council pounds, reduces euthanasia rates, and gives vulnerable cats and dogs a second chance at life.
The Companion Animal Welfare and Rehoming Grant program has been set up to deliver on the Government's election commitment to improve animal welfare.
The $6 million program, administered by the NSW Office of Local Government, will allocate $1.5 million each year to eligible organisations over a 4-year period. Funding is allocated through a competitive grant application process against eligibility and assessment criteria.
Successful recipients in the first round include a mix of regional and metropolitan rehoming organisations, including Friends of Kempsey Pound in Kempsey ($54,000), CatRescue 901 in Sydney ($47,520), and the Hunter Valley Animal Facility and Rehoming Centre ($46,440).
Minister for Local Government Ron Hoenig said:
"These wonderful organisations are largely run by volunteers who dedicate their time, effort and hearts to protecting the most vulnerable cats and dogs.
"This funding will help provide safe havens for surrendered animals, return lost pets to their owners, and find temporary and forever homes for animals without care.
"This support by the Minns Labor Government will make it easier for rehoming organisations to continue delivering essential animal care and rehoming services.
"I congratulate all the grant recipients and thank them on behalf of the government and community for their outstanding work."
CatRescue901 Director and successful applicant Carole Nesse said:
"This grant is an absolute gamechanger for us. Now we can grow our operations and help get more cats off the streets. It will also ease the pressure on our desexing program, which is really stretched at the moment because of the number of cats needing our support.
"The funding also allows us to offer more subsidised vet care to people who need it.
"We're incredibly passionate about what we do, but a small organisation like ours relies on public donations. This grant gives us the security we need so we can save more cats and give them the second chance they deserve."
Warm Paws co-founder and successful applicant Lisa Parry said:
"We're a small volunteer-run organisation providing much-needed supplies to remote and rural pounds across NSW.
"Unlike metropolitan facilities, many of these pounds lack basic resources, so our team of volunteers delivers everything from blankets, towels, beds, food, toys and splash-pools. We also fund vaccination for puppies and dogs to protect them against the deadly parvovirus.
"This grant is life-changing. It means the world to us because we won't have to rely solely on donations. A secure pot of funding means we'll be able to protect so many more animals, who really need our help."
