Friday, March 29, 2024

Council support for free animal desexing

Twenty-one local councils and not-for-profit organisations will be supported by the Victorian Government to desex thousands of cat and dogs owned by vulnerable Victorians at little or no cost.

Victorian Minister for Agriculture, Mary-Anne Thomas said the organisations would receive a Pet Desexing Grant under Round One of the $1.5 million program, including the City of Port Phillip and the Bendigo Animal Relief Centre.

The grants could see more than 4,000 cats and 650 dogs desexed, the Minister said.

“These grants will ensure Victoria’s most vulnerable pet owners can access free or low-cost desexing and help limit the numbers of unwanted cats and dogs in shelters across the state.”

“The funding is an important step to support councils and not-for-profit organisations to provide critical desexing
services and improve animal welfare outcomes for our much-loved pets,” the Minister said.

As part of the $500,000 offered in Round One, the City of Port Phillip has been awarded $47,521 to establish the Pets of Port Phillip Clinic, which will offer free desexing services for an estimated 225 cats and dogs owned by
disadvantaged people living in public housing estates in the area.

“This grant means we can assist more than 200 residents living in public housing by providing free desexing,
vaccination and microchipping for their dogs and cats at the Pets of Port Phillip Clinic,” said City of Port Phillip Mayor, Louise Crawford.

A $15,725 grant will support the Bendigo Animal Relief Centre to deliver the Bendigo Community Cat Program which will desex, vaccinate, microchip and register 50 cats whose owners are low income earners.

For more information visit animalwelfare.vic.gov.au.

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