Spay/Neuter Grants

The Federation makes quarterly grants of up to $5000 to member organizations for the spay or neuter of dogs, cats and pet rabbits.  Priority is given to organizations that target cats, Put Bull type dogs, serve low income pet owners and areas with limited access to low cost spay/neuter services. Working collaboratively with other organizations and providing the highest number of surgeries for the lowest cost. Have you applied?

Starting in early 2007, The Federation started receiving revenue from the sales of “We Love Our Pets” specialty vehicle license plates. To proactively address the pet overpopulation problem in our state, these funds were earmarked through an agreement with the State of Washington for spay/neuter surgeries.

To be eligible for a grant, your organization must be a voting member of the Federation and current with data reporting through Shelter Animals Count. You must agree to use these grant funds solely for spay/neuter surgeries of dogs, cats and/or rabbits in Washington State, including owned pets, community cats and, in some cases, sheltered animals in communities where affordable spay/neuter access is restricted.  The purpose of the grants is to increase the total number of spay/neuter surgeries performed or subsidized by your organization.

Grants must be used within six months of receipt and a final report on how funds have been utilized must be submitted. The report should include financial accounting of the grant funds, written results of the project (photos optional but appreciated) and how your organization has promoted the “Spay Neuter Adopt- We Love Pets” specialty license plates (social media, newsletters, flyers, ensuring that your company vehicles have the licenses, etc.).

To apply, log in and click this link: http://www.wafederation.org/spayneuter-grant-form/ . Application deadlines for the quarterly grant cycles are March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31.

Emergency Relief Funds Available

The Federation offers Emergency Animal Relief (E.A.R.) funds to member organizations in Washington in the case of a a natural disaster, a fire or flood or wind damage at the shelter, a major fire in the community served, or a devastating epidemic in the shelter or community served.

The funds are granted by the Federation for the animals affected by the emergency or disaster – food, shelter, medicine and/or veterinary care. The funds can also be used to purchase necessary equipment for direct care of the animals, such as cages, crates or collars. Also covered are the expenses associated with transporting and/or boarding animals, if they must be housed elsewhere. The recipient organization is required to keep receipts and related documentation. Copies of the receipts need to be submitted for reimbursement by the Federation.

To expedite the process, request for Federation emergency assistance can be made by e-mail or phone to the Board President (Kathleen Olson, kolson@purrfectpals.org | 253.988.0827 call or text)

Following the initial request, a formal request must be made in writing and sent to the Administrator Cora Wells (cora@wafederation.org) with a copy to the Board President (kolson@purrfectpals.org). Funding is subject to availability.

Since its inception in 1908 as the Washington Humane Society, the Federation has had a positive impact on hundreds of thousands of people and animals.

During the early 1900s, animals and animal issues received little attention and/or funding in Washington. The Federation was formed to provide animal agencies professional support, the opportunity to train and network together, and to promote the best practices the animal welfare.

A milestone event for the Federation was the Mt. St. Helens eruption in 1980. Members established an Emergency Fund for animals impacted by the event. The fund continues today utilizing the seed money from the disaster. Funds are used to assist member organizations grappling with disasters such as ice storms, wild fires, and flooding; and also to assist shelters in need.

In 1983, The Washington Animal Control Association (WACA) was formed as a separate membership organization for animal control officers. WACA offers training to help protect animal welfare and public safety and best practices for professionals.

In subsequent years, the Federation has worked with the state legislature to promote public safety, prevent animal cruelty and curtail puppy mills, as well as increasing veterinary services available in underserved communities. This advocacy continues today.

The Federation is a collective voice dedicated to humane treatment of animals in Washington State through legislation, training, programs and support services.  Current member organizations are listed on the website: http://www.wafederation.org/directory/ .

The Federation is governed by an elected, volunteer Board of Directors representing 13-15 member organizations. Paid staff includes a part-time Programs Administrator. The Board includes several committees, including: Professional Development, Executive, Legislative, and Marketing/Membership. Financial reports are shared monthly by the Treasurer with the full Board of Directors and include outside professional financial review. The current board is listed here: http://www.wafederation.org/board-of-directors/ .

The face of animal protection has changed for the better, especially over the past two decades as we have strived to eliminate euthanasia of healthy and medically treatable pets, locally, regionally and nationally and help community members with resources to keep their pets.

Check out the Historical Timeline to see the many milestones in Washington Animal Welfare:

The Washington Federation of Animal Care and Control Agencies is requesting your help!  In 2022, $57,261 was raised from the sale of our “We Love Our Pets” license plates, allowing the Federation to issue grants to 11 agencies to provide funding for spay/neuter services.

Remember, 100% of the funds generated through this program goes directly into grants issued to our member agencies to support spay/neuter programs.  In order to continue to expand our ability to fund these important grants, we need your help to promote these pet-friendly license plates.

• Please consider purchasing the plates for your agency vehicles
• Encourage your board members, staff,  and volunteers to purchase the plates
• Promote on your web page and social media pages 
• Promote in adoption packets
• Display posters in your facilities
• Provide handouts promoting the license plates at your events; consider including in swag bags/bid envelopes at fundraising events
• Ask business contacts in your community to display posters advertising the plates

You can find flyers, rack cards, and a sample infogram for social media at SPAY ~ NEUTER ~ ADOPT LICENSE PLATES – Washington Federation (wafederation.org)

Your support in helping to generate additional income for this purpose is greatly appreciated!

Last year South County Cats was one of the Washington Federation grant recipients.  Their $5,000 grant was utilized to fund spay/neuter surgeries for 136 cats at the South County Spay & Neuter Clinic that they operate in collaboration with Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.  Thanks to this funding, 70 females will never have another litter and 66 males will no longer be mating.   Surgeries were performed on 88 cats belonging to low income pet owners while the remaining 48 cats were community cats.  Total cost of this project was $5,843, with the remaining $843 covered by South County Cats through donations and fundraisers.

One of the cats who received neuter surgery in December was “Trouble.” He came through South County Cats’ “Mom and Me” or mom’s last litter program. His mama was pregnant with her second litter at the time. Trouble and his daddy got neutered, mama is now spayed, and her last litter of kittens came to South County Cats for spay/neuter and adoption. Trouble is a handsome, healthy, DSH black cat. Trouble has a cleft palate and had no problems during surgery.

The South County Spay & Neuter Clinic is also utilized by Pasado’s Safe Haven and Seattle Veterinary Outreach for their spay/neuter programs. These collaborations, and this clinic, are serving a tremendous need for spay/neuter services in western Washington.  “As of the end of February 2023, nearly 5,000 cats, from rescues, shelters, caretakers and owners from 16 counties, have been altered at South County Spay & Neuter Clinic since it opened in August 2020.”