The Cape Coral Animal Shelter has been awarded a $25,000 grant from Florida Animal Friend to support its spay and neuter initiatives.
It is the second time that the animal shelter has received funding from the Florida organization.
Florida Animal Friend raises funds through the sale of its specialty license plate and awards grants to nonprofit animal welfare organizations throughout the state that work to reduce pet overpopulation.
The money also will support the shelter’s bi-monthly TNVR (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) clinics for feral and community cats.
Cape Coral Animal Shelter continues to expand services, like its spay and neuter program, as the community grows and to help prevent unwanted litters.
The Cape Coral animal shelter and veterinary clinic has been serving the community since March 2020. Its public veterinary clinic provides affordable veterinary services while helping support the shelter’s mission to rescue, rehabilitate and find loving homes for animals in need.
“Receiving this grant for the second time means so much to us because spay and neuter is truly one of the most important things we can do to save lives,” Liz McCauley, executive director of the Cape shelter, said.
“Every litter we prevent means fewer animals born without homes and fewer animals entering already overwhelmed shelters and rescues,” she said. “We are incredibly grateful to Florida Animal Friend and to everyone who purchases their specialty license plate. Their support allows us to address this crisis where it begins.”
The grant comes at an especially exciting time as the shelter continues to increase access to affordable spay and neuter services throughout the community.
In honor of the graduating Class of 2027, the Cape shelter’s veterinary clinic is currently offering 27% off all spay and neuter surgeries.
With increased surgery availability and another veterinarian joining the shelter veterinary team, the clinic is able to help even more pets and their families access this essential care.
“We want people to take advantage of this opportunity,” McCauley added.
“Cost should not be the reason a pet goes unaltered. Between this special and the support we receive through grants like Florida Animal Friend, we are working every day to make spay and neuter more accessible. This is how we create lasting change for animals in our community.”
Shelter also needs more space
The animal shelter also is moving forward with a physical expansion.
More: Cape Coral Animal Shelter’s highly anticipated expansion gets $1.5M boost
With only 12 kennels and three cat rooms, the shelter’s intake is limited and does not have the room to help all those in need.
An expansion will more than triple shelter space, allowing the shelter to save the lives of many more abandoned, abused, neglected, and at-risk animals.
The shelter is embarking on its second multi-million-dollar fundraising initiative with the goal of raising critical funding for the construction of the new 19,000-square-foot shelter building and expansion of its clinic.
To schedule a spay or neuter appointment and receive the 27% discount, contact the Cape Coral Animal Shelter Veterinary Clinic at 239-573-2002, Ext. 106.
For more information about the shelter, its veterinary clinic, or ways to support the expansion, visit CapeCoralAnimalShelter.com.
Liz Freeman is a health care reporter. Reach her by emailing lfreeman@naplesnews.com
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This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Cape Coral animal shelter awarded grant for spay and neutering