The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) is pleased to announce a competitive solicitation process to award grants under the Pet Lover’s Spay and Neuter Grant Program.
Donor Name: California Department of Food and Agriculture
State: California
County: All Counties
Type of Grant: Grant
Deadline: 01/05/2026
Size of the Grant: $10,000 to $100,000
Grant Duration: 1 Year
Details:
The purpose of this program is to help stop pet overpopulation in California by providing funds for spay/neuter services to municipalities and non-profit organizations in California.
This program is funded by the following sources:
- Pet Lover’s License Plate Program: Fees associated with the original purchase, annual renewal, and conversion of Pet Lover’s license plates from the California Department of Motor Vehicles.
- Prevention of Animal Homelessness and Cruelty Voluntary Tax Contribution Fund: Contributions provided by California individuals in excess of their tax liability when filing their annual tax returns.
Categories
CDFA has identified five funding categories. Funding categories are intended to help prospective applicants develop their projects and submit to the most appropriate category.
- In-House Spay/Neuter Services for Publicly Owned Animals
- Mobile Spay/Neuter Clinic for Publicly Owned Animals
- Voucher Program for Shelter Animals (Adopters receive a voucher to be used to spay/neuter their newly adopted pet)
- Voucher Program for Owned Animals (Redeemable at participating veterinarians)
- Feral Cat/Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program.
Funding Information
CDFA anticipates that up to $500,000 will be awarded to projects that help provide spay/neuter services to alleviate pet overpopulation. Individual grant award amounts can range from $25,000 to $50,000.
Grant Period
June 1, 2026 or after May 31, 2027.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible, an organization must be:
- A veterinary facility registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board; and,
- Operated by a licensee manager registered and in good standing with the Veterinary Medical Board; and,
- A veterinary facility operated by one of the following:
- A California city, county, or city and county animal control facility that provides spay and neuter services to the public. The facility must be:
- Current on its yearly rabies reporting requirements to the California Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section.
- A California non‐profit 501(c)(3) organization that offers low-cost or no-cost spay and neuter services. The facility must be:
- Registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State.
- A California non‐profit 501(c)(3) organization holding a municipal contract for animal control service. The following requirements must be met:
- The city/county the municipal contract is held with must be current on its yearly rabies reporting requirements to the California Department of Public Health, Veterinary Public Health Section; and,
- The non-profit 501(c)(3) must be registered and in good standing with the Secretary of State.
- A California city, county, or city and county animal control facility that provides spay and neuter services to the public. The facility must be:
For more information, visit CDFA.
