The cat's meow: 25 Maine animal welfare groups receive grants

Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk The Animal Welfare Grant Program is funding a canine resource center, care for aging and disabled foster cats and spay/neuter programs.

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By Alexis Wells

Grants totaling $342,884 have been distributed to organizations and projects across the state that advance animal welfare.

The Maine Community Foundation has awarded 25 grants through the Animal Welfare Grant Program to support organizations dedicated to the welfare of Maine's animals.

“The recipients of MaineCF’s Animal Welfare grants are advancing animal welfare in Maine through hard work and creative initiatives,” said John Ochira, MaineCF program officer. “This year's grantees range from animal shelters to programs that pair pets with older people for companionship, to organizations that provide pet food and care to households with low incomes."

Grantees include the town of Dexter, which is using its $5,000 grant for annual exams for older cats placed as companionship animals with older people in the community. Dexter will also use the funds to pay for pet deposits required by landlords.

The Franklin County Animal Shelter in Farmington was awarded a $10,000 grant for its spay and neuter voucher programs, and Friends of Feral Felines in Portland was awarded a $25,000 grant for its trap, neuter and placement program.

Other grant recipients are as follows. Unless otherwise noted, funds are earmarked for general support:

Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland, Westbrook, $15,000
Animal Welfare Society, Kennebunk, $15,000
Bangor Humane Society, Bangor, $15,000
Cottontail Cottage Farm Sanctuary, Cherryfield, medical care and spay/neuter program, $15,000
Eastern Area Agency on Aging, Brewer, pet food, supplies, and animal welfare education, $11,344
Give a Dog a Home German Shepherd Dog Rescue, Sebec, $15,000
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, Lewiston, $15,000
Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Caribou, free spay/neuter program and free pet food pantry, $15,000
Harvest Hills Animal Shelter, Fryeburg, $15,000
Humane Society Waterville Area, Waterville, $15,000
A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, Camden, affordable veterinary care, spay/neuter, and boarding for low-income pet owners, $15,000
Peace Ridge Sanctuary, Brooks, free, quick-access canine resource center, $15,000
Pixels Posse, Orrington, $14,000
Pope Memorial Humane Society, Thomaston, $15,000
Rattletrap Ranch, Limington, for the care of aging and disabled foster cats, $7,500
Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills, South Paris, $15,000
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Trenton, $15,000
Somerset Humane Society, Skowhegan, for spay/neuter vouchers, $15,000
Spirits Place, Newport, $15,000
The Ark, Cherryfield, $15,000
Waldo County Humane Society, Belfast, spay/neuter program, rabies vaccinations and financial assistance programs, $15,000
Waldo County Pet Food Pantry, Belfast, canine spay/neuter services, $15,000

The Animal Welfare Fund was established in 2007 by an anonymous donor. The Doree Taylor Charitable Foundation, Bank of America, N.A., and the George F. Lyman and Ernestine Lyman Trust further support the fund.