Maryland: Department’s Spay and Neuter Grants Program Announces FY26 Grant Recipients 

Trending...
ANNAPOLIS, MD (December 16, 2025) ~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Spay and Neuter Grants Program has recently announced the recipients of their latest round of funding. A total of 38 grant projects have been selected to receive a combined amount of $1,001,665.00 to support spay and neuter services for cats and dogs in Maryland.

The grants are chosen by a seven-member advisory board, appointed by the Maryland Secretary of Agriculture. This board reviews all grant applications and makes recommendations for funding to the Secretary.

These projects will aim to complete 14,444 spay and neuter surgeries for pets belonging to low-income Marylanders, as well as free-roaming unowned cats. The projects are set to begin on January 1, 2026 and will continue until either the grant funding is exhausted or December 31, 2026. Recipients include government animal shelters and nonprofit animal welfare organizations with a 501(c)3 status.

A full list of the grant awardees can be found on the Spay and Neuter Grants Program website. The website also provides information on all active owned pet projects and feral cat projects.

More on Marylandian
Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks expressed his satisfaction with the program's success in controlling the state's pet population. "Maryland's Spay and Neuter program is highly successful, providing vital funding to numerous organizations that work to control the state's pet population," he stated. "The organizations receiving these grants perform an outstanding job delivering essential services to their communities."

The Spay and Neuter Grants Program was launched in 2014 with the goal of reducing intake and euthanasia rates in Maryland shelters. It is funded through fees paid by the pet food industry for each product they register to sell within the state. Since its inception, the program has awarded a total of $9,827,838 in funds to support 355 grant projects, resulting in over 143,232 spay and neuter procedures.

The next grant application cycle for FY27 will open on Friday, January 16, 2026 at 12:00pm and close on April 17, 2026 at 5:01pm. Interested parties can visit the program website for application instructions and other information, which is now available. The applications will be posted on the website at 12:00pm on January 16, 2026.

For any questions about the program or the grant applications, individuals can contact the Spay and Neuter Grants Program Coordinator, Jen Swanson, at (410) 841-5766.

Filed Under: Government, State
Show All News | Disclaimer | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on Marylandian