Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program
Grants are available to not-for-profit and community organisations who:
- rehome pets
- provide low-cost veterinary services
- provide free or low-cost desexing programs.
About the Grant Program
The Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program was established to support improvement of companion animal welfare in the Victorian community.
These grants recognise that companion animals play a significant role in the lives of Victorians.
The Victorian Government is delivering on our commitment to provide $3 million in Animal Welfare Grants and continues to pursue important reforms to Victorian animal welfare laws. The funding commitment includes:
- $1 million for animal shelters and foster carers to purchase equipment or upgrade or expand their services
- $2 million for not-for profit and community vet clinics to maintain and expand their services, and allow new low-cost clinics to be set up in areas of need around Victoria.
A further two rounds will be offered to complete delivery of Government's $3 million commitment.
The Victorian Government allocated a further $7.5 million boost to animal welfare grants in the 2020–21 State Budget. This targeted funding commitment includes:
- $5 million over four years to support animal rehoming services to meet the costs of veterinary treatments, purchase of specific equipment and/or services to deliver training or rehabilitation for an animal
- $1.5 million over three years to enable delivery of free or low-cost desexing programs for cats and dogs owned by vulnerable and disadvantaged Victorians
- $1 million over three years to support horse and pony rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming.
Current grants
Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation grants
Online applications for round 1 Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation grant funding opened on 10 March 2021 and will close at midnight on 11 April 2021.
Round 1 of the Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation grants offers financial support to organisations that:
- provide free or low-cost de-sexing programs for cats and dogs owned by vulnerable and/or disadvantaged Victorians, or
- rescue, rehabilitate and rehome horses, ponies or other eligible equine species (refer to Glossary/definitions in the program guidelines).
Funding available in round 1 includes:
- a total of $500,000 to support local government councils and not-for-profit organisations that will provide free or low-cost desexing for cats and dogs owned by vulnerable and/or disadvantaged Victorians
- a total of $340,000 to support not-for-profit equine rescue, rehabilitation and rehoming organisations.
Only one application will be permitted per organisation.
For more information contact pet.welfare@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Grant guidelines
Applicants are encouraged to read the program guidelines before commencing an application.
- Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation program guidelines (PDF - 342.1 KB)
- Pet Desexing and Equine Rehabilitation program guidelines (WORD - 200.5 KB)
Apply for a grant
Eligible organisations wishing to apply for round 1 Pet desexing and Equine Rehabilitation funding can do so online from 10 March 2021 until midnight on 11 April 2021.
These links open up a secure online application form:
Round 9 grants
Online applications for round 9 grant funding closed at midnight 12 December 2020. Successful grant recipients will be announced soon.
Round 9 of the program offered:
- a total of $250,000 to not-for-profit organisations, shelters and foster carers to support the rehoming of dogs and cats
- a total of $500,000 to not-for-profit and community vet clinics to allow them to maintain and expand their services, and allow new low-cost clinics to be set up in areas of need around Victoria.
Latest grants awarded
The Minister for Agriculture, on behalf of the government, offered round 8 grants to not-for-profit and community organisations that improve the welfare of animals.
These included:
- organisations wishing to establish new low-cost veterinary clinics in areas of need in Victoria
- animal shelters and rescue groups
- organisations promoting responsible animal ownership education
- community foster care networks.
These are the details of the successful Round 8 (2019 to 2020) applicants and their projects.
Successful rehoming pets small grant applicants for round 8 (2019 to 2020)
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Geelong Animal Rescue (GAR) Limited | Project Mayday Geelong | $5,117 |
Horsham People for Animal Welfare Society | Behaviour adjustment training for foster carers and dog training instructors | $1,200 |
| No Hairs Ark | Facility upgrade | $1,688 |
| Forever Friends Animal Rescue Latrobe Inc | Disability and Aged Care (DAAP) Desexing Program | $10,000 |
Successful rehoming pets large grant applicants for round 8 (2019 to 2020)
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Starting Over Dog Rescue | Mobile education and transport van | $30,990 |
Bendigo Animal Welfare & Community Services | Upgrade of Adoption Cattery facility | $25,000 |
Victorian Animal Aid | Weather proofing dog training and exercise area Coldstream | $26,340 |
Racing 2 Rehome Greyhound Adoption Group | R2R mobile greyhound rescue and rehoming vehicle | $35,500 |
Blue Cross Animals Society of Victoria | Enrichment multi-sensory environment areas – feline and canine | $13,908 |
Successful new low cost vet clinic grant applicants for round 8 (2019 to 2020)
| Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| Lort Smith | Lort Smith Campbellfield low-cost veterinary clinic | $150,000 |
| Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) | New community veterinary clinic | $150,000 |
| Maneki Neko Cat Rescue (MNKR) | Community vet clinic | $29,300 |
| Project delivery under negotiation | $91,385 |
Vet equipment upgrades and expansions grant recipient for round 8 (2019 to 2020)
| Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
| Community Vets Pty Ltd | New equipment | $50,000 |
Previously successful grant applicants
View details of applicants that have previously been awarded grants.