Animal Welfare Fund Grants Program
Grants are available to not-for-profit and community organisations that:
- 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 under the Domestic Animals Act 1994 in 2011 to support improvement of companion animal welfare in the Victorian community.
The program aims to:
- improve companion animal welfare
- improve responsible pet ownership
- provide better animal welfare services to companion animals and the Victorian community.
The program provides grants to animal shelters, organisations promoting responsible animal ownership education, community foster care networks, not-for-profit and low-cost veterinary services and groups that provide relief facilities and services during an emergency.
These grants recognise that companion animals play a significant role in the lives of Victorians.
The Victorian Government is currently delivering the following commitments:
- $5 million over 4 years, provided in the 2023–24 State Budget, to support pet shelters and animal rescue and rehoming organisations
- $2 million over 4 years, provided in the 2023–24 State Budget, to support not-for-profit and community veterinary clinics.
- $5 million over 4 years, provided in the 2020–21 State Budget, 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.
Current grants
Individual Pet Rehoming grants
Online applications for round 4 of the Individual Pet Rehoming grants are now closed, as applications amounting to the full $1.278 million allocation have now been submitted. Submitted applications are being processed in the order of receipt and applicants will be notified of the outcome of the application process via email upon completion.
Grants totalling more than $3.72 million were awarded in rounds 1 – 3 of the Individual Pet Rehoming grants, to support costs associated with preparing cats and dogs for rehoming.
Round 4 of the Individual Pet Rehoming grants offered a further $1.278 million to pet rescue and rehoming organisations to support the rehoming of dogs and cats.
Eligible organisations were able to apply to be reimbursed for $500 per dog and $200 per cat on costs incurred for:
- veterinary treatment, including desexing, microchipping, vaccinations and any other medical treatments, and/or
- the purchase of equipment, which is supplied to the new owner as part of the rehoming process (e.g. crate, bedding, lead), and/or
- services to deliver training or rehabilitation for a dog or cat.
For more information contact awvgrants@agriculture.vic.gov.au
Future Animal Welfare Fund grants will be offered. To receive an email alert on commencement of each new round, please register for Animal Welfare Victoria’s news alerts.
Subscribe to our news alertsLatest grants awarded
Round 11 grants
The Minister for Agriculture, on behalf of the government, offered round 11 grant funding not-for-profit and community organisations that improve the welfare of animals.
These are the details of the successful round 11 (2024) applicants and their projects.
Successful rehoming pets small grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Beyond Racing Ltd | Purchase of 2 Equissage Cycloid Vibration Therapy (CVT) Systems | $15,440.00 |
Bunjil's Rest Equine Inc | 2 x Rehabilitation Stables | $13,980.00 |
Give a Kitty a Home Rescue Inc | Holding / Recovery Cages | $17,129.20 |
Helping Hands Animal Rescue Inc | Enclosures | $12,230.00 |
Kiwi's New Life Bird Rescue | Galah enclosure | $3,120.00 |
Launch Housing | Pets & People Project | $20,000.00 |
Maneki Neko Cat Rescue Inc | Neonate Kitten Program | $6,998.00 |
New Life For Animals Rehoming Centre Inc | Rehabilitation, training and housing enclosures | $2,670.00 |
New Life For Animals Rehoming Centre Inc | Emergency Evacuation Preparation | $1,822.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Disaster Deployment Kit | $8,926.53 |
2nd Chance cat rescue | Kitten Season | $3,792.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Animal Shelter Industrial Cleaning revamp | $20,000.00 |
South Gippsland Animal Aid | SGAA Cat Equipment | $19,379.32 |
Successful rehoming pets large grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Beagle Rescue Victoria | Rescue Vehicle Upgrade | $66,892.00 |
Bluey and Alice Bunny Refuge | Building Bonds for Bunnies: The Adoption Room Project | $50,383.00 |
Cat Protection Society of Victoria | CPSV Zen Cat Enclosures | $40,000.00 |
Equorum Ltd | Paddock Improvements at Equorum | $75,169.00 |
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Feline Isolation Wards - Stainless Steel Cages - Code Compliance | $72,378.52 |
Greyt Greys Rescue Incorporated | Fostering Rehoming: Strengthening Greyhound Adoption Initiatives | $45,000.00 |
Lort Smith Animal Hospital | Creation of off lead enrichment area for shelter dogs | $35,000.00 |
One at a Time Pet Rescue | Quarantine and Isolation Care Centre for Vulnerable Cats and Kittens | $27,750.00 |
Pet Medical Crisis | Pawsing Surrenders, Preventing Rehoming | $100,000.00 |
Project Meow Ltd | Cat and kitten accommodation refurbishment | $52,039.37 |
Project Underdog Rescue Inc. | Refuge & Respite for Feline Friends | $63,533.00 |
Rabbit Runaway Orphanage | Repair/Upgrade to Facility & Enclosures | $51,189.00 |
Racing 2 Rehome Incorporated | Climate-Controlled Canine Caravan | $23,550.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Burwood East Kennel Upgrade | $100,000.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Emergency Pet Support Services | $99,000.00 |
Victorian Animal Aid Trust | Shelter Dogs Running Yards | $45,208.00 |
Westside Community Desexing Inc | WCD Supporting Victorian Seniors Ageing Well | $50,000.00 |
Successful veterinary equip, upgrades and expansions grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Warm Air Blanket System | $4,432.15 |
Geelong Animal Welfare Society | Microscope | $826.00 |
Lort Smith Animal Hospital | Purchase of enclosures to support upgrade to small mammal ward | $30,000.00 |
RSPCA Victoria | Anaesthetics Equipment | $18,104.00 |
Second Chance Animal Rescue | Surgical X-Ray Equipment upgrade | $44,550.00 |
Westside Community Desexing Inc | WCD On the Road | $50,000.00 |
Successful veterinary clinics establish new low-cost grant applications for round 11, 2024
Organisation | Project title | Grant amount |
|---|---|---|
The Lost Dogs Home | Mobile Low-Cost Veterinary Clinic | $197,032.00 |
The Pet Rescue Project | The Pet Rescue Project - A Low-Cost Mobile Surgical Suite | $105,203.00 |
Previously successful grant applicants
View details of applicants that have previously been awarded grants