Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced funding in the final state budget that would provide New York’s nonprofit and municipal animal shelters with vital funding to construct much-needed facilities and streamline the cost of operation.

Santabarbara teamed up with the Animal Protective Foundation in Schenectady County last session to unveil the proposal creating the Companion Animal Capital Fund with a $5 million budget appropriation. He was joined by Animal Protective Foundation Executive Director Deb Balliet and Libby Post, executive director for the New York State Animal Protection Federation. Some self-advocates and furry companion friends in need of a home were also in attendance.

“Every New York municipality is required by state Agriculture and Markets Law to operate an animal shelter, and many municipalities save taxpayers money by contracting with their local humane society, SPCA or nonprofit animal shelter – a much less costly alternative than staffing and managing an animal shelter of their own,” Assemblyman Santabarbara said. “And yet, these organizations did not receive any direct state funding. This proposal included in this year’s final budget agreement will now change that and address a growing need for companion animals, and will also give our local shelters some much needed help to continue providing our families with an essential service in our communities.”

As of last year, nearly 20 Assemblymembers, including members of both parties and every Capital Region representative, had signed onto the proposal. The new fund provides humane societies, SCPCAs and nonprofit and municipal shelters with grants for capital projects through a competitive application process.

The New York State Animal Protection Federation, which represents the state’s nonprofit animal shelters, recently surveyed 16 shelters and found their capital needs to be over $31 million.

“New York’s animal shelters are the first responders for homeless dogs and cats,” said Libby Post, executive director for the New York State Animal Protection Federation. “Yet these shelters get no direct state support. Our services are mandated by state law but there is no funding to support what we do. The Companion Animal Capital Fund will help shelters across the state match privately raised funds to make capital improvements or build new buildings.”

Deb Balliet, executive director for the Animal Protective Foundation in Glenville, said her shelter serves thousands of homeless companion animals each year and the facilities are more than 20 years old.

“When built, it was state-of-the-art, but current care standards require increased kennel and cage size in order to house animals in a way that minimizes stress and illness,” Balliet said. “The Companion Animal Capital Fund would help the Animal Protective Foundation renovate our facilities for the companion animals that we care for annually. The Foundation thanks Assemblyman Santabarbara for his leadership on this initiative.”

More than 150,000 animals come into shelters across the state every year, added Santabarbara, who is the proud owner of a teacup Yorkie named Muffie. “New Yorkers across the state treasure their companion animals,” he said. “For many pet owners like myself, pets are part of the family, and it’s time we provide some assistance to the shelters that have helped so many New Yorkers make connections to find the right pet to make their family complete.”