Assemblyman Angelo Santabarbara announced $500,000 awarded to the Montgomery County SPCA as part of the New York State Companion Animal Capital Fund, an initiative he supported in the state budget. The program provides matching grants to shelters and humane societies to offset the costs associated with capital projects that expand the quality of care of the animals they care for. Santabarbara championed the initiative to support outdated local area shelters that were in desperate need to modernizations. The funding awarded to Montgomery County SPCA will support the long-awaited construction of a new facility that will increase the capacity, sanitation, physical wellbeing, and behavioral health of the companion animals they care for. Santabarbara noted that a portion of the funding will also assist in the adoption process at the shelter.

“Many communities that operate animal shelters contract 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. “This funding gives our local shelters the much needed support that helps them continue providing an essential service in our communities,” said Assemblyman Santabarbara, who is the proud owner of a teacup Yorkie named Muffie.

“The current shelter was built in the 1950’s, having outlived its usefulness it no longer meets the needs of our community,” Santabarbara. “This proposal will greatly expand the MCSPCA’s capacity to house animals and would also add needed on-site medical services, including low cost spay and neuter services and vaccinations with this location serving more than 550 cats per year,” Santabarbara added. “The new facility will also allow MCSPCA to increase the number of adoptions made each year, giving new hope to companion animals.”