Effingham County Animal Shelter received the good news on Thursday that they will receive a $3,000 grant from the Georgia Department of Agriculture to help fund the sterilization of animals adopted from their shelter in Springfield. 

Animal Shelter Director Lorna Shelton, who applied for the grant last year, said of the award, “This grant most certainly will help us keep moving forward to ensure the well-being of Effingham County animals.” 

Effingham’s Shelter was included in the list of sixty-six state licensed animal shelters and animal rescue organizations selected from a pool of over 100 applicants to receive grants. 

Georgia Department of Agriculture Commissioner Gary W. Black asserts that, “Often local communities have citizens that are burdened by the high costs of having their pets spayed or neutered. This grant will target and aid these communities across Georgia by keeping strays off the street and controlling the animal population in a humane manner.”

The Dog and Cat Sterilization Program is funded through the purchase of the Dog and Cat Sterilization Auto Tag, from direct contributions to the program, and also by those who check the donation box located on the state tax form.

 For more information about the program, please visit http://agr.georgia.gov/dog-cat-sterilization-program.aspx.