Governor Newsom allocated $50 million in 2021 for grantmaking, outreach and training for California animal shelters for a period of five years. The Koret Shelter Medicine Program at UC Davis was selected to create a team to administer the funds and provide the support and training. Officially launched in February 2022, the California for All Animals team allocated $37.5 million in grants and $12.5 million for staffing, training, convenings, technical assistance and support.

The grantmaking team partnered with animal shelters to equitably grant funds to keep pets in homes, return them to the homes and communities that care for them and adopt them to community members. Grants were prioritized to municipal shelters and private shelters with municipal contracts as well as animal control agencies to reduce the euthanasia of healthy and treatable dogs and cats. In response to the urgent need for veterinary care, supplies, equipment and resources for animal shelters as animal intake reached pre-pandemic levels, the grant process was accelerated and funding allocated swiftly. 

As of October 2024, the $37.5 million in grant funding has been fully awarded to eligible California animal shelters.

In the remaining two years of the California for All Animals program, the team will continue to partner with animal shelters to provide support, training, and resources. 

While additional grant funding is not available, a range of services is available to California shelters. Stay tuned for more information coming soon!