Funding Critical Animal Health Services In Massachusetts FY2021 State Budget

On December 11, 2020, Governor Charlie Baker signed the state budget bill for fiscal year 2021 into law with a $50,000 allocation for critical animal health services. The allocation will enable the  (Mass Animal Fund) to provide spay and neuter surgeries and vaccinations to animals in need. Especially with the financial challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic, too many animals are going without critical health services – and the waitlist for such services is growing. This funding will help ensure animals in need, especially those in families impacted by the pandemic, receive spay, neuter, and vaccination services.

We are grateful to Governor Charlie Baker for including this allocation in the final budget and to amendment sponsors State Representative Lou Kafka and Senator Jim Welch for their leadership. We appreciate the many amendment co-sponsors as well as the conference committee members and others in the legislature for their support. We also thank the many advocates and coalition partners whose outreach helped make this possible.

Although a separate budget amendment relating to housing policies that discriminate against families with dogs on the basis of breed, size, or weight was not included in the FY2021 budget that was ultimately sent to the Governor’s desk, we are grateful to amendment sponsor Senator Jim Welch for his leadership and to the members of the Senate who voted in favor of it. We will continue to advocate for stable housing for families with companion animals in an economic crisis and beyond — families in the Commonwealth should be able to find housing together with their dogs, regardless of the dog’s breed. No one should have to choose between their dog and their home.