1 Animal Care Group In The HV Receives Improvement Grant From NY

MIDDLETOWN, NY — New York State is giving almost $4 million to 10 animal care organizations to help support construction, renovation and expansion projects, and one of the organizations is located in the mid-Hudson Valley.

Pets Alive, which is in Middletown, was awarded $500,000 from the state’s Companion Animal Capital Fund.

Governor Kathy Hochul announced the awards Thursday, saying that the capital fund continues to make a real difference for shelter and humane societies across the state.

“This funding will better equip these vital facilities with the tools they need to improve the quality of care for animals as they await a permanent, loving home,” she said.

Sarah Wees, the executive director of Pets Alive, told Patch the organization was honored to be one of the 10 grant recipients.

She said the funds are earmarked for the new Community Resource + Adoption Center, which is currently under construction.

“The state-of-the-art building will provide housing for more than 50 dogs, a medical suite, a training space and a meeting room for humane education, local business collaboration and other public gatherings,” Wees said.

“We are excited to welcome both new and longtime residents to experience everything Pets Alive has planned for the future,” she said.

Since the 2017 launch of the Companion Animal Capital Fund program, which is administered by the Department of Agriculture and Markets, the state has dedicated over $33 million to the program.

This round of funding, which is the sixth, builds on previous initiatives to offset the costs associated with capital projects run by state animal shelters, such as renovating dog kennels, improving medical facilities or building more efficient shelters to reduce overall operational costs. Projects funded this year include new living spaces for dogs and cats, improved infrastructure and enhanced outdoor spaces.

Other organizations that are receiving awards from this round of the program include Bideawee in New York City, Country Acres Animal Shelter in Cortland County and the town of Southampton in Suffolk County.