New York Governor Is Giving $10 Million to Help Animal Shelters

On November 18, Governor Kathy Hochul made an announcement regarding the New York State Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund — a state-funded program that supports animal shelter improvement projects. This year, New York will give $10 million to animal welfare organizations, supporting rescues in construction, renovation, and expansion.

The New York State Companion Animal Capital Projects Fund was launched in 2017 to aid shelters, rescues, humane societies, and non-profit pounds across the state; it’s the only state-funded program of its kind in the country. Including the $10 million announced earlier this week, the fund has allocated about $48 million dollars to 161 organizations in its eight years. 

“As we enter the eighth round of funding for the Companion Animal Capital Fund, the importance of this critical funding cannot be overstated,” Governor Hochul said in a press release. “Animal shelters and humane societies are essential in providing a safe, caring environment for companion animals as they wait for their forever homes. This funding continues to make a meaningful difference by equipping these facilities with the resources they need to enhance animal care and welfare.”

Last year, projects funded by the initiative included updates to living spaces, improved HVAC and heating systems, expanded medical facilities, and general infrastructure updates. The fund has enable shelters to provide better living conditions to the animals in their care as those pets await adoption.

“[The fund] has truly made a difference for thousands of animals living in shelters across the state,” said New York Animal Protection Federation Executive Director Libby Post in the same press release.

This announcement comes just as new regulation standards for rescues and shelters are about to go into effect on December 15. The Companion Animal Care Standards Act was passed in 2022 and fully rewrites Article 26 of New York State’s Agriculture and Market Law (the section of the state’s law dedicated to animal rights), with advice and peer-review from the Association of Shelter Veterinarians. “The New York State Animal Protection Federation considers this bill one of the most consequential proposals for the state’s animal sheltering community in decades,” says the bill’s official memo. 

Under the new regulations, shelters, rescues, and other adoption-related non-profit organizations will need to comply with new licensing, recordkeeping, and facility requirements. These organizations already need to register with the state, but starting next month they will also need to apply to be licensed. Other new regulations going into effect include capacity limits, training requirements, and staffing requirements.

“We certainly encourage shelters to take advantage of this most recent funding opportunity to help them comply with Article 26C, which will take effect December 15,” Jola Szubielski-Flynn, director of public information at the Department of Agriculture and Market, told News 10. 

In order to receive funding, organizations must submit an online application by 4 p.m. EST on January 30, 2026; as part of the application, organizations must provide a clear work plan, with an estimated timeline and costs delineated. One million dollars of that funding is specifically reserved for independent organizations in underserved municipalities or regions.