The Michigan Companion and Animal Welfare Fund is providing over $35,000 in grants to fund projects at several Downriver animal shelters.

The Michigan Animal Welfare fund was established under Public Act 132 of 2007 as a tax check-off to support animal shelters statewide. According to the foundation, this year’s awards will go to the spaying and neutering of animals, fund registration fees for anti-cruelty training conferences and help cover costs for protecting and caring for Michigan animals subjected to cruelty or neglect.

The 2015 animal welfare grant recipients in the Downriver area are Downriver Central Animal Control and shelters in Brownstown, River Rouge, Taylor and Woodhaven-Trenton.

Overall, the foundation is donating more than $155,500 to 26 shelters that were selected from 64 applications.

Becky Eicher, animal control officer for the Woodhaven-Trenton Animal Shelter, said they have been applying for the grant for several years and were finally selected.

The Woodhaven-Trenton Animal Shelter received $6,900 for the spay and neutering of the animals prior to being adopted.

“This grant will be used only for the homeless dogs and cats in our shelter that will be going up for adoption,” Eicher said. “We will have to continue to pay for other medical requirements such as vaccines, tests and medications.”

Eicher added that the shelter is “thrilled to receive this generous amount” to assist them with caring and giving hope to the homeless animals and their new family’s.

“I personally am excited to see how this grant will affect our adoption rate and the number of homeless animals left abandoned,” she said.

Similar to Eicher, Lanny Hall, head of the Taylor Animal Shelter, said they were also ecstatic when they heard they were chosen to receive a $10,000 grant. Once the shelter received the grant, within the first three days, nine animals were spayed/neutered.

In addition to those who work at the shelter, many state veterinarians also are expressing their gratitude for the offering.

“Thanks to the generous support of Michiganders, local animal shelters will be able to train more staff on anti-cruelty, care for animals looking for their forever home, and conduct spay and neutering programs in their communities,” said James Averill, veterinarian.

For more information on the animal shelter program or how to apply for a grant, go to www.michigan.gov/animalshelters.