140808 Victorian Coalition Government?s Animal Welfare Fund now open

Member for Forest Hill, Neil Angus MP is encouraging local animal welfare organisations to apply for a grant under the latest round of the Victorian Coalition Government’s $1.6 million Animal Welfare Fund.

Mr Angus said eligible not-for-profit organisations could apply for small grants of up to $10,000 or large grants of up to $50,000 to support their vital work.

“The Victorian Coalition Government is committed to strengthening animal welfare in Victoria,” Mr Angus said.

“We introduced the Animal Welfare Fund in 2011 to support the important work of not-for- profit organisations in improving the lives of abused, neglected and homeless companion animals.

“The Animal Welfare Fund is open to animal shelters, organisations promoting responsible animal ownership education, community foster care networks, and groups that provide relief facilities and services during an emergency.

“These organisations often rely heavily on donations and volunteers, so these grants from the Napthine Government could go a long way to assisting them in their important work,” Mr Angus said.

Mr Angus said a local example of work supported by the Fund included the installation of eight new cages in early 2014 to house sixteen rabbits through the RSPCA in Burwood East.

“Since 2011 the Coalition Government has also strengthened regulations for breeding dogs and cats and delivered tougher penalties and more substantial fines for animal cruelty,” Mr Angus said.

“We have doubled the penalties for cruelty offences under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 including fines of up to $73,000 or two years’ imprisonment for aggravated cruelty.

“Penalties for unregistered and non-compliant dog and cat breeding businesses have also been increased with up to $35,512 in fines, bans of up to 10 years on owning animals, and the confiscation of animals and property.

“We have done more to improve animal welfare in three-and-a-half years than Labor achieved in a decade,” Mr Angus said.