NEWS RELEASE — Santa Rosa County has received a one-time grant of $25,000 from the “Florida Animal Friend, Inc.” license plate program to offer a discount spay and neuter program for income-eligible residents beginning today.

More than 80 percent of animals that come to the county’s shelter each year face an early death due to an overabundance of animals. By offering this program, Santa Rosa County hopes to make the sterilization of animals more affordable and decrease the number of unwanted animals born each year.

Santa Rosa County is one of only 26 nonprofit or governmental organizations selected to receive a grant for 2014. It is the fourth time in eight years Santa Rosa County has been selected as a Florida Animal Friend grant recipient.

In 2007, the county received $18,000 which facilitated the altering of 306 animals. In 2010, a grant of $17,500 was awarded to the county helping to spay and neuter 260 animals. In 2012, the county received a grant of $22,250 which helped spay and neuter 344 animals.

For details about the grant, call Santa Rosa County Animal Services at (850) 983-4680 or visit the shelter at 4451 Pine Forest Road, Milton between 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The application can also be found online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/animals.

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