Current Legislation

MA Spay/Neuter Fund

An Act Creating a Statewide Spay/Neuter Fund
Senate Bill 1041

MSPCA position: Support.

There are more animals, particularly cats, in Massachusetts than there are homes available to care for them. Research shows that there are about 600,000 to 800,000 "free-roaming" or "feral" cats in the Commonwealth.

This bill would create a Massachusetts Spay and Neuter Fund by adding a voluntary contribution option on state income tax forms (see line 32 of 2006 form for example). The Fund would be used to develop a program to reduce the number of homeless animals, by assisting persons meeting minimum income standards with the cost of spaying and neutering.  This fund will sterilize and vaccinate dogs and cats and educate the public about the importance of spaying and neutering.

Twenty-five other states (including all other New England states) have established similar funds to reduce the number of homeless animals.  Seven states generate revenue through voluntary tax check-off donations.  Colorado, the first state to pass a tax check-off for pet overpopulation funds on income tax returns, receives approximately $200,000 in donations annually which has helped fund more than 21,000 spay and neuter surgeries in the four years since its inception.

This bill would not only help animals, but help our municipalities (and taxpayers) deal with a large number of unwanted animals.

Sponsor:  Senator Montigny

Learn More, Get Involved:

• Sign your organization up as a supporter of this Bill
• See what organizations have already signed up in support of this bill
• Join the Animal Action Team
• Learn more about Colorado's Tax Check Off Program at http://www.savecoloradopets.org/
• Read about Georgia's  here.
• See Maine's tax form with the check off.
• Find out more about legislators at www.mass.gov/legis
• Find out who represents you at:
  http://www.wheredoivotema.com/

Organizations who have signed up in Support of a Massachusetts Spay and Neuter Fund:
Town of Athol Animal Control
Town of Brockton Animal Control
Town of Foxborough Animal Control
Town of Marshfield Animal Control
Town of New Bedford Animal Control
Town of Orange Animal Control
Town of Spencer Animal Control
Town of Warwick Animal Control
City of Worcester Animal Control
City of Cambridge Animal Commission
Alliance for Animals (South Boston)
American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Animal Control Officers Association
Animal Rescue League of Boston
Another Chance for Homeless Cats, Inc (West Springfield)
Billerica Cat Care Coalition (Billerica)
Bosler Humane Society (Baldwinville)
Ce-Ce & Friends Humane Society (Quincy)
Charles River Alley Cats (Newton)
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (Leverett)
Eleanor Sonsini Animal Shelter (Pittsfield)
Habitat for Cats (North Dartmouth)
Humane Society of the United States
Lowell Humane Society (Lowell)
Massachusetts Animal Coalition
Massachusetts Ferret Friends (Marshfield)
Massachusetts Humane Society, Inc. (East Weymouth)
MassPAWS (Winthrop)
Merrimack River Feline Rescue Society (Salisbury)
North Shore Feline Rescue (Middleton)
PawSafe Cat Division (Medford)
PittieLove Rescue Inc. (Framingham)
RRUFF, Inc (Westford)
Second Chance Fund for Animal Welfare (Bolton)
South Shore Humane Society (Braintree)