ACO Care Animals (priority)
Providing free vouchers for animals in ACO care is priority #1.
To apply for vouchers, ACOs must provide completed and accurate ACO Assistance Request Forms and Animal Intake Forms.
| Eligible ACO Animals | Ineligible ACO Animals |
|---|---|
| Unclaimed stray dogs and cats that are housed in a municipal shelter/ holding facility. | Dogs and cats that have been voluntarily surrendered to a municipal animal control facility for the purpose of rehoming. |
| Return to owner (RTO) dogs and cats that are housed in a municipal shelter/holding facility, the owner is claiming the animal and qualifies as a low-income resident of Massachusetts. | Dogs and cats whose custody has been transferred to a private shelter, rescue, or foster group. |
| Dogs and cats that are being housed in a municipal shelter/ holding facility as part of a law enforcement case and custody has been relinquished. | Return to owner (RTO) dogs and cats that are being housed in a municipal shelter/holding facility, the owner does not meet eligibility requirements. |
| Dogs and cats that are being housed in a municipal shelter/holding facility due to an involuntary abandonment and remain unclaimed after claim time frame (official notice must have been given). | Part I and Part II of the voucher is not completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. |
| Part I and Part II of the voucher is completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. |
Owned Animals
Massachusetts residents who own cats and dogs may be eligible for assistance.
Assistance Waitlist
Our owned animal assistance waitlist is reserved for Massachusetts pets that fit into the categories below:
- Dogs and cats owned by low-income MA residents over the age of 65 who receive public assistance.
- Dogs and cats owned by low-income disabled MA residents who receive public assistance.
- Dogs and cats owned by low-income MA residents who receive public assistance and whose animals need spay/neuter for a public housing requirement.
Please note that our 2026 owned animal waitlist will be closed once we reach 400 new applications. This cap will prevent animals from sitting on the waitlist for longer than a year.
Owners that fit into the above categories must submit a completed and accurate Owned Animal Assistance Form to their local animal control officer.
Please keep in mind that animal eligibility does not equal voucher availability. Applications may be denied due to funding, surgery capacity, and current focus efforts. Applications submitted for our waitlist are reviewed weekly. Once an application is approved, the owner will receive a confirmation email that includes a waitlist number and the approximate wait time for assistance.
Due to the limited availability of owned animal vouchers, we encourage all owners to explore low-cost spay/neuter services first whenever possible.
Voucher Days
Voucher Days are an opportunity for all low-income pet owners in Massachusetts to apply for assistance. Voucher Days are announced on our Mass Animal Fund Facebook Page, and each voucher day post includes information on how to apply.
Please note that, due to limited funding and voucher availability, there is no waitlist for Voucher Days. Voucher Days fill up very quickly, so we encourage individuals to apply as soon as they see a posting. All applicants who obtain a surgery slot for their pet will be notified by email with instructions for the day of surgery. There is a strict limit of 2 animals per applicant for Voucher Days, and all owners must meet the eligibility guidelines below. Vouchers for Voucher Days are distributed on the day of the event and are not transferable or usable on alternate days.
Due to the limited availability of owned animal vouchers, we encourage all owners to explore low-cost spay/neuter services first whenever possible.
| Eligible Owned Animals | Ineligible Owned Animals |
|---|---|
| Dogs and cats that are owned by low-income Massachusetts residents. To determine low-income eligibility, we recommend that the animal control officer verify enrollment in a state or federal assistance program, such as TAFDC, SSI, VS, SNAP, WIC, Section 8, etc. | Dogs and cats owned by Massachusetts residents who do not meet income eligibility requirements. |
| Part I and Part II of the voucher is completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. | Dogs and cats owned by non-Massachusetts residents. |
| Part I and Part II of the voucher is not completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. |
Community/Feral Cats (currently restricted to special cases)
We are currently only taking feral cat voucher applications from animal control officers for disease response and emergency cases. ACOs may apply by submitting a completed and accurate At-Large Cat assistance Request Form.
| Eligible Feral Cats | Ineligible Feral Cats |
|---|---|
| Cats that are homeless, un-owned, free-roaming, unsocialized, and appear healthy. These cats must be released back into its home colony, which will be managed, and must receive a 3/8” ear tip at the time of surgery. | Cats that are owned or possibly owned, or those that will be adopted out or are in foster care awaiting possible placement. Socialized cats being evaluated for placement, and cats that do not appear healthy. |
| Part I and Part II of the voucher is completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. | Part I and Part II of the voucher is not completely filled out prior to dropping off the animal for surgery. |