NMBVM News:

The New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine has opened a grant application process to fund low-cost spay/neuter services for companion animals of income-qualified New Mexicans. The Board will disburse $1 million in 2025 to nonprofit spay/neuter organizations, animal shelters, and other local government entities for the purpose of increasing affordable and accessible spay/neuter services throughout the state.

The application window opened on June 2, 2025, and will close at 11:59 p.m., July 17, 2025. Grants are capped at a maximum of $50,000. We are not awarding to individuals at this time. The grant program application, which can be completed online, and the grant program guidelines are available at the Board of Veterinary Medicine’s website at https://bvm.nm.gov/.

Today’s announcement is the realization of Senate Bill 57, the “Pet Food Fee for Neutering & Sheltering” Act. Passed in March of 2020, the Act aims to reduce the state’s overpopulation of unwanted dogs and cats by funding low-cost spay/neuter services through a small surcharge on the state’s preexisting pet food registration process.

Says the New Mexico Veterinary Board, “As veterinarians practicing in New Mexico, we have seen firsthand the urgent need to increase the availability of low-cost spay/neuter throughout the state. This commonsense law will increase public safety by reducing the number of un-homed dogs and cats wandering our communities while also decreasing the number of animals entering our shelters.  As Senate Bill 57 (2020) is scheduled to sunset in July 2026, we strongly urge its renewal so this work can be continued.”

For more information, please contact Deborah Schenk Executive Director of the New Mexico Board of Veterinary Medicine, at 505.553.7021.