ASPCA Funds Shelters
The ASPCA is providing up to $500,000 in funding to help animal shelters combat New World screwworm infestations
The ASPCA has committed up to $500,000 in emergency funding to help animal shelters prevent and treat New World screwworm infestations in dogs, cats, and equines. This funding is available through a new Direct Support Grant, which responds to the parasite's return to the US for the first time since it was declared eradicated in 1966.
According to the ASPCA, the New World screwworm fly lays its eggs in open wounds, and the hatched maggots burrow into living tissue rather than feeding on dead flesh. The first US case in more than half a century was confirmed in a calf in Zavala County, Texas.
How the Grant Works
The Direct Support Grant will fund parasiticides and veterinary care for dogs, cats, and equines. Shelters and rescues in USDA-designated infested zones, or adjacent states, can apply for funding in three categories: prevention and treatment medication, supervising veterinarian's oversight costs, and veterinary assessment and treatment.
The funding categories are as follows:
| Category | Maximum Funding |
|---|---|
| Prevention and treatment medication | $45,000 |
| Supervising veterinarian's oversight costs | $5,000 |
| Veterinary assessment, evaluation, and treatment per animal | $750 |
Eligibility and Application
Eligibility is limited to organizations with an existing veterinarian of record, not individual pet owners. Application details are available at aspcapro.org/nwsgrant. Funding is distributed on a rolling basis, with applications open now through October 31, 2026, or until funds are exhausted.
Stephanie Janeczko, DVM, MS, DABVP, senior vice president of veterinary medicine at the ASPCA, reportedly stated that expanding access to effective parasiticides in shelters and rescues is a simple, high-impact strategy to both prevent and treat infestations. The ASPCA hopes this grant funding will enable organizations in confirmed outbreak areas to expand their prevention and treatment efforts to protect shelter cats, dogs, and equines.
Next Steps
The ASPCA has made application details available at aspcapro.org/nwsgrant. As reported by Justin Louis, Content Producer, the grant is part of the ASPCA's efforts to combat the spread of New World screwworm. The ASPCA's announcement of the Direct Support Grant was reportedly made in response to the USDA's confirmation of the presence of New World Screwworm in the United States.
The USDA confirmed the presence of New World Screwworm in the United States on June 3, 2026. The ASPCA launched the Direct Support Grant to assist with the New World Screwworm outbreak, as stated in their news release on August 19, 2026. Applications for the grant are available now, and funding will be distributed on a rolling basis until October 31, 2026, or until funds are exhausted. The grant application details can be found on the ASPCA's website at aspcapro.org/nwsgrant.
