Funding will assist with expenses related to adoptions as part of the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign to place more animals into loving homes
Luna is just one of many cats at Pet Pride who are looking for their loving family. Photo by Dan Hucko
Pet Pride of New York has been awarded a $10,000 grant from the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) as part of its 2026 Rescue Effect campaign, a nationwide effort to raise awareness about the importance of pet adoption and place more animals into loving homes. The funding will help Pet Pride waive adoption fees during designated adoption events while offsetting the medical “make-ready” costs that prepare cats for loving homes.
Most shelters across the country are at capacity with nearly six million dogs and cats entering shelters and rescues in 2025. Choosing to adopt helps the animal you take home and frees space and resources to help others.
Launching in August and continuing through October, The Rescue Effect is the ASPCA’s national campaign dedicated to helping organizations increase adoptions and engage the public. This year, the ASPCA is once again providing $2 million in grants to cover adoption fees and support operations at participating shelters and rescue groups across the country, with some holding fee-waived adoption events.
“With animal shelters continuing to experience high demand, investments like this are more important than ever,” said Danielle Howard, Executive Director of Pet Pride of New York. “The ASPCA’s Rescue Effect grant allows us to waive adoption fees while ensuring every cat receives the veterinary care and preparation needed before going home. By increasing adoptions, we create opportunities to rescue and care for even more cats.”
In 2025, Pet Pride helped 886 cats find loving homes. This grant will build on that success by expanding the organization’s ability to connect adoptable cats with families while creating space to rescue even more cats in need.
The $10,000 Rescue Effect grant will enable Pet Pride to waive adoption fees during designated adoption events in August, September, and October while covering the “make-ready” medical costs—including spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, microchipping, and other essential veterinary care—that prepare cats for adoption. Every adoption creates a ripple effect: when one cat finds a home, another cat in need can enter the shelter and begin their journey toward finding a loving home. Individuals interested in adopting a cat or learning more about upcoming fee-waived adoption event dates can visit www.petprideny.org or follow Pet Pride on Facebook and Instagram.
For more information about Pet Pride of New York, please visit www.petprideny.org, or learn more about the ASPCA’s Rescue Effect campaign at aspca.org/therescueeffect.
Founded in 1977, Pet Pride of New York is a nonprofit, no-kill cat sanctuary and adoption center located in Victor, New York. As one of the region’s largest cat-only shelters, Pet Pride provides compassionate care, veterinary services, and adoption opportunities for homeless cats while working to reduce cat overpopulation through community partnerships and education. For nearly 50 years, the organization has helped thousands of cats find loving homes and continues to serve as a vital resource for the Greater Rochester communityThe ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) believes every animal deserves to live free from suffering.
For 160 years, they’ve been on the frontlines to save, transform and protect millions of lives in the fight against animal cruelty. As the nation’s first and leading animal welfare organization, they assist animals in need through on-the-ground disaster and cruelty interventions, behavioral rehabilitation, animal relocation and placement, legal and legislative advocacy, and the advancement of the sheltering and veterinary communities through research, training and resources. As a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit corporation with more than 2 million supporters nationwide, their commitment to eliminating animal cruelty is unwavering. For more information visit aspca.org, and follow the ASPCA on Facebook, X, Instagram, LinkedIn and TikTok.
