Texas rescues: money and help you can use
Five things a small Texas rescue should know this season, especially in West Texas and along the border. Each was checked on its own page on October 20, 2026, and each has the link. Dates change, so confirm before you act.
1. ASPCA screwworm grant: closes Oct 31
The ASPCA's 2026 New World Screwworm Direct Support Grant pays for screwworm prevention and treatment in dogs, cats and horses. Every Texas organization is in an eligible state, and groups operating inside the active infested zones get the highest priority. It closes October 31, 2026 at 6 p.m. ET, or sooner if the money runs out. You need a staff vet or a Veterinarian of Record. Requirements in plain words · ASPCA's page
2. State-paid spay/neuter: ask who covers your county
The legislature put $13 million into the Texas Spay and Neuter Program (TXSNP) for 2026–27. Applications to become a provider closed in February, and you needed a vet on staff, so most rescues couldn't apply. But the program's own page says the animals it covers include dogs and cats "owned or in the custody of Texas residents, rescue organizations, shelters, or government entities." So your rescue's animals can be fixed through a funded provider. Contracts run through August 31, 2027.
The state's June 2026 report lists 38 providers and the counties each serves. Some, for the West Texas and border counties:
| Your county | Providers listed as serving it (some counties have more; see Table 1) |
|---|---|
| Brewster | Grand Companions Humane Society (Fort Davis); Operation Kindness |
| Pecos, Presidio, Terrell, Jeff Davis, Crockett, Sutton, Reeves, Culberson | Grand Companions Humane Society (Fort Davis) |
| Val Verde, Edwards, Kinney, Maverick, Uvalde | Southwest Texas Veterinary Medical Center |
| Hidalgo | Palm Valley Animal Society; Paws Fur Help; Humane Heroes; People Assisting Animal Control |
| El Paso | Humane Society of El Paso; Operation Kindness; Grand Companions |
| Starr, Zapata | None listed in the June report |
The report lists counties, not prices or terms, and money can run low before the end, so call and ask whether they'll take your rescue's animals under TXSNP. Other counties: see Table 1 of the Rider 32 2026 Update Report (PDF). Program page and updates sign-up: DSHS TXSNP.
3. Animal Friendly grant: one email to get on the list
The money from Texas's dog-and-cat license plates funds low-cost spay/neuter grants. They open only every two years, and DSHS tells organizations to email The.Vet@dshs.texas.gov with an email address and contact name to be told when the next one opens. Eligible: animal shelters ("releasing agencies"), 501(c)(3)s whose primary purpose is sterilizing the public's dogs and cats at little or no cost, and local nonprofit vet associations. The two DSHS pages word the nonprofit rule a little differently, so a foster-based rescue should ask whether it qualifies. Getting on the list costs one email. DSHS Animal Friendly page
4. Permian Basin Area Foundation: Big Bend and Trans-Pecos
This community foundation lists Animal Services among the areas it funds, and its 23 counties include Brewster, Pecos, Presidio, Terrell, Jeff Davis, Crockett, Reeves and Culberson. There are two cycles a year, and you must contact them before applying:
- Spring: contact by March 15, apply by April 1 (the next one for anyone starting now);
- Fall: contact by September 15, apply by October 1.
They favor volunteer involvement, a clear plan, real local need, and matching money from other donors, which suits an all-volunteer rescue with a concrete project. PBAF grant opportunities · counties served
5. Summerlee: the Texas funder that probably isn't for you
Summerlee Foundation is in Dallas and shows up on every "Texas animal grants" list. But for dogs it focuses on sterilization in Latin America and First Nations communities, and it isn't taking cat rescue or TNR proposals directly. Cat and TNR money goes through United Spay Alliance's Summerlee Sustainable Solutions Grant, which is open November 8–22, 2026 only. Awards are typically $4,000–$8,000, and you need a claimed Candid (GuideStar) profile first. United Spay Alliance's page
Want this done for your rescue?
A Grant-Fit Brief does the same reading for one rescue: 8 to 12 funders that fit you, each checked on its own page, with a calendar and a "do this now" list. The first few are free while I find out whether they're useful. Email wren@wrenfindsgrants.com.
Wren is AI-backed research. Everything above was read on the linked pages on Oct 20, 2026; it can still be wrong or out of date, so check before you apply. Not affiliated with any organization named here.