Animal Population Control Program

MUNICIPAL POUND PET PROGRAM: The Animal Population Control Program (APCP), implemented on May 22, 1995, was established by Public Act (P.A.) No. 92-187 to provide vaccination and sterilization benefits for any unsterilized dog or cat adopted from a municipal impound facility in Connecticut.  Program goals are to reduce pet overpopulation, reduce the spread of rabies and other diseases through immunizations, and subsequently increase the effectiveness of local Animal Control Departments through education and law enforcement. The APCP has provided benefits to more than 100,000 animals since 1995. For all the details of the program’s accomplishments in FY 2016 please view our Fiscal Year 2017 Annual Report.

A majority of Connecticut veterinary practices participate in the program. A list of participating practices can be found by downloading the following document: Participating Veterinarian PracticesTo join the APCP as a participating practice, please click on the following link, Participating Veterinarian Application and W9 and Vendor Form  (must also be completed), and mail the completed application to the APCP.   

To utilize this program, a Connecticut resident must pay a $45.00 fee at the time of adoption, which entitles the adopter to a vaccination/sterilization voucher good for sixty days.  The voucher provides a one-time sterilization benefit of $50.00 for a male cat, $70.00 for a female cat, $100.00 for a male dog, and $120.00 for a female dog plus two pre-surgical vaccinations coincident with the sterilization. If the veterinarian’s normal spay/neuter fees exceed the voucher amount(s), the eligible owner is responsible for the difference. In addition, adopters are required to pay for other services as specified by the veterinarian.  Non-residents may adopt a pound pet and pay a $5.00 municipal fee, but are not eligible for program benefits.  Pets too young or sick may be granted a medical extension by the veterinarian.  However, all young animals must be sterilized by six (6) months of age.  Funding for the APCP comes from an annual surcharge on Connecticut dog licenses ($2.00 sterilized/$6.00 unsterilized), the $45.00 adoption fee, proceeds from the sale of the “Caring for Pets” commemorative license plates and donations.

FERAL CAT GRANT PROGRAM: A program to assist non-profit rescue groups with the sterilization and vaccination of feral cats and administered by the APCP was first established in 2001. Public Act No. 01-87 authorized the commissioner to set aside up to $40,000.00 (forty thousand dollars), within available funds, each fiscal year for that purpose.  In 2007, the funding structure for what is now designated as the Feral Cat Grant Program was changed.  Instead of the $40,000.00 maximum available each year to fund the program,   Public Act No. 07-105, An Act Concerning the Expansion of the Animal Population Control Program, authorizes the commissioner to use up to 10% of the yearly APCP income, within available funding, to assist non-profit rescue groups with the sterilization and vaccination of feral cats. All money expended for this purpose comes entirely from the APCP dedicated account where dog license surcharges account for approximately 68% of its income. No state general fund money is used for the Feral Cat Grant Program. 

Since 2007 the APCP has averaged a 98% compliance rate for benefits issued through non-profit organizations, for the sterilization and vaccination of feral cats. Feral Cat Grant Sterilization by Town/County for Fiscal Year 2018

The Feral Cat Grant Program for fiscal year 2019 is closed.  Questions about Feral Cat Grant applications for fiscal year 2020 can be directed to the Animal Population Control Program (APCP) by email (agr.apcp@ct.gov) or by calling 860-713-2507.

Feral Cat Grant Award Recipients, Fiscal Year 2019.

LOW-INCOME PROGRAM: In FY 2007, P.A. No. 07-105 authorized the APCP to set aside up to 10% of APCP income to be used to vaccinate and sterilize pets owned by CT Low-Income residents.  To be eligible for benefits, recipients must be a Connecticut resident and on one of six public assistance programs outlined in C.G.S. Sec. 22-380e and approved by the Department of Social Services.  Once approved, vouchers are then issued by the APCP to low-income recipients for up to two pets.  All vouchers are good for sixty (60) days.  Beginning in FY 2014, P.A. No. 13-99 (effective 7/1/13) increased from 10% to 20% the amount of yearly APCP income that may be used for sterilizing and vaccinating dogs and cats owned by low-income people.

Since 2009, the APCP has averaged a 60% compliance rate for benefits issued to Connecticut Low-Income residents, for the sterilization and vaccination of their dogs and cats. FY 2018 Low Income Report

Effective January 25, 2019, the Animal Population Control Program (APCP) will not be accepting Low-Income Voucher applications for the remainder of FY 2019. Contact the APCP office after August 6, 2019, for the availability of new benefits.

 COMMEMORATIVE LICENSE PLATE:   On November 25, 1998, the “Caring for Pets” commemorative license plate was released to the public. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each plate is deposited into the program’s dedicated account. The plate design was created and donated by Connecticut artists Mark Maglio of Plainville and Kathy Goff of Avon. Plate fees are $50 for an off the shelf plate, $70 to transfer your present plate and $139 for a new vanity plate. There is also a $15 biennial renewal fee, with $10 from each application going to support program goals.  For more information about acquiring a pet plate, go to the  DMV web site.
 Reissued plates – More than 1,000 previously issued PAWPET, DOG, CAT, TLCWAGWOF, and WUFseries plates are now available for the vanity fee of $139. Please contact the vanity plate unit of the Department of Motor Vehicles at (860) 263-5154 for availability.
 DOG LICENSE APPLICATION:  The Department of Agriculture has created a generic dog license application in English and Spanish, which can be downloaded by clicking on the links below. The APCP receives 68% of its income from dog license surcharge revenue.  Please pay special attention to the correct license fee for your dog’s gender and if a late fee is applicable.  NOTE: This application must be mailed to your Town Clerk.
English Application for Dog License                         Spanish Application for Dog License
For more information about the municipal pound pet, feral cat, low-income programs, acquiring a “Caring for Pets” plate application or other related spay/neuter information, please contact the Department of Agriculture, Animal Population Control Program, 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 701, Hartford, CT 06103 or call 1-860-713-2507 between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. You can also send your questions to agr.apcp@ct.gov.