Dakin Humane Society Awarded Grant from ‘I’m Animal Friendly’ License Plates

SPRINGFIELD — Dakin Humane Society announced it is a recipient of a 2025 grant in the amount of $14,500 from the Massachusetts “I’m Animal Friendly” license plate program. The grant will support low-cost spay/neuter services offered at Dakin’s Community Spay/Neuter Clinic, one of the largest in New England, which has conducted more than 134,000 surgeries since its 2009 opening.

Jinx, a 2-year-old tabby who lives in Holyoke, recently benefited from the MAC grant. His person, Alisha, turned to Dakin for help with his neuter surgery at the recommendation of her friends. “My son first brought Jinx to us from Illinois, and now we’re all very attached to him,” she said. “Jinx is doing great, and he’s still a bit feisty, as always. We really appreciate the support we got in helping our boy.”

The “I’m Animal Friendly” license plates are a program of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition. Funds are granted annually to organizations that demonstrate a need for funding and provide low-cost spay/neuter services. Through this year, MAC has awarded almost $3,300,000 to many organizations.

“We’re incredibly grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Massachusetts Animal Coalition,” said Meg Talbert, executive director at Dakin. “Thanks to their continued generosity, pets like Jinx are able to receive high-quality care at our Community Spay/Neuter Clinic. It means they can return home to their families healthier and happier, without the risk of unplanned litters or preventable health issues. The ‘I’m Animal Friendly’ license plate program doesn’t just support our mission to deliver effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them — it truly saves lives.”