A. Background The mission of the Division of Public Health is to protect and enhance the health of the people of Delaware. The Division accomplishes its mission by: working together with others; addressing issues that affect the health of Delawareans; keeping track of the State’s health; promoting positive lifestyles; responding to critical health issues and disasters; promoting the availability of health services. The accomplishment of this mission will facilitate the Division in realizing its vision of creating an environment in which people in Delaware can reach their full potential for a healthy life. The Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) is a section of the Division of Public Health with the mission to protect the health, safety, and welfare of companion animals, and promote the human-animal bond in the state of Delaware. The OAW coordinates programs and policies that protect animals from abuse and neglect, reduce pet homelessness, and enhance public safety. The spaying and neutering of cats and dogs are nationally recognized as the most effective, humane methods of controlling unwanted pet populations. In 2006, the Delaware General Assembly created the Delaware Animal Population Control Program (16 Del. C. §§3010-3021), also known as the Spay & Neuter Program (SNP) with the purpose to decrease the number of stray and unwanted cats and dogs. The Program’s goals include the following: To decrease populations of stray and unwanted cats and dogs; To have fewer stray and unwanted cats and dogs entering animal shelters; To lower cat and dog euthanasia rates; To reduce animal-inflicted injuries to humans and threats to public health and safety. The Office of Animal Welfare (OAW) was established in 2013, with one of its key responsibilities to manage the Spay Neuter Program (SNP). Between 2014 and June 2024, SNP made possible the sterilization of more than 40,000 animals and the vaccination of over 31,000 animals against rabies. SNP focuses on the sterilization of cats and dogs that are: Owned pets of low-income Delawareans, or Homeless animals taken in by local shelters/rescues or community cats sterilized as part of Trap Neuter Vaccinate Return (TNVR) programs.
