Originally Published in: Austin American Statesman
Published on: May 31, 2025
Written By: Yvette Orozco, Houston Chronicle
The state has authorized a new license plate design that it hopes will boost efforts to raise money for spay and neutering programs.
The Animal-Friendly License Plate Program, established by the Texas Humane Legislation Network in 1997 to address the homeless pet population, gives pet lovers the opportunity to support those efforts by buying a specialty license plate.
The plate costs $30 with $22 going into a fund that supports spay and neuter initiatives at local shelters.
The Humane Legislation Network hopes that the new design will spark more public interest and awareness of the program.
“This new bill is just going to make it where THLN can ... offer a new plate,” said Cara Gustafson, spokesperson for THLN. “These are cosmetic license plates, but this is all to essentially help rescues and shelters.”
In addition, the measure will make it easier for local shelters to get their share of money generated.
The funds, she said, had previously been slow to get to shelters and rescues because the application process included at least 60 pages to be filled out.
"It will ultimately help the communities access this money for the spaying and neutering," she said.
The current Animal-Friendly License Plate simply says, “Spay and Neuter Your Pets”. The new design will add the word "adopt" to read "spay, neuter and adopt" in bold, which promotes adoption over buying from breeders and pet stores, Gustafson said
“I think that will also encourage people to get these plates because they are new,” Gustafson said.
The measure, signed this month by Gov Greg Abbott, is expected to go into effect in September, with the date of the plate release not yet set.
For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact David White at [email protected].