The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has announced grants totaling $8.9 million in the first half of 2013 to animal welfare organizations across the country.

The grants include support for a range of projects and initiatives, including $3.3 million for shelter outreach programs, more than $2.4 million for spay and neuter programs, and $950,000 for relocating at-risk animals from areas of low demand to areas of high demand, increasing the likelihood of adoption. The New York City-based organization also awarded more than $1.1 million to support anti-cruelty efforts, raids and interventions, disaster and emergency response, and projects to improve the welfare of farm animals; and nearly $750,000 to equine groups for emergency hay and feed, equine cruelty response and seizures, and the rehabilitation of retired racehorses.

Altogether, the ASPCA made 847 grants to 636 organizations in forty-nine states during the first six months of the year.

"The ASPCA is dedicated to providing grant support to local organizations across the country that strive to better the lives of the animals in their community," said ASPCA vice president of grants management Michael Barrett. "There is a tremendous amount of work to be done in the fight toward ending animal cruelty, and no one can do it alone. It is an honor to contribute to the programs that are bringing us that much closer to this goal."