‘Spay. Neuter. Adopt.’ Texas unveils new animal-friendly license plate now available for purchase.

Special to Beneath the Surface News

The Texas Humane Legislation Network, in collaboration with the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and the Department of State Health Services, has released a newly designed animal-friendly license plate available for purchase now for $30, with $22 going toward supporting spay/neuter initiatives across Texas. 

Like the iconic dog and cat license plates many Texans know well, these new plates are part of the Animal-Friendly License Plate Program.

Established in 1997, the program set up the Animal-Friendly Fund, which directly supports spay and neuter initiatives at local shelters and nonprofit organizations across Texas.

The fund ensures Texans and their pets have access to free and low-cost spay and neuter services. 

The funds raised from the original license plates resulted in more than $6 million in grants, and the Texas Humane Legislation Network is confident the new plates will raise the bar. 

“These new plates are more than just a design update – they’re a reminder of what Texans can accomplish when compassion meets action,” said Shelby Bobosky, executive director of the Texas Humane Legislation Network.

“Every plate purchased helps reduce shelter overpopulation and supports local organizations working tirelessly to provide spay, neuter, and adoption services across the state. We’re proud to continue this partnership with The State of Texas to promote a simple yet powerful way for Texans to show their love for animals.”

This past session, lawmakers passed Senate Bill 1568, which enabled DSHS to diversify license plate designs to boost public interest and awareness of the Texas Animal-Friendly Program.

The initiative underscores the importance of not just spaying and neutering pets, but also supporting local shelters.

The refreshed layout includes updated language from the previous design, adding the word “adopt” to read “Spay. Neuter. Adopt.” in bold, underscoring the value of adopting from local shelters. 

Click here to view and order the new animal-friendly license plate.