This agreement provides funding to deliver essential veterinary care and zoonotic disease surveillance for approximately 80-140 rural alaskan tribal communities that lack road access

The Department of Agriculture Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service awarded $750,000 to Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. on May 1, 2026, under the Plant and Animal Disease, Pest Control, and Animal Care program (CFDA 10.025).

The recipient will deliver essential veterinary care and zoonotic disease surveillance to approximately 80–140 rural Alaskan tribal communities that lack road access, using a One Health approach. Veterinary services include sterilization, vaccination, deworming, ectoparasite and endoparasite control, and community outreach on pet safety, disaster preparedness, and animal sheltering for companion and working animals. Deliverables include reporting on the number of animals receiving care, the type of veterinary care each animal received, and the names of tribal communities served. The expected outcome is improved animal welfare in rural Alaskan tribal communities, which will decrease stray animal populations, reduce zoonotic disease transmission risk, lower animal bite incidence, and support human health and well-being through maintenance of the human-animal bond.

Alaska Native Rural Veterinary Inc. is an American Indian-owned nonprofit organization based in Fairbanks, Alaska. The period of performance runs through June 30, 2028, with place of performance in Alaska. No subawards are anticipated.

Activities

The award recipient will provide outreach, educational information and adequate veterinary care services to companion and working animals within rural alaskan tribal communities. Deliverables and expected outcomes: the number of animals receiving adequate veterinary care services, the type of adequate veterinary care each animal received (examples: rabies vaccination and/or other vaccinations, ectoparasite and endoparasite control, sterilization surgeries) and the name of each tribal community served will be reported. The anticipated outcome is improving the welfare of companion and working animals in rural alaskan tribal communities which will contribute to the one health of the community and safeguard public health through; decreasing the amount of stray animals in the community which in turn decreases the risk of spreading zoonotic diseases that affect people and agricultural animals, decrease incidence of animal bites and injuries, and support human health and well-being through the benefit of the maintaining the human-animal bond. Intended beneficiary(IES): 80-140 alaska federation of natives identified underserved rural alaska communities not connected to the road system. Subrecipient activities, if known or specified at the time of award: there are no anticipated subawards.