No More Homeless Pets in Utah, a program sponsored by Best Friends Animal Society, announced Thursday the issuance of the fifth installment of a five-year, $9 million grant. The nearly $1.6 million annual donation, awarded by Maddie's Fund, is used to increase the number of animal adoptions, decrease the number of euthanasia cases and promote the practice of spaying and neutering pets in Utah.

Of the 75,000 pets that end up in animal shelters each year, about 10,000 are returned to their owners, said Gregory Castle, president of No More Homeless Pets in Utah. Another 30,000 are adopted.

“The sad part is that leaves about 35,000 animals that are put to sleep,” he said.

Because of the grant, euthanization of cats and dogs since 1999 has decreased 22 percent, adoption has increased 60 percent, and 27,000 spay or neuter surgeries were performed in 2003 alone, according to statistics provided by No More Homeless Pets in Utah.

Maddie's Fund has helped the program save more than 11,000 animals since 1999, Castle said.

The fund is a California-based pet rescue foundation that helps finance the creation of a no-kill nation for healthy, adoptable pets. The fund is named after a miniature Schnauzer that died in 1997.

Grant money is distributed to more than 30 animal welfare organizations throughout the state. “It's passed out simply on the basis of how many animals they can adopt out,” Castle said.