The Humane Society of St. Thomas said Friday it will resume the government-funded animal welfare services it suspended earlier this month after receiving $131,250 in overdue payments.
The payment covers three delinquent quarterly installments under the organization’s fiscal year 2026 Animal Services agreement with the V.I. government, bringing that contract current and allowing the nonprofit to once again accept lost, stray, abandoned and homeless animals beginning Saturday.
The announcement follows weeks of public concern over delayed government payments to the Humane Society, which warned that it could no longer continue subsidizing government services while waiting for funding that had been due since December. Although the government contract represents only a small portion of the organization’s overall budget, Humane Society officials said those funds support services the nonprofit performs on the government’s behalf and could no longer be absorbed indefinitely.
In a statement Friday, board President Randy Knight said the organization received a government check totaling $131,250, representing three outstanding $43,750 payments that had been due Dec. 1, 2025, March 1, 2026, and June 1, 2026.
“Inasmuch as the three payments received today bring the Animal Services NOGA into financial compliance, HSSTT will resume and continue to provide the animal welfare services as rendered in the past effective tomorrow, Saturday, July 11, 2026,” Knight said.
One quarterly payment under the agreement remains due Sept. 1.
Knight said the organization is still awaiting full payment under a separate $50,000 Notice of Grant Award supporting its spay and neuter program. While the Humane Society received $37,500 on June 30, he said the remaining $12,500 should have been paid by July 1.
As a result, he said, the organization will reduce its spay and neuter efforts until the balance is received.
“Unfortunately, due to $12,500 being withheld….HSSTT will have to cut back on its critical Spay and Neuter Program that is the No. 1 initiative in the fight to reduce animal overpopulation,” Knight said.
Knight also said the Department of Agriculture and Department of Property and Procurement have yet to return fully executed copies of two fiscal year 2026 grant agreements that the Humane Society signed in October 2025.
He renewed his request that both agencies immediately provide the completed documents.
The Humane Society has repeatedly said delayed government payments force nonprofit organizations to carry the cost of providing public services long after those expenses have already been incurred.
