February 2009

The Humane Society of the United States is pleased to announce that the 15th annual Spay Day USA takes place on Tuesday, February 24. Spay Day USA is the organization’s annual campaign to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets. More than 500 events in all 50 states and the District of Columbia are taking place on Spay Day USA 2009 and throughout the month of February. To find local events, visit humanesociety.org/spaydayfind.

Spay Day USA shines a spotlight on spay/neuter as a humane and effective means of reducing pet overpopulation. More animals are entering U.S. shelters than there are people adopting and providing them with loving homes. As a result, approximately 4 million cats, dogs and other animals are put down each year. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished pets, including purebreds.

“Spaying and neutering are safe, permanent, and 100-percent effective methods of birth control for our pets,” said Wayne Pacelle, president and CEO of The HSUS. “We can do better than to allow millions of our beloved pets to die by increasing spaying and neutering and promoting adoptions of animals from shelters and rescue groups.”

Following are some of the events taking place on Spay Day USA 2009:

•  Shreveport, La.:  Grand opening of Robinson's Rescue Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic.
• California and Kentucky: Statewide resolutions officially declaring Feb. 24, 2009 “Spay Day USA.”
• Texas: “Fix’em All, Y’all,” a statewide promotion by Spay/Texas, funded in part by a special grant from the Doris Day Animal Foundation.
• Herndon, Va.: Mardi Gras fundraiser – three-course dinner with live entertainment
• Tucson, Ariz.: Free spay/neuter surgeries for first 30 clients.
• Wichita, Kan.: 50 percent off spays and neuters.
• Tacoma, Wash.: 150 free spays and neuters.
• Oakland, Calif.: 100 free spays and neuters.

Visit humanesociety.org/spaydayview for a complete listing of all registered Spay Day events.

The HSUS is also running a Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest, featuring a chance to win prizes and help raise funds for lifesaving spay/neuter surgeries.

For information on the contest, visit humanesociety.org/spayday. The Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest is sponsored by IDEXX Laboratories, Petplan Pet Insurance, Zootoo.com Shelter Make-over and Pet Pals: New Leash on Life by Legacy Interactive.

Doris Day, president of the Doris Day Animal Foundation and founder of Spay Day USA in 1995, said, “It is so exciting to be celebrating the 15th anniversary of Spay Day USA.  This year, my foundation is specifically working with animal guardians in Alabama, Colorado, Florida, Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Mississippi, Texas, Vermont, Washington and Wisconsin to enable them to have their animals spayed or neutered to eliminate the tragedy of pet overpopulation. We’re proud of this program and so gratified by the number of lives and taxpayer dollars that have been saved over the years.”

The HSUS coordinates Spay Day USA by working with local shelters, humane organizations, veterinary clinics and individual volunteers to offer special spay-neuter events, deploy mobile spay-neuter clinics, raise money to subsidize spay-neuter surgeries, and increase awareness about the importance and benefits of spaying and neutering. Spay Day USA also takes place internationally, with more than 16 countries participating in 2009.

For more information about Spay Day USA 2009, please visit: humanesociety.org/spayday.