Monday, February 23, 2009

Spay Day USA Photo Contest


Tuesday, February 15th marks the 15th annual Spay Day USA. Animal welfare groups around the country will be holding events to spay and neuter animals.  

Last year the city put down nearly 17,000 cats and dogs, many because there was no room in the overcrowded shelters.    Animal experts say the city will not be able to adopt its way out of the problem.  The ONLY solution is to spay and neuter our pets to help control animal overpopulation.

Still, it's pricey.  The surgery can cost upwards of $300, which is not always accessible, especially in these hard times.   Here is one reason to adopt, not buy an animal:  Animals shelters and rescue groups are required to spay and neuter an animal before it is adopted.   

Clinics such as the Humane Society offer low-cost spay/neuter.  The ASPCA runs a free spay/neuter mobile clinic for anyone in NYC on financial assistance.  The Mayor's Alliance also offers low-cost spay/neuter for anyone on financial assistance.  A full list of free/low-cost spay and neuter events can be found here.

The Mayor's Alliance and Rational Animal have developed three PSAs to help educate pet owners about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets.

Celebrity voices include: Joe Franklin, Nellie McKay, Paul Liberti, voice for Blues Clues Bernadette Peter's dog “Stella."  You can view the PSA's here.  

If you've already fixed your animals you can enter your pet in a photo contest sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States.

Prizes include shopping sprees at the HSUS online store and photos in the HSUS magazine and on their website. Photos can be submitted through Friday, February 27th. To submit a photo click here.

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