There are so many way for dog lovers to celebrate this season of love. Preventing animal overpopulation is one great example. World Spay Day highlights the plight of unwanted companion animals, feral cats, and street dogs around the globe, and offers ways to help promote the spay/neuter solution as a proven, effective means of saving animals’ lives by preventing unplanned litters.
An annual campaign, this year’s World Spay Day is set for Tuesday, February 26, during Spay/Neuter Awareness Month. Hundreds of World Spay Day events will take place in the U.S. and many countries around the world.
The Humane Society of the United States, Humane Society International, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, the ASPCA, PetSmart Charities, the House Rabbit Society, and the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association serve as proud partners of World Spay Day. The global initiative creates a worldwide wave of spay/neuter awareness and activity by linking together hundreds of events organized by local animal welfare organizations and advocates, as well as by veterinary professionals.
“I am thrilled to see how far we have come since our early work with the Doris Day Animal League to the work now being done by the Doris Day Animal Foundation in conjunction with The HSUS to encourage spay/neuter worldwide,” said the (since deceased) legendary actress Doris Day. “From the beginning of Spay Day USA in 1995 to now seeing it celebrated in 46 countries. It is truly marvelous what all of us working together can do.”
Founded as Spay Day USA in 1995 by the Doris Day Animal League and Doris Day Animal Foundation, the program has grown to include participants in 46 countries (as of 2011). Events include low and no-cost spay/neuter clinics for low-income families, fundraisers to benefit spay/neuter programs, and educational efforts about the importance of spaying or neutering pets. Since Spay Day’s inception, it is estimated that more than one million animals have been spayed or neutered as a result of the campaign.
If you work with an animal shelter or rescue group, it’s not too late to plan awareness-raising events in conjunction with this life-saving movement. Individuals can take part by “fixing” their own pets during the month of February and encouraging others to do the same.
Visit worldspayday.org for more information about the importance of spay/neuter, World Spay Day 2013, and the World Spay Day Pet Photo Contest to help raise critical funds for spay/neuter.
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Main article photo by: HSUS
