Humane Society of the United States Highlights World Spay Day

February 28, 2012 has been designated as World Spay Day. This global event, which is supported by the Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International, focuses on the importance of spaying and neutering as a proven and effective tool for improving the lives of animals. World Spay Day 2012 is the culmination of Spay/Neuter Awareness Month, an annual global campaign the works towards ending the suffering of homeless domestic animals, wild dogs and feral cats who face euthanization in a shelter or death on the street.

World Spay Day will be marked by hundred of events throughout the United States and in many countries around the world. This is a unique opportunity for animal lovers to come together in support of their pets. Past World Spay Day events have included low-cost and free spay/neuter clinics, free veterinary services for low-income pet owners and fundraisers for non-profit animal organizations. Educational initiatives that spread the word about the humane benefits of spaying and neutering pets are also an important part of World Spay Day.

World Spay Day is a unique global event that unites hundreds of veterinary clinics, animal hospitals, animal-related business and animal welfare organizations, as well as thousands of people who care about the welfare of animals. In addition to participating to World Spay Day events, pet owners can enter the 2012 World Spay Day Pet Photo Contest. Entry is free and each vote for a pet will generate a $1 donation to the pet owner’s favorite pre-qualified animal organization.

Webster Veterinary and John Paul Pet are the sponsors of World Spay Day 2012. Several leading animal advocacy groups have partnered with the Humane Society of the United States for World Spay Day, including the ASPCA, the Doris Day Animal Foundation, PetSmart Charities, The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association and House Rabbit Society. Since its inception as Spay Day USA in 1995, this event has spread to 46 countries. According to Wayne Pacelle, head of The Humane Society of the United States, “To reflect Spay Day’s new status in the world, it is only fitting that we change the name of Spay Day USA to World Spay Day.”

PetSmart Charities, the largest spay/neuter funder in the nation, kicked off Spay/Neuter Awareness Month with the announcement of a $1 million grant program aimed at saving the lives of cats and pitbull terriers. Due to overcrowding in animal shelters, these two animals are at highest risk of being euthanized. The grant is part of PetSmart Charities’ program efforts to increase pet adoptions, reduce spay/neuter costs and reduce overcrowding in shelters. Since 2007, the organization has provided more than $26 million in grants and subsidize nearly 1 million spay/neuter procedures in the United States.

Each year in America, about 8 million pets end up in shelters. About half of these animals are not adopted and must be euthanized. The best way to reduce the number of animals who meet this fate is to reduce unwanted births, yet experts estimate that 34 percent of pet dogs and cats have not been spayed or neutered.

To find World Spay Day events in your area, visit the World Spay Day 2012 website.

Erica Moss is the social media outreach coordinator for the masters in nursing program at Georgetown University, which has one of the nation’s leading nurse practitioner programs.

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