Happy spay day!

Happy Spay Day! Yes, that's an unusual greeting when compared with “Happy Birthday!” and other familiar expressions.

But spaying does contribute to happiness – of the animals who then won't produce litter after litter of kittens and puppies with uncertain futures, at best . . . of people who care about stray and feral cats and dogs, who spend time and money -- and heart – trying to keep up with the unbridled reproduction of animals who are not spayed.

Today is the 17th annual Spay Day sponsored by the Humane Society of the US and Humane Society International, partnering with the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Assn. Celebrated on the last Tuesday in February, and throughout that month, Spay Day is an occasion for events around the world designed to build activity and awareness.

An estimated 3-4 million “cats and dogs, kittens and puppies are put down in the US each year, and millions more suffer in the streets worldwide,” the Humane Society reports. On the other hand, “More than 1 million pets have been spayed or neutered in conjunction with Spay Day since it was founded . . . in 1995.”

For information about Spay Day 2011, including events near you, visit humanesociety.org/spayday. And please think about how you can help your neighborhood's cats and dogs who need spay/neuter.
#