Story Published:
Feb 2, 2010 at 4:05 PM CST
Story Updated:
Feb 2, 2010 at 10:43 AM CST
In every community, in every state, there are homeless animals. In the U.S. as a whole, there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless animals entering animal shelters every year. About half of these animals are adopted, and tragically, the other half is euthanized. These are healthy, sweet pets that would have made great companions.
The number of homeless animals varies by state-in some states there are as many as 300,000 homeless animals euthanized in animal shelters every year. These are not the offspring of homeless “street” animals-these are the puppies and kittens of cherished family pets and even purebreds.
Many people believe that their pet’s puppies or kittens would never become homeless shelter animals. But the reality is that every time the dog finds his way under the fence to visit the neighbor’s female dog, or the indoor/outdoor cat comes back home pregnant again, the result is a litter of dogs or cats.
Even if they are placed into homes, it is still possible for them to end up in shelters once they become “hard to handle”, or for them to reproduce further and for the next generation of puppies or kittens to wind up homeless.
Many people are surprised to learn that nationwide more than 3 million cats and dogs are euthanized in shelters. Spay/neuter is the only permanent, 100-percent effective method of birth control for dogs and cats.
Millions of pet deaths each year are a needless tragedy. By spaying and neutering your pet, you can be an important part of the solution.
To support Spay Day, The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International host the Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest, presented by VISA and Zazzle – a great opportunity to celebrate our pets, raise funds for spaying and neutering, and win great prizes!
Win prizes and raise lifesaving funds for spay/neuter by entering your pet’s picture in the Spay Day 2010 Online Pet Photo Contest, which runs from Jan. 20 through Mar. 4, 2010.
Each vote for a pet costs just $1, with the money going to the eligible Spay Day Event Organizer of your choice to spay or neuter even more pets after Spay Day is over.
We are fortunate to have the Humane Society of Putnam County as one of the eligible Spay Day Event Organizers.
Entering the contest is easy and free – simply upload a digital photo of your pet and tell them a little about him or her. You can also enter as a memorial tribute to a pet that is no longer with you.
To vote for Humane Society of Putnam County, Inc. contest entries please visit
here.
To enter the contest, please visit
here.
The Humane Society of Putnam County, Inc. will also be hosting a “Spay”ghetti Dinner Thursday, Feb. 18 from 5 – 8 pm at Fazoli’s, located at 1063 S. Walnut; Cookeville, TN. The cost is $10 per person and there will be door prizes and lots of fun.
The Humane Society of Putnam County Spay/Neuter Clinic serves the fourteen county Upper Cumberland region. The clinic is located at 2435 Fisk Road in Cookeville.
