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 “Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.”

The Beatles,

Help

Today is Spay Day

Our earth neighbors need our help

Will you now assist?

As most people are aware, there is a severe pet overpopulation problem in the U.S.  And many cities, towns, and government installations are now rounding up stray cats and dogs en mass and killing them. 

It takes only 7 years for one free roaming female cat and her offspring to produce 420,000 cats.  In only 6 years, one female dog and her offspring can give birth to 67,000 dogs.

The Humane Society of the United States estimates that 8 to 10 million dogs and cats enter animal shelters and municipal pounds in the United States each year, and 4 to 5 million of these animals -- at least half of them -- are euthanized.

The problem is extremely clear:

There are far too many abandoned, abused, and un-neutered/un-spayed dogs and cats roaming this nation, and not nearly enough homes or compassionate people to help them.

Spay Day USA, organized by the Doris Day Animal Foundation, was initiated 11 years ago to offer solutions. Raising public awareness of the pet overpopulation problem in the United States, and promoting affordable spay and neuter services, are the primary goals of this much needed program.

This year, Spay Day USA takes place today, February 22, 2005.  And animal shelters, humane societies, and business establishments throughout the country are helping to promote it.

More than 1 million cats and dogs have been spayed or neutered since 1995, thanks to Spay Day USA participants.  And they have helped to save millions of animal lives and taxpayer dollars which are routinely used to round up and destroy these innocent unwanted creatures.

But much more needs to be done if we ever hope to get a handle on this severe problem.

To learn how you can get involved in this very worthy cause, please contact your local animal shelter or humane society today – they are always short of help, supplies, and funds.

And please have all of your own pets spayed or neutered, especially if you allow them to roam outdoors.  If you can’t afford to spay or neuter your pets, there are many veterinarian organizations throughout the country that offer discounted rates for people in need.

And, if you can possibly find room in your home and in your heart for one more deserving pet, please visit your local animal shelter soon.

It truly is time for all of us to start helping our nonhuman neighbors – who truly crave this thing we call life as much as we do.

“Help me if you can, I'm feeling down,
And I do appreciate you being round.
Help me get my feet back on the ground,
Won't you please, please help me.”