As most people are aware, there is a severe pet overpopulation problem in the U.S.  And many municipalities are now rounding up stray cats and dogs en mass and killing them.  Our animal neighbors truly need all of us to help solve this problem, and this waste of life.

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.

While those numbers are astounding, it's also extremely sad and disheartening to learn how few of these animals will actually end up in caring, loving homes.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) 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 -- are sadly euthanized.

The problem is extremely clear: there are far too many abandoned, and abused, and un-neutered dogs and cats roaming this nation, and not nearly enough homes for them.

And not nearly enough humans have been properly educated on how they and their pets can be part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Spay Day USA, organized by the non profit 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 spay and neuter services, are the primary goals of this much needed program.

This year, Spay Day USA will be held on Tuesday, February 22, 2005.  And many shelters, humane societies, and even business establishments throughout the country are helping to promote it.

More than 1,000,000 cats, dogs, and other animals have been spayed or neutered since 1995, thanks to Spay Day USA participants.  

Spay Day USA has helped to save millions of animal lives and taxpayer dollars that are routinely used to round up and destroy these innocent creatures.

To learn how you can get involved in this very worthy cause, please contact your local animal shelter or humane society.

And, please have all of your pets spayed or neutered, especially if you allow them to roam outdoors.

I recently rescued two feral female cats living in a dumpster; and one of them was already pregnant.  After the pregnant female had her babies, I took both females to the vet and had them spayed.  I kept the mother and several of her kittens and found loving homes for the other kittens, but the other adult female truly longed to return outdoors – so I let her go.

But I felt much better knowing that the male ferals she lives with in her colony can no longer impregnate her or contribute to the vast unwanted feline overpopulation problem facing them today.

If you can’t afford to spay or neuter your own pets, there are many veterinarian organizations throughout the country that offer discounted rates for this service for people in need.

And if you can afford to, please consider donating some money to one of your local organizations offering these discounted spay and neuter services to poor people in your area who are truly animal lovers, too.

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.

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.