Pet owners, if not pets, glad for Spay Day

By John Van Vleet, jvanvleet@bgdailynews.com — 270-783-3256

Sunday, February 13, 2005

On Feb. 22, pet owners across the country are invited to participate in the Doris Day Animal Foundations Annual Spay Day USA.

In some places it is actually a month-long program that encourages dog and cat owners to spay or neuter their animals to help control the pet population and prevent the unnecessary killing of healthy, but homeless, animals.

Pat Hurt, from A Voice for Animals, said Spay Day awareness has one big benefit.

Its just an opportunity for the community to come together to help stop pet overpopulation and help stop killing at local shelters, she said. Theres a tremendous pet overpopulation.

Lorri Hare, operations director for the Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society, said that although the event lasts for a month, they focus on one day to promote the activities.

They try to get communities to focus on that one day, she explained. When you hear of a nationally recognized day like that, it tends to stick with people.

Hare said the Humane Society is offering free neutering of male cats to low- and middle-income families.

We hope to draw the people that would not normally get a male cat altered, she said.

During the month, people can bring their animals to the Humane Society and get cats spayed or neutered for $29 dollars and dogs for $39.

Hare said every little bit helps.

There is absolutely no worse feeling than looking a healthy animal in the eye and euthanizing it, she said.

Hurt said the number of animals that can be produced in any given year is staggering.

A cat or a dog can have a litter as young as 5 months old, she said. A female cat can have three litters a year, with six to eight kittens per litter. A female dog can have two litters a year, six to 10 in a litter.

She added that 16 area veterinarians are lending their services to the Spay Day activities. She suggested calling a local vet and arranging an appointment.

The most important thing to get across is this is a community effort, she said. Help someone else get their animal altered. If someone doesnt have their animal altered, let them know the benefits.

According to information supplied by A Voice for Animals, having an animal spayed or neutered cuts down drastically on their urge to roam, helps reduce risks for cancer and increases life expectancy.

Hurt also suggested that people looking for a new pet adopt from a shelter first. Those animals are usually altered before being purchased and she said it stops the cycle of unwanted animals.

For more information about Spay Day USA, call (888) PETS911 or go to the Doris Day Animal Foundation Web site at www.ddaf.org.  Daily News ·813 College St. ·PO Box 90012 ·Bowling Green, KY ·42102 ·270-781-1700