World Spay Day is Today and You Could Help Save Lives
World Spay Day—the last Tuesday of February—provides an opportunity for shelter and rescue organizations to build awareness, highlight their spay/neuter programs and win more community support in the form of donors, volunteers, and clients. They can shine a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay/neuter to save the lives of companion animals, community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters or killed on the street.
February 28, 2017, Marks the 23rd Annual World Spay Day
Created by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day has been recognized by nearly 70 countries. The annual campaign is supported by The HSUS, Humane Society International, the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association, and many others.
Toronto Humane Society and PetSmart Charities.
Thanks to a recent grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada totaling almost $95,000, over 900 animals in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) will soon receive spay or neuter surgeries and vaccinations at a reduced cost to pet parents. The funds will support the Toronto Humane Society’s subsidized spay/neuter clinic services.
Spaying/neutering a pet can help reduce pet overpopulation while vaccination can protect their health, but these services can be cost-prohibitive for some. That’s why the Toronto Humane Society’s (THS) subsidized Spay/Neuter Clinic Services Team offers appointments first to those on a subsidized income. The grant from PetSmart Charities of Canada will allow the THS to provide 900 spay/neuter surgeries and vaccine administrations at a reduced cost to eligible pet parents. The THS is a proud advocate of this service because it helps to protect the health of pets in the community while reducing the number of unplanned or unwanted litters across the GTA, which ultimately should help reduce the number of pets entering shelters.
“At PetSmart Charities of Canada, we’re dedicated to finding lifelong, loving homes for all pets. One of the best ways we can do that is by granting funds to local animal welfare organizations, like the Toronto Humane Society, to help them provide more affordable spay/neuter and vaccine services. We’re honored to support their efforts to help families in need access veterinary care for their beloved pets,” said David Haworth, DVM, Ph.D., and president of PetSmart Charities of Canada and the US.
To find out more about the subsidized spay/neuter and vaccine services available from the Toronto Humane Society, including their fee guide, visit theWhat We Do section of their website or call 416-392-2273.
TNR and How PetSmart Charities and THS are Making an Even Bigger Difference
Recently, the Toronto Humane Society also received a grant of more than $100,000 from PetSmart Charities of Canada to support a trap, neuter, return (TNR) program. The TNR effort will help to manage the GTA’s population of stray, feral and community cats and prevent further pet homelessness.
How to Participate and Do Your Part- Make Spay Day Every Day
Kilo was neutered by his Rescue just before we started fostering him. If you haven’t already, have your pets spayed/neutered. There may be many benefits to having this done for your pets including:
– Reduced risk of developing certain health problems in some cases (including reproductive cancers and infections).
– Reduced behavior problems such as territorial marking, destructiveness, and aggression in some cases.
– Fewer unwanted litters and pets in shelters and rescue organizations or homeless on the street.
“The average cat can produce up to 18 kittens per year.” says Barbara Steinhoff, Executive Director at the Toronto Humane Society. “The best way we can help the hundreds of abandoned petss that turn up in our shelters every spring and summer is to prevent them by ensuring people spay and neuter their pets.”
If you are part of a rescue or other organization you can also promote your own spay/neuter programs on the day by using the sure to be popular hashtag #worldspayday to get the word out about any services you offer.
Even simply tweeting that your dogs are already spayed with the hashtag can help raise awareness and get people excited about participating. It’s such a small act but if enough people get on board it can have a huge impact.
About the Toronto Humane Society:
Since 1887, the Toronto Humane Society has saved thousands of animals each year. Our mission is to promote the humane care and protection of all animals and to prevent cruelty and suffering. www.torontohumanesociety.com
About PetSmart Charities of Canada:
PetSmart Charities of Canada is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. Over 20,000 pets find homes each year through its in-store adoption program and sponsored adoption events. A leading funder of animal welfare, PetSmart Charities of Canada has granted more than $10 million to directly help pets in need, with a focus on spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation and providing emergency relief to pets and pet parents impacted by natural or man-made disasters. PetSmart Charities of Canada is a registered charity, independent from PetSmart, Inc. www.petsmartcharities.ca
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