Washington Mystics All-Star player Stacey Dales-Schuman
believes every companion animal should be spayed and neutered.
She even starred in a video Public Service Announcement for The
HSUS to make the point.
"My own pets are spayed. I wanted to be sure that I wasn't
contributing to the problem of pet overpopulation," said
Stacey. "But I also knew that spaying and neutering is good for
an animal's health and well-being. I'm really happy to be able
to share that message with others."
It was Stacey's passion for animals that led her to contact
The HSUS to find out how she could get more involved in animal
protection. One of her first efforts on behalf of The HSUS took
place on her own home court at the MCI Center in Washington,
DC. Stacey made a special appearance at The HSUS's first Pet
Fest America event and spent the day chatting with fans about
animals and basketball, while signing autographs and posing for
photos.
Stacey's also willing to tackle more serious issues. As a
former star at the University of Oklahoma, she wrote a letter
to the governor of Oklahoma in support of a ballot measure to
make cockfighting illegal in that state. "I feel like I've been
a part of Oklahoma," Stacey reflected, "I'm proud of that. And
I wanted the governor to know that all animals need to be
protected."
Stacey will also be speaking to kids in an upcoming issue of
KIND News, The HSUS's newspaper reaching elementary
school classrooms around the country. In her interview, she
encourages kids to feel good about themselves, and to care
about animals. KIND News is published by The HSUS's
youth education division, the National Association for Humane and
Environmental Education (NAHEE).
Off the court, Stacey has exhibited star quality as an ESPN
on-air analyst during the women's college basketball season.
It's a great fit—she was a communications major in college.
Another of her dreams is to operate her own animal shelter
one day. Meanwhile, she shares her home and heart with two
yellow Labradors, Gracie and Allie, and Baylie, a lab/collie
mix. Along with her husband, University of Oklahoma classmate
Chris Schuman, of course!
Passing the ball with a goal of scoring points for the
Mystics may be priority number one for Stacey Dales-Schuman,
but she is wholeheartedly passionate about protecting
animals.
