Fundación Vidanimal celebrated Spay Day International by spaying/neutering pets from a low-income area of Cali, called Aguacatal. Twenty-four dogs and cats were sterilized in just under four hours by Dr. Constanza Pedraza, her assistant Julia, and Dr. Viviana Moreno. More than 100 people were reached about the importance of sterilization. Fundación Vidanimal thanks their donor and Lic. Luz Catañeda, their volunteer for educational programs, for making this event possible.

The Esther Honey Foundation recruited seven volunteers, including three vets, to visit the Cook Islands for Spay Day International events. They spayed/neutered 84 dogs and cats, and treated all for fleas and worms at no cost. They also distributed information to tourists and locals, and visited 20 classes, from preschool to high school, reaching more than 1,000 people about the importance of spay/neuter. More than 6,000 people were reached via the organization's website and through the local media. Finally, they entered a photo of a rescued EHF dog, Mia, in the HSUS/HSI Online Pet Photo Contest, raising almost $1000 for Esther Honey's EHF VET TREK® Rarotonga 2009 program and sterilization campaign to spay/neuter 70-80 percent of Rarotonga's dogs.

For Spay Day International, Help in Suffering caught, sterilised, vaccinated, hospitalised and released 109 street dogs. This work was undertaken by two veterinary surgeons and four animal nurses/technicians. HIP also conducted six surveys of the street dog population in four areas of Jaipur, three of which had not been surveyed for more than a year. The survey brought some good news: of the 348 dogs counted, 84 percent were spayed females and 74 percent were neutered males. The total rabies vaccination coverage was 73 percent—above the recognised threshold vaccination coverage of 70 percent required to control rabies transmission.

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www.legaproanimale.de (German)
http://web.tiscali.it/legaproanimale (Italian)
HSI Animal Advocates

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On Tuesday the 24th of February 2009, a total of 100 animals (pets and strays) were successfully spayed/neutered. The mission was accomplished and BETA hoped this was the beginning of a sequence of continuous future events. Six veterinary clinics assisted with BETA's Spay Day International event: "Animals," "Les 4 Pattes," "Animal House Hospital," "Happy Pets," "Mamalia," and "Animed," with their respective eight veterinarians: Dr. Fouad Hajj (President of the Lebanese Veterinarian Syndicate), Dr. Joseph Ahwach, Dr. Fawzo Nicolas, Dr. Elias Nicolas, and Dr. Christo Helin, Dr. Chadi Tarek, Dr. Marc Kassab, and Dr. Walid Darwich. To add to the success, four interns aspiring to become veterinarians shadowed Dr. Fouad Hajj at his clinic! Seventeen dedicated volunteers worked long hours to assist with everything from trapping and transport to clinic support to pet owner education.

"The whole day, I had this huge smile on my face," said Joelle El Massih, Co-Founder of BETA. "I'm thankful that another 100 dogs and cats will not be breeding. Seeing all those animals in and out of surgery is like someone giving you a million dollars."

Fundación Antonio Haghenbeck veterinarians spayed/neutered 237 dogs and cats in several location in and around Mexico City for their Spay Day International event.

"All of the hard work is worthwhile, in the knowledge that we are preventing the birth of thousands of animasl every year, who would eventually suffer for lack of good and loving homes," said Cecilia Vega, Director of Fundación Antonio Haghenbeck. "We extend our appreciation to everyone involved in Spay Day International."

Fifteen GEPDA volunteers gave their time to talk with the public about spay/neuter in three locations in Mexico City on Saturday, February 28. Many people cared about animals and wanted to talk with the volunteers. They were also interested reading the information on GEPDA's stand. GEPDA handed out more than 2,000 flyers about the myths and facts of sterilization, as well as sharing information about adoptions, overpopulation statistics in Mexico and a list of veterinarians who offer low-cost spay/neuter.

"We spent all day doing this outreach," said Maricarmen Garcia, Vice President of GEPDA. "The reaction from the public was amazing. Our volunteers felt so proud because many people came to listen what they had to say."

In what was truly a team effort, Spay/Panamasterilized 333 cats and dogs in the town of Arriajan on February 15 for Spay Day International. Spay/Panama, together with the Albergue Feliz organization of Arraijan, has already sterilized over 2,000 animals in this area. Spay/Panama was also the top international winner of The HSUS/HSI Online Photo Contest, with their feline mascot, Unico, bringing in more than $2,000 for their ongoing spay/neuter efforts.

“When people and organizations work together, we can certainly make a difference,” says Patricia Chan, Director/Founder of Spay/Panama.

On February 13, Romania Animal Rescue/Romania Animal Rescue Foundation, in collaboration with GIA Bucharest, spayed/neutered 47 dogs in Giurgiu, Romania. This was the first Spay Day held in Giurgiu.

“It was a long day but it worth it, big time,” said Dr. Stefan Aurelian, with Romania Animal Rescue Foundation (RARF). “We had full coverage with local media and people were impressed that their little town [of Giurgiu] was the only town in Romania to be part of this international  event.”

“It was not only stray dogs that were brought in for Spay Day, but people came with their own dogs to have them neutered,” said Raluca Simion of GIA Bucharest. ”The good part is that people of all ages came there to have the animals neutered—there are so many myths that older people find hard to ignore—so this was of great help.”

Three communities in the East End of Freetown that did not benefit from previous SLAWS activities were selected for Spay Day International: Jui, Grafting and Calaba Town. Prior to the intervention, three days' sensitization was done using a megaphone. This included meeting with community leaders and house to house announcement. A team comprising of three trained technicians, two assistants, and two community members implemented the scheduled activities. Spay/neuter was carried out by the technicians under the close supervision of Dr. A. Gudush Jalloh, SLAWS Director. The dogs were brought to the clinic mainly by children. Seventy-three (73) dogs were sterilized and vaccinated, and 123 dogs vaccinated.

Boksburg felt so fortunate to have three veterinarians who offered their time and talent free of charge. They had 38 hours of theatre time, in which they sterilized an amazing 139 animals in two weekends in February.

“We have had such an amazing response to our Spay Day event,” said Kathleen Owen, Manger of the Boksburg SPCA in South Africa, which spayed/neutered 139 animals. “It is amazing what can be accomplished when a few good people with talent come together. It was an experience that we will treasure.”

For Spay Day International, East London SPCA sterilized 48 cats and dogs, and distributed 500 informational sheets/vouchers to local schools with the hope that the young students would educate their parents about the free sterilisations avaliable for low-income residents through the organization's program.

SPCA Grahamstown sterilized 100 animals from underprivileged parts of the community. All animals were also vaccinated, dewormed, dipped and returned home with a bag of food and information on caring for pets in Xhosa, Afrikaans or English. The organization also reached thousands of people through information stands at local supermarkets, posters around town and a feature in the local newspaper. The public seemed very supportive of this work and the organization has had lots of enquiries about sterilisation.

From February 23-27, Johannesburg SPCA collected animals from Lenasia X13 in the southwest suburbs of Johannesburg; 144 cats and dogs were clinically examined, dipped/powdered, innoculated, dewormed, sterilised, collared, tagged, and returned with responsible pet ownership information pamphlets. The organization also celebrated the opening of their new Outreach Ward, which will be used only for pets and animals from low-income areas.

"Our thanks to all JSPCA personnel, our donors, supporters and HSI," wrote Michelle Moll, Director of PR, Education and Outreach for JSPCA."We are proud to be part of the Spay Day International initiative."

Paarl SPCA spayed/neutered 62 cats and dogs for their Spay Day International event. With outreach clinics and school educational programs covering a area of 290 kilometers, they also reached more than 2,000 people with the message of their spay/neuter program.

"We have decided that we will continue with a regular spay/neuter program because more people requested spay/neuter assistance for their animals," said Linda Groenewald, Paarl SPCA's Manager. "So we will be doing 'Spay Days' every second Wednesday to help those whom we could not help during February."

Local vets, Dr. Gavin King and Dr. Todd Collins from the Underberg Veterinary Surgery, sterilized 19 dogs and cats (and gelded one horse!) At the Drak Challenge Canoe Race (21/22 February), which attracted more than 550 entries from around South Africa, Sani SPCA set up a refreshment and information station at a popular spectator viewpoint, which was visited by many people. Also, three pet clinics were undertaken in the poorer areas of our community during February at which a total of 69 dogs were treated and their owners educated about the benefits of sterilisation and the prevention of zoonoses.

"As awareness of the benefits of sterilisation and animal welfare grows through our outreach efforts, and good relationships are forged with traditional community leaders, we expect to see an increase in the number of animals being brought in for sterilisation," said Hilda Hermann, Sani SPCA Chairperson.

Swellendam SPCA held a successful two-day sterilization drive for Spay Day International in Riviersonderend, with an outreach vet and assistant. A total of 57 cats and dogs were sterilized, and various mange injections and deworming medications were given. Some 40 pets had to be turned away due to lack of time; Swellendam SPCA is returning on 29 and 30 April and hopes to revisit thereafter every three months.

"The message of the importance of sterilization is getting across," said Jane Walker, Swellendam SPCA Chairperson.

Winelands' promotion started on 10th February, when 28 recently adopted pets were sterilised. They had had a very successful re-homing period over the Christmas holidays and it is compulsory for all “adoptees” to be brought back for their operations. During this time, a very small Labrador cross puppy was adopted, and he was to be back soon for his op! On 25th February, the hottest day of summer, thanks to the hard work of Ebervet Community Vet Care and Winelands' staff and volunteers, 56 pets were sterilised. These belonged to low-income members of the community, who cannot afford private veterinary assistance. 

"We battled to keep the animals cool and none of the humans could have smelt too good by the end of the day," laughed Sarah Ford, Chairman of Winelands SPCA. "But everyone was still smiling as they wearily signed off late in the afternoon."

Uganda SPCA vet Dr. Berna, together with visiting volunteer vet Dr. Lynn, spayed/neutered 20 animals for Spay Day International. Kenny, USPCA's entry for the HSUS/HSI Online Photo Contest, was very proud to be on the Internet representing the USPCA!

There were several activities for Spay Day International in St. Croix. The Animal Welfare Center hosted an informational booth at the three-day Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which is the largest agricultural exposition in the Territory and averages an attendance of 20,000. In addition to literature and posters with information about spay/neuter at a veterinary clinic of choice (all St. Croix vets are participating in this program), they also had off-site adoptions. One special adoptee was Mama—a dog surrendered with her puppies because her owner did not want to care for her or the puppies. All the puppies were adopted, but Mama had not been. However, at the Fair, she found a forever home. 

In addition, the organization's Humane Education team promoted a Spay Day Essay Contest to all 5th through 8th graders in both public and private schools across the island. Students were asked to write about the importance of spaying or neutering their cats and dogs; dozens of students responded, with an increase over last year’s contest entries. The organization also created a radio spot about pet overpopulation based on an actual animal control call to their warden. Several citizens have called staff or board members with positive response to the ad. Lastly, the organization's director of animal care operations spoke to a conference charge meeting of nearly 100 persons about pet overpopulation. This presentation was to a Spanish-speaking group—one of their target audiences.