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| Oklahoma Alliance for Animals |
This girl is smiling because the Oklahoma
Alliance for Animals, with help from the
Doris Day Animal Foundation, spayed
her dog for Spay Day USA. |
A veterinarian had just neutered one cat and there were nearly 20 more awaiting surgery. It was not the perfect time for a power outage, but that's just what happened at a spay/neuter clinic in Sacramento, Calif.
Despite the fact that veterinarians had to use headlamps and flashlights, the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition and about 300 veterinarians and other volunteers spayed or neutered nearly 700 cats and dogs of low-income families during its Spay Day USA event this year.
That's just one of many stories that came from veterinarians and volunteers who participated in spay/neuter clinics and other events this year in honor of Spay Day USA.
32,509 Reported Spays and Neuters
The 14th annual Spay Day USA took place on Feb. 26, 2008. Thousands of volunteers in 49 states, the District of Columbia, Guam, Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands worked together to save animal lives and end pet homelessness.
They reported that 32,509 cats and dogs (and even a rat and a ferret) were spayed or neutered; more than $200,000 was raised for spay/neuter; and the spay/neuter message was broadcasted to more than 13 million people.
Smile for the Camera!
Through the Spay Day USA Pet Photo Contest, contestants raised tens of thousands of dollars to benefit the spay/neuter efforts of The Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association's Field Services program and 137 eligible Spay Day USA Event Organizers. In addition to other great prizes, Gabriella Pyle, the grand prize winner of the Pet Photo Contest, had the privilege of choosing one of these organizations to receive an additional $5,000 spay/neuter grant. Ms. Pyle chose Concerned Citizens for Animal Welfare, Inc. in Pensacola, Fla., to receive this special grant.
Here are just a few highlights of Spay Day USA 2008:
- "Mutts"® comic strip creator and HSUS board member Patrick McDonnell once again dedicated two consecutive Mutts strips to Spay Day USA:
Monday, Feb. 25, 2008
MUTTS © 2008 Patrick McDonnell - Distributed by King Features Syndicate
Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2008
MUTTS © 2008 Patrick McDonnell - Distributed by King Features Syndicate
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| Tyrone D. Washington/Los Angeles Mayor's Office |
Los Angeles mayor Antonio Villaraigosa signs
historic spay/neuter bill on Spay Day USA,
with HSUS president Wayne Pacelle and Bob
Barker in attendance. |
- The City of Los Angeles celebrated Spay Day USA with a special signing ceremony with Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmember Alarcon and Councilmember Cardenas by having the Mayor sign into law the most comprehensive spay and neuter ordinance in the nation. That was coupled with a City Hall "Spay Day" where Councilmember Alarcon himself brought his two dogs, Chico and Corazon, to be neutered.
- The Doris Day Animal Foundation provided a special Spay Day USA grant so that pet owners in financial need could receive spay/neuter surgery for their pets. The grant was administered in 10 states by the following veterinary clinics and organizations, to which we offer a very special thanks:
Arkansas: New Hope Animal Hospital (26 surgeries)
Louisiana: LAPAW, in partnership with Bayou South Animal Hospital, Lake Area Animal Hospital and Sulphur Animal Clinic (37 surgeries)
Missouri: St. Charles Humane Society (20 surgeries)
Mississippi: Dr. Shy, Starkville Veterinary Hospital (32 surgeries)
Oklahoma: Oklahoma Alliance for Animals (245 surgeries)
Pennsylvania: Central Pennsylvania Animal Alliance (82 surgeries)
Tennessee: Teresa Jennings, Companion Animal Initiative of Tennessee (108 surgeries)
Texas: SPAY/TEXAS (106 surgeries)
Vermont: SpayED (82 surgeries)
West Virginia: Greenbrier Humane Society (146 surgeries)
Total surgeries made possible by the Doris Day Animal Foundation: 884
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The first national Spay Day USA Tom Cat Special, coordinated by Celeste Crimi of Best Friends Animal Society, offered cat neuters for just $10 each. Twelve local coordinators reported neutering more than 600 cats in honor of Spay Day USA.
- Radar the Weather Dog
of WNKY-TV served as Spay Day USA mascot for South Central Kentucky.
- With a special grant from The HSUS, SPAY/USA provided assistance so that 339 cats could be spayed or neutered.
- Dr. Tom DeVincentis of Country Vets in Manhattan launched his first book, "Tails of the City: Confessions of a Manhattan Pet Vet," with a book signing to draw attention to Spay Day USA. The bookstore hosting the signing reported selling a record number of books. Dr. DeVincentis mentions his support for The HSUS on the book's cover.
Spay Day USA national sponsors Nature's Miracle and Zoombak made the Spay Day USA Pet Photo Contest possible. View other Spay Day sponsors, and listen to interviews with representatives from Nature's Miracle and Zoombak.
Spay Day USA 2008 Statistics
By State | Top 10: Reported Spays/Neuters, Reported Funds Raised, and Reported People Reached Resolutions | Beneficiaries of Spay/Neuter Funds
View Spay Day USA 2007 results.
View Spay Day International 2008 results.
Questions about Spay Day USA? Visit the Spay Day USA homepage, or email us at spayday@humanesociety.org.
Updated Feb. 23, 2009.
