Serving Boone, Blowing Rock, Banner Elk, and other towns of the North Carolina High Country
Founded 05-05-05
February 22, 2007 issue
Local Citizens Urged To Spay/Neuter Pets
Watauga Humane Society and NASCAR Nextel Cup Series drivers Ryan Newman, Greg Biffle and Ken Schrader have teamed up to support Spay Day USA, a national campaign of the Humane Society of the United States to promote the life-saving benefits of spay/neuter.
Spay Day USA is Tuesday, February 27, but events and activities will take place throughout the month of February across the nation. This national campaign promotes spay/neuter as a simple, humane and effective way to end the tragedy of euthanizing homeless pets. Thousands of kittens and puppies are born every hour in the United States. While these baby animals are adorable, the fate of most of them is tragic. Spaying or neutering pets and feral cats is the most effective way to reduce the vast numbers of animals who are born only to die prematurely and without a family who loves them.
Ryan Newman explained, “Spay Day USA is an important date in our calendars. Across the nation, county animal shelters have to put dogs and cats to death because there aren’t enough homes for all of the puppies and kittens being born each year. The only statistically proven way to stop the animal overpopulation epidemic is by spaying and neutering pets. We have to prevent unwanted breeding to save lives.”
“Our goal is to raise $1,000 which will sponsor the spaying or neutering of 50 animals,” said Watauga Humane Society President Judy Clarke. “Check with participating local vets offering reduced prices for spay and neuter this month, or call the Watauga Humane Society and ask about our weekly low-cost spay neuter clinic. Financial assistance may be available.”
The Towns of Blowing Rock, Boone, Seven Devils and Beech Mountain have issued resolutions asking citizens to spay their own pets or sponsor the spaying or neutering of one of our community animals in honor of Spay Day USA.
“Aggressive spay/neuter projects and progressive legislation in the many areas of the northeast have addressed the pet overpopulation problem,” said Greg Biffle.
Ken Schrader and his family share their home with three kittens. Schrader said, “Spay/neuter protects pet health, improves pet behavior and lessens the burden on animal shelters and taxpayers. My wife Ann and I invite people to sponsor the spay or neuter of at least one cat or dog in honor of Spay Day USA 2007.” Since Spay Day USA’s inception in 1995, participants have altered an estimated 1,366,000 animals.
For more info about Spay Day USA, call the Watauga Humane Society at 828-264-7865 or click to www.WataugaHumaneSociety.org or www.SpayDayUSA.org. For info about the Ryan Newman Foundation, click to www.ryannewmanfoundation.org. For info about the Greg Biffle Foundation, click to www.gregbifflefoundation.com.