What is World Spay Day and why it is important?
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GHENT, WV (WVNS) — It seems like more than ever, animal shelters everywhere are putting up a new post saying they are in ‘Code Red’ status.
The sad truth is that so many of these animals in shelters usually end up homeless or euthanized when there is not enough resources or space to help them. Spaying and neutering your pets not only helps with overpopulation, but it also improves the health of your pets, calming them down more and reducing their urge to go out and roam.
Dogs rescued from mobile home in Sophia, after a neighbor reports they are starving
Starting in 1995, World Spay Day is celebrated every fourth Tuesday of February, with this year being on February 27, 2024. A woman named Doris Day started the Doris Day Animal League, which started as Spay Day USA, reaching the Humane Society, in turn touching hearts in 74 countries around the world. Statistics show that every year in the United States alone, between six to eight million dogs and cats end up in shelters. 40 to 50 percent become euthanized, according to the World Animal Foundation.
Around 3.1 million dogs and 3.2 million cats go into shelters every year, which makes this day even more straightforward and important. It is not only about overpopulation, but it shows how a responsible pet owner can take action to not only help their pet, but to keep others from an unfortunate fate.
There are many benefits to World Spay Day as well, such as better education to pet owners about spaying and neutering, understanding that affordable care is possible, community clinics with their services, informed adoption and how to set a healthier life for your pet, and managing stray and feral populations.
Through this day, the Doris Day Animal Foundation did report a significant victory as well being that the annual number of both dogs and cats euthanized has dropped to one million, according to the World Animal Foundation.
Sanitation worker describes finding a dog in dumpster
To learn more about World Spay Day, its benefits, and how you can participate, visit worldanimalfoundation.org
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