Spay Day 2010
PRESS RELEASE
11TH ANNUAL SPAY DAY KEEPS ANIMALS OFF THE STREETS
Sacramento Area Animal Coalition appeals to the public for help funding the largest Spay Day event in the nation
Sacramento, CA (February 28, 2010) – The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC), a non-profit organization committed to animal population control, is collaborating today with veterinarians, veterinary technicians, volunteers and donors to hold the largest Spay Day event in the nation. The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition is expecting to have 500 volunteers and spay and neuter approximately 1,000 animals. The event provides at-need families the opportunity to have their pets spayed or neutered at a significant cost reduction thanks to generous donations from area residents.
“More than twenty thousand dogs and cats are killed in Sacramento area shelters every year because there are not enough homes for them all,” said Sacramento Area Animal Coalition President Shannon Asquith. “Spaying and neutering is one of the most effective ways to reduce the number of unwanted dogs and cats in our community today rather than spending millions of taxpayer dollars to shelter and euthanize them tomorrow.”
Each year, thousands of non-spayed and non-neutered animals roam the streets, contributing to the increasing animal overpopulation problem. According to SAAC, Spay Day Sacramento 2010 is predicted to prevent the births of 4,800 unwanted cats and 3,500 unwanted dogs* in one year alone. By preventing these animals from entering the already over-crowded animal shelters, taxpayers could save 1.68 million dollars in one year.**
Participants will receive $250 dollars worth of services for each animal including: the surgery, core vaccinations, microchip with registration, and a dose of flea preventative. In order to raise the proper funding to sponsor Spay Day 2010, SAAC recently launched a supplemental online pet photo contest which allows voters and participants to vote for their favorite pet and to donate to the Spay Day cause. The nonprofit is also asking the public for private donations to help alleviate the costs.
“Thanks to private donations, the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition has altered more than five thousand animals in eleven years, preventing the births of millions of animals and keeping them out of our already overcrowded shelters,” said Asquith. “We are asking animal lovers to help us save more lives in 2010 by donating to Spay Day.”
SAAC is hoping that Spay Day will lead to a dramatic decrease in the number of animals that contribute to the overpopulation predicament. In addition they would like to educate area pet owners that spaying and neutering can improve animal behavior and reduce health problems.
The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition appreciates donations to sponsor Spay Day 2010. Those interested may visit donate online at www.sacanimal.org.
Major support for Spay Day is provided by Bayer HealthCare. Additional sponsors include the City of Elk Grove Animal Services, Fort Dodge Animal Health, Onyx & Breezy Foundation, Sacramento Magazine, Sacramento SPCA, Teaching Everyone Animals Matter, United Animal Nations, Wag Hotels, Yolo County Animal Services, Yolo SPCA, City of Rancho Cordova, City of Sacramento Animal Care Services, The Humane Society of the United States, MWI Veterinary Supply, Placer SPCA, Sacramento Valley Veterinary Medical Association, and Sierra Printing & Office Supply.
Learn more at www.sacanimal.org
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More about the Sacramento Area Animal Coalition: The Sacramento Area Animal Coalition (SAAC) is a non-profit organization committed to eliminating companion animal overpopulation in the Sacramento area through aggressive spay-neuter efforts, humane education, community outreach and networking. The SAAC is a 100 percent volunteer grassroots nonprofit. Ninety-nine percent of all donations go toward programs that help animals. For more information, please visit www.sacanimal.org.