SPAY DAY

Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation Partners withthe Town of Southampton To Promote Spay Day 2012New Resolution Urges Local Citizens to Spay or Neuter Pets 
Hampton Bays, New York, February 22, 2012 -- Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation introduced Resolution 2012-229 designating February 28th, 2012 as "Spay Day" within the Town of Southampton. The Resolution was sponsored by Councilwoman Bridget Fleming and unanimously adopted by the Town Board on February 14th, 2012.Resolution 2012-229 encourages the people of the Town of Southampton to observe this day by having their pet spayed or neutered, or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering of another person's pet or an animal in the shelter awaiting adoption.Councilwoman Fleming said, "I am so proud to be part of this important effort to reduce the incidence of homeless and euthanized animals, and I am particularly pleased to be working with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation and to support the Shelter's successful efforts at maintaining very high live release rates."Why Spay/Neuter?According to the Humane Society of the United States, nearly four million cats and dogs are put down in U.S. shelters each year. That means one homeless pet is euthanized about every eight seconds. Often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone's cat or dog got out just that one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good, permanent homes failed. The result is that homeless animals have to be euthanized. Spaying and neutering saves lives.About Southampton Animal ShelterThe Southampton Animal Shelter operates a low-cost Spay and Neuter clinic and offers free spay/neuter surgeries for Pit Bull-type dogs. Please call (631) 728-PETS for an appointment.Of the 462 animal welfare organizations reporting statistics nationwide, the average live release rate from shelters (the number of dogs and cats going home healthy and happy) is 55%. According to data gathered by the Humane Society of the United States this equates to 12.5 animals euthanized per 1,000 people. The independent and donor-supported Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation ended 2011 with an extraordinary 94% live release rate for cats and dogs. This equates to one animal euthanized for every 1,000 year round resident of the Town of Southampton.It is the mission of the Southampton Animals Shelter to provide for the welfare of animals and reduce the number of homeless pets. About World Spay DayWorld Spay Day is an international campaign of The Humane Society of the United States and Humane Society International in which animal welfare organizations participate to promote the importance of spay/neuter. Since its inception in 1995 it is conservatively estimated that participants have spayed or neutered more than one million animals.