February is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month!
According to HumaneSociety.org, there are an estimated 6-8 million homeless kittens, puppies, cats, and dogs nationwide that enter animal shelters every year. Only about half of those animals are adopted. Tragically, the other half are put down or spend most of their lives crated in shelters. The majority of animals that are euthanized are healthy, sweet pets who would have made great companions but due to overcrowding in the shelters, they are not able to meet their forever families.
Depending on how the shelters and rescues process the animals, kill shelters vs no kill shelters, the number of homeless animals will vary by state. In some states, there are as many as 300,000 cats and dogs put down every year. These are not the offspring of homeless street animals; these are the puppies and kittens of pets who were accidentally or intentionally allowed to breed.
The HSUS and Humane Society International has developed World Spay Day, which is an annual campaign that shines a spotlight on the importance of spaying/neutering your pets. This is a proven 
way to save the lives of companion animals, feral cats, and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in a shelter or killed on the street. World Spay Day provides a unique opportunity for everyone who cares about animals to join together toward a common goal —a comprehensive global, united effort to end the euthanasia and suffering of companion animals.
World Spay Day is quickly approaching! There are countless ways to get involved—from hosting a spay/neuter event, leafleting in your community, passing a spay/neuter resolution, or having your own pet spayed or neutered.
World Spay Day is February 26, the last Tuesday of February, but World Spay Day events can take place throughout February, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.
Past events have included low- and no-cost spay/neuter clinics, providing life-saving veterinary services for low-income families, fundraisers to benefit spay/neuter programs, and educational efforts spreading the message about the importance of spaying and neutering pets.
For more information or how you can help or schedule your own event, please visit the World Spay Day portal.
For more information on Charlotte, NC events and clinics, please visit the following sites:
- Spay Neuter Charlotte
- Humane Society of Charlotte
- Spay Neuter Clinic of the Carolinas
- Animal League of Gaston County
To find other spay and neuter clinic locations, please visit the World Spay Day Clinic Locator.
Local Charlotte NC World Spay Day Events
The Humane Society of Catawaba County is planning to offer 100 free Feral Cat Packages to the community and surrounding area during the month of February. The Feral Cat Package includes spay/neuter surgery, one rabies vaccination, and an ear tipping. As part of the Spay Day 2013 Feral Cat Campaign, HSCC will provide brochures educating the community about feral cats and how to responsibly live with them in their neighborhoods, hold workshops demonstrating the most effective methods for capturing and caring for feral cats, and establish on-going meetings for the feral cat colony caregivers, encouraging volunteers to get involved.
For more information on this event, please visit the World Spay Day HSCC Event Page. For more information on the HSCC shelter and clinic, please visit the Catawba County Humane Society.
