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WHEREAS, there are pets in more than 85 million American households; and,
WHEREAS, nearly 90% of pets living in poverty, and 98% of community (feral and stray) cats are unaltered; and
WHEREAS, approximately 6.5 million companion animals enter United States animals shelters every year; and,
WHEREAS, each year, approximately 1.5 million shelter animals are euthanized (670,000 dogs and 860,000 cats); and,
WHEREAS, this tragic overpopulation of pets costs the taxpayers of this country millions of dollars annually through animal service programs that must cope with large populations of stray dogs and cats; and,
WHEREAS, spaying and neutering is the proven and humane method of reducing overpopulation and limiting the number of pets that end up in shelters. Through the City of Pittsburgh’s Free Spay and Neuter Program, any City resident can have up to five dogs or cats spayed or neutered for free. Since the program’s inception, Animal Friends has performed more than 2,000 free surgeries; and,
WHEREAS, this year marks the twenty-fifth annual Spay Day, and since its inception, participants have spayed and saved millions of animals nationwide, and hundreds of thousands in the Pittsburgh region; and,
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby declare Tuesday, February 26, 2019, to be “Spay Day” in the City of Pittsburgh.