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WHEREAS, pets provide companionship to more than 71,000,000 households in the United States; and
WHEREAS, between six and eight million cats and dogs enter our nation's shelter system each year and these shelters cannot save and support this huge number of accidental litters and strays; and
WHEREAS, this tragic overpopulation of pets costs citizens and taxpayers of this country millions of dollars annually through animal service programs aimed at coping with the millions
of homeless animals; and
WHEREAS, across the United States, animal shelters have to put down more than four million cats, dogs, and other animals each year, many of whom are healthy and adoptable, due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness; and
WHEREAS, spaying and neutering is the only 100% proven way to dramatically reduce the overpopulation of pets and feral cats, proving to be a wise investment in saving animal lives and taxpayer dollars; and
WHEREAS, this year marks the seventeenth annual Spay Day and since its inception in 1995, it is conservatively estimated that nationally, participants have altered more than
1.5 million animals and over 160 thousand in Pittsburgh; and
WHEREAS, veterinarians, national and local animal protection organizations such as:
Animal Care & Welfare Inc.,
Animal Friends,
Animal Rescue League of Western Pennsylvania,
Hello Bully,
Homeless Cat Management Team,
Humane Options Pittsburgh,
Western Pennsylvania Humane Society and private citizens have joined together again to advocate the spaying and neutering of pets and feral cats;
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NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh does hereby officially recognizes February 22, 2011, as "Spay Day" in the City of Pittsburgh.