Area animal welfare organizations come together to celebrate Spay Day Feb. 23

2/23/2010 12:00:00 AM

The Chemung County Humane Society and SPCA, the Elmira Animal Shelter, and the Horseheads Animal Shelter will come together Tuesday to celebrate Spay Day, a national campaign to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying or neutering pets and feral cats.

Spay Day has proven to be an effective way to spread awareness of the nation's animal overpopulation problem. Last year, more than 32,000 animals in the United States were spayed or neutered on Spay Day. This year, local area veterinarians have donated their services to spay 31 shelter animals from the Chemung County SPCA in February.

In Elmira, Mayor John Tonello will issue a proclamation declaring Feb. 23 as Spay Day in the city of Elmira. The mayor also will personally contribute $250 to reduce the cost of adoptions or help pay for spaying and neutering of dogs and cats adopted from the Elmira Animal Shelter.

In addition, the SPCA will offer free adoptions of spayed and neutered animals for Spay Day. Horseheads Animal Shelter also will have several spayed and neutered pets available for adoption. Anyone interested in adopting these animals should contact the respective shelters.

"It is important that the three shelters band together to promote spay and neuter education, especially on Spay Day," said Barbara McLean, executive director of the Chemung County Humane Society and SPCA. "This year, it is our shelter's goal to have 100 percent of our shelter animals spayed or neutered before they leave our care so we can do our part to combat the animal overpopulation problem."