1Designating February 25, 2014, as "Spay Day" in Pennsylvania.

2WHEREAS, Cats, dogs and other animals possess unique
3personalities and provide faithful companionship for many
4Pennsylvanians; and

5WHEREAS, Not all of the owners of these companion animals
6have their pets spayed or neutered, which allows for the birth
7of unwanted animals; and

8WHEREAS, According to the Humane Society of the United
9States, approximately 6 to 8 million of these unwanted animals
10enter shelters each year in our country; and

11WHEREAS, Only about half of these animals are adopted to new
12homes, while the remainder are tragically euthanized; and

1WHEREAS, The overwhelming majority of the animals that must
2be killed each year are healthy and adoptable, but they meet
3their untimely death primarily because resources are
4insufficient to keep them alive until a suitable home can be
5found; and

6WHEREAS, In addition to the heartbreaking loss of life, pet
7overpopulation costs public and private entities millions of
8dollars annually through the implementation of animal control
9and sheltering programs; and

10WHEREAS, The practice of having a pet spayed or neutered at
11the expense of the owner or through a subsidized spay and neuter
12program has proven to be highly successful in addressing pet
13overpopulation; and

14WHEREAS, In an effort to promote the important role that
15spaying and neutering can play in controlling pet
16overpopulation, Spay Day was created in 1995; and

17WHEREAS, The continued observance of this day by a growing
18number of public and private entities throughout the world in
19each successive year has greatly increased the awareness and
20efficacy of spaying and neutering as a means to control pet
21overpopulation; and

22WHEREAS, Veterinarians, national and local animal protection
23organizations and private citizens have once again joined
24together to advocate for spaying and neutering on World Spay Day
252014, which takes place on February 25, 2014; therefore be it

26RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives designate
27February 25, 2014, as "Spay Day" in Pennsylvania, when
28Pennsylvanians are encouraged to have their pets spayed or
29neutered or support programs in their communites that offer spay
30and neuter services.