Pierce Brosnan helps drive new California spay/neuter effort
by Barb Kohn
Pierce Brosnan, internationally acclaimed actor, producer and artist, has created and donated original artwork for a new California Spay and Neuter Specialty License Plate that is about to go on sale in the Golden State. Proceeds from sales of the plates will support free and low-cost spay and neuter surgery programs across California. The non-profit California Spay and Neuter License Plate Fund, along with the California Veterinary Medical Board, are behind this major new effort to help save the lives of cats and dogs.
A press release about the program indicates that the plates will raise awareness about the overwhelming number of homeless and unwanted cats and dogs in California – some 500,000 pets are euthanized in California shelters each year of the million that enter the state’s shelters -- and the importance of spaying and neutering pets to save animals’ lives. The program will fund spay and neuter surgeries through local animal care and control volunteer voucher programs and through in-house or local veterinary clinics.
The increase in animals entering shelters and the resulting euthanasia rates are caused by several factors, including people abandoning their pets due to the mortgage and unemployment crisis, accidental litters from unaltered pets, over-breeding of dogs and cats, and stray dogs and cats reproducing. Initiatives such as the California Spay and Neuter License Plate Program can have a positive impact and significantly reduce pet overpopulation through increased spay and neuter.
The new specialty plates will be produced and issued once an initial 7,500 prepaid applications have been collected per the Special Interest License Plate Program requirements. Net proceeds from the sale and annual renewal of these plates will fund spay and neuter surgeries, not shelter overhead costs. Animal lovers and supporters can pre-order the special license plates online at www.CASpayPlate.com starting June 9, 2010.
Barbara Kohn is a communications consultant and marketing writer. She has a
passion for the welfare of animals and has volunteered with many Bay
Area rescue and shelters organizations, including Homeless Cat Network,
Peninsula Fix Our Ferals, Pets in Need and Furry Friends Rescue. You
can reach her at barbara@kohnpr.com
