International Homeless Animal's Day Awareness
2004 Tributes to
Killed Shelter Animals
Muttshackers are rallying together for this year's August 20, 2005
Memorial, to raise awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering,
and to highlight the plight of homeless and shelter animals.
ISAR reports
on last year's event.
There were some very memorable observances held last year. on August
21, 2004.
Kiki Ebsen, singer/songwriter and daughter of the late actor Buddy
Ebsen, coordinated a concert in California that included a live
worldwide broadcast on the internet in honor of ISAR’s National Homeless
Animals’ Day 2004. Performances by Ms. Ebsen and others were heard all
over the world reaching thousands of people about the pet overpopulation
problem and the spay/neuter solution. Ms. Ebsen recalled receiving an
email from a listener in Australia who voiced their praise for such a
wonderful cause. Ms. Ebsen went on to say, “I think National Homeless
Animals’ Day is an important day of recognition. It would be nice to
focus on some positive elements as well, if possible, to give people
some hope.” Ms. Ebsen also expressed that by using music, “we were able
to honor the animals and transcend the pain and horror of it all through
song.”
Collar of Grief
2,000 collars were removed from an overwhelming 25,000 collar chain
representing the decrease in animal deaths since 2002 at the Sacramento
County and City of Folsom’s vigil observance this year. A powerful mural
of caged shelter dogs was on display to ignite an awareness of just how
many animals are dropped off at shelters each year. Speakers at the
event included vigil coordinators Cindy Walden and Claudia Schlachter,
members from Sacramento County, Sacramento’s Animal Control and Animal
Care Services, and keynote speaker Diane Leigh, author and co-founder of
a non-profit organization. Approximately 150 people were in attendance
at this vigil to help shed light on pet overpopulation while 13 animals
were placed into new homes as a result.
Candlelight Vigil
Approximately 100 people attended a candlelight vigil held by Valley
Oak SPCA of Visalia, California for National Homeless Animals’ Day. To
mark this solemn occasion, candles were placed in 132 empty cat food
cans while a wooden doghouse draped with 132 dog collars displayed the
average amount of animals euthanized at their shelter each week in the
year 2003. A symbolic extinguishing of the candles by vigil participants
honored the lives and mourned the deaths of the many animals killed in
their shelter throughout the year due to pet overpopulation. Media
coverage from their local newspaper and a feature in Best Friends online
newsletter helped spread the spay/neuter message to thousands of people.
Paperchain of 7,000 links
In observance of National Homeless Animals’ Day and because of recent
destruction from hurricane Charley, Sun-coast Humane Society, Florida,
coordinated a candlelight vigil to raise awareness of responsible pet
care and the importance of spaying and neutering. The theme of their
event titled “Paws for Life” was a great success for both animals and
humans. Venice Mayor Dean Calamaras signed ISAR’s National Homeless
Animals’ Day Proclamation and read it aloud to the public. A tri-colored
paper chain made up of over 7,000 links represented the number of dogs
(1,800) and cats (2,400) that made their way to the shelter.
Disaster creates over
700 homeless animals
While the Suncoast Humane Society works hard to provide temporary
relief for animals and their people displaced by the storm, an
overwhelming 700 animals made their way to the shelter during this
aftermath. With an attendance of over 1,100 people throughout the day,
Barbara Jernigan, Project Development Director, says their event was a
great success. During their event, prayers and a blessing were given by
Father Chris Gray for all lost animals still out in the community and
for all homeless pets as a result of pet overpopulation.
Streets Lined With Candles
With twice the attendance from last year’s observance, Knox County
Humane Society, Indiana, closed their main street and lined it with
candles for this year’s National Homeless Animals’ Day. A quartet of
ladies sang while a minister conducted a “blessing of the animals”
service. Recognition was given to outstanding individuals well known
locally for helping animals. One such remarkable individual included Dr.
Tess Peavy for providing low-cost spay/neuter services that resulted in
the altering of over 700 cats and dogs in Vincennes during the last two
years.
Despite 100 degree temperatures, many people gathered in Lafayette,
Louisiana for People Assisting Animal Welfare’s (PAAW) second annual
National Homeless Animals’ Day Vigil. A memorial pool with floating
candles and pictures of euthanized shelter animals visually shed light
on the problem of pet overpopulation. Local animal control read
euthanization statistics that peaked at 17,822 deaths in their shelter
over the past 2 1/2 years.
Free spay/neuter coupons donated by local veterinarians were raffled
off during their observance. The money collected from the raffle went
into PAAW’s Spay/Neuter Fund to aid the public with future spay/neuter
procedures.
Regarding the pet overpopulation problem, Janetta Chrysler, PAAW
Foster Coordinator, thinks that an interesting way to get the point
across to people would be to, “have every person go into rescue work or
into a euthanizing shelter on a daily basis and see the problem first
hand.” Ms. Chrysler adds, “Education about pet overpopulation and
spay/neuter is the key to reducing this tragic problem.”
In a small town of five thousand, Linda Chitwood of Homeless Animals
Relief Project, Mississippi, coordinated a mini-spay day in honor of
National Homeless Animals’ Day 2004. Forty-three cats and kittens were
spayed/neutered and vaccinated on this day. Ms. Chitwood feels that by
offering free spaying and neutering to feral animals and animals living
with the poor is an effective means in bringing light to the problem of
pet overpopulation. Ms. Chitwood says, “The owners tell others about how
unwanted pups/kittens can be stopped, and how nice it is to have sterile
cats and dogs.”
The Bethlehem Rose Garden was the setting for the first annual
candlelight vigil held by Northampton County SPCA of Easton,
Pennsylvania. Co-sponsoring organizations included Communities Altering
the Strays (C.A.T.S.), Dachie Rescue, Forgotten Felines and Fidos, Linda
Anne’s Greyhound Rescue, Inc., Northside VCA Vet Hospital, Peaceable
Kingdom, and Wayne’s Golden Retriever Rescue.
Sad Violin
The sad melody from a lone violinist hung heavy in the air as more
than 120 people, young and old, gathered to partake in this solemn
occasion. Eighty-seven balloons, representing the cats that died in
their shelter from an epidemic, swayed gracefully in the air as poems
were read and personal stories were told. A very emotional crowd passed
the light to one another as candles burned in memory and hope while a
colorful paper chain adorning the site reminded participants of the
number of dogs unable to find good, loving homes throughout the year.
Diane Davison, President, Board of Directors, SPCA feels ISAR’s
National Homeless Animals’ Day is “an opportunity for people who have
lost beloved pets over the year to mourn in a respectful atmosphere.”
She also feels, “through honoring the lives of these animals, we honor
the people who love them.” ISAR could not agree more.
Friends of Animal Shelters, Sullivan County, Tennessee, marked this
year’s observance with an adopt-a-thon that set a record for their
shelter. Thirty-eight pets found loving homes that day while shelter
personnel handed out ISAR’s informational Special Reports to all who
visited. All the animals adopted from the Sullivan County Animal Shelter
on National Homeless Animals’ Day had adoption fees waived and were
provided with free spay/neuter vouchers.
“I Survived Death Row”
This was the theme this year for The Queenie
Foundation, Inc.’s ninth annual National Homeless Animals’ Day
Candlelight Vigil. With close to 400 attendees and 30 pro-animal
organizations present, The Queenie Foundation, Inc. states this was the
largest attendance and variety of groups they ever had. Information
tables on puppy mills and spaying and neutering lined the site while
members from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), North Texas for
Justice and Peace and The Green Party were on hand to educate the crowd
on their rights as pro-animal activists. A voter registration table was
also available for people interested in registering.
Texas Governor Rick Perry and Dallas Mayor Laura Miller signed ISAR’s
Proclamations declaring August 21, 2004 as National Homeless Animals’
Day. Media coverage for their event included local newspaper articles, a
radio interview and a spot on the news of an NBC affiliate.
Circulate Flyers
For a successful vigil, Enid Breakstone, Founder and Executive
Director of The Queenie Foundation, Inc. advises future planners to,
“circulate as many flyers as you can in the community to get the largest
amount of people from the public that you can and invite every
pro-animal organization in your area.” Ms. Breakstone also states,
“People may not want to get involved in rescue they may want to get
active in education or legislation, which is why it is paramount to get
humane education organizations and any lobbying groups to the vigil.
It’s really important for people to know that there are a variety of
issues or ways to work for animal protection.”
Adopt-A-Thon
21 animals were adopted into loving homes during West Virginia’s
Kanawha/Charleston Humane Association’s National Homeless Animals’ Day
event on August 21, 2004. In addition to their successful adopt-a-thon,
an inspired local veterinarian neutered 59 cats as a result. An evening
candle lighting ceremony concluded their National Homeless Animals’ Day
observance. Coordinators found that by including the adopt-a-thon to
their event, they brought more people to their shelter which made for a
more successful day.
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