State of Vermont

Executive Department

A Proclamation

Whereas,                            pets provide companionship to more than 71 million households in the United States; and

Whereas,                            humane societies and animal shelters have to euthanize more than four million dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals each year, due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness; and

Whereas,                            spaying and neutering has been shown to dramatically reduce the overpopulation of stray pets, and is a wise investment for pet owners; and

Whereas,                            the overpopulation of stray pets costs taxpayers millions of dollars annually through animal service programs aimed at coping with the abundance of stray pets; and

Whereas,                            veterinarians, national and local animal protection organizations, and private citizens worked together to ensure the spaying or neutering of over 44,000 pets nationally through Spay Day 2010;

now, Therefore,            I, Peter Shumlin, Governor, do hereby proclaim February 2011 as

Spay and Neuter Month

in Vermont, and encourage Vermonters to observe this tradition by

having their own pets spayed or neutered.

Given under my hand and the Great Seal of the State of

Vermont on this day of January, A.D. 2011

Peter Shumlin
Governor 

Alexandra MacLean
Secretary of Civil and Military Affairs