They ask so little, yet they give so much. Our cats and dogs greet us when we come home from work or school, snuggle with us while we watch TV, and keep us company during our retirement years. They make us laugh, heal our heartbreaks, comfort combat veterans suffering from PTSD, and connect with physically and developmentally challenged children when no one else can. But not every animal is lucky enough to find a loving home. Many of them roam the streets, struggling to find food and shelter.
“Since St. Louis City closed its animal control facility in 2010, the Humane Society of Missouri has taken in more than 20,000 extra stray and unwanted animals, in addition to our usual number of intakes, at a cost of $5 million over our usual budget,” says president Kathy Warnick. “We do everything we can for them. But the sad truth is, there are still too many abused, neglected animals.”
There is a solution. “The most effective way to stop pet overpopulation is to spay/neuter,” Warnick says. “It ends the needless suffering of homeless animals, and also solves community health and safety problems caused by animal overpopulation.” HSMO recently joined Athletes for Animals to launch Spay It Forward, a campaign to raise $250,000 to spay/neuter animals. “The money will help us perform 2,500 additional surgeries this year, preventing tens of thousands of unwanted, homeless pets.”
HSMO provides two spay/neuter programs: Operation Snip, available throughout the metropolitan area, offers low-cost services regardless of income; Operation City Snip is free to residents of the city, where the overpopulation problem is most severe. “Spay/neuter programs have so many positive benefits in addition to population control,” Warnick says. “Animals who have these procedures lead longer, healthier lives and are less likely to get cancers and other diseases, thus creating less health
care expenses for owners. And altered animals tend to be happier and better behaved, as well.”
Since 1870, HSMO has provided a caring haven for animals who have been abused, neglected and abandoned. “Our mission is to end the cycle of abuse and overpopulation through investigation and rescue efforts, spay/neuter programs and education,” Warnick says. “We’re committed to creating lasting relationships between people and animals through our adoption programs and by providing high-quality veterinary care to the general public.”
But high-quality care is expensive. “We rely on generous community support to help keep our doors open,” Warnick says. Bark in the Park, a major annual fundraiser presented by Purina, takes place May 16 at Forest Park Cricket Field. Proceeds from the 5k run and 1-mile walk benefit the society’s spay/neuter programs and Animal Cruelty Fund, a statewide animal rescue initiative. “Activities like Spay It Forward and Bark in the Park help us carry out our mission: to help the animals who enrich our lives, contribute to our health and well-being, and bring us so much joy—and to find them safe, loving homes.”
Pictured: Athletes for Animals members Kelly Backes, Jake Long, David Backes and Trever Rosenthal with HSMO president Kathy Warnick
Photo Courtesy of HSMO
[Spay It Forward, a campaign launched by Humane Society of Missouri and Athletes for Animals, aims to raise money for low- or no-cost spay/neuter surgeries. A major Humane Society fundraiser, Bark in the Park, takes place May 16 in Forest Park. To donate or to register for Bark in the Park, visit hsmo.org.]