This Tuesday is Spay Day in Southampton

In accordance with a resolution the Town Board adopted on Feb. 14, sponsored by Councilwoman Bridget Fleming, Feb. 28, 2012, is officially "Spay Day" in Southampton Town, designated to push pet owners to spay or neuter their cats and dogs to prevent overpopulation.

The message of the day is that "spaying and nuetering saves lives."

Those who don't have pets, or whose pets have already been spayed and neutered, are being encouraged to sponsor another person's pet or an animal that is currently living at the awaiting adoption.

Nearly 4 million cats and dogs — one every 8 seconds — are put down in U.S. shelters each year, according to the Humane Society of the United States.

Southampton Animal Shelter states that often these animals are the offspring of cherished family pets, even purebreds. But whether a litter was intentional or not, efforts to find good, permanent homes can fail and the result is that homeless animals are euthanized.

"I am so proud to be part of this important effort to reduce the incidence of homeless and euthanized animals, and I am particularly pleased to be working with the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation and to support the shelter's successful efforts at maintaining very high live release rates," Fleming is quoted as saying in a statement from the shelter

Call 631-728-PETS to make an appointment for Tuesday or any time the shelter is open. (Spay and neuter fees are waived for pit bulls.)