{"id":6562,"date":"2020-02-27T13:38:53","date_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:38:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=6562"},"modified":"2020-02-27T13:39:22","modified_gmt":"2020-02-27T18:39:22","slug":"world-spay-day","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2020\/02\/27\/world-spay-day\/","title":{"rendered":"World Spay Day"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Lisa Gray<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What is World Spay\nDay?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

World Spay Day first began in 1995 by the Doris Day to help\nbring awareness to pet overpopulation and crowded shelters.  This special day is celebrated the last\nTuesday in February annually and this year was February 25th<\/sup>.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Who participates in\nWorld Spay Day?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

All veterinarians are encouraged to participate in World\nSpay Day.  Some choose to offer\ndiscounted or free services and others specialize in education. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

TLC PetSnip has been participating in this event every year\nsince opening in 2013.  TLC PetSnip\nprovided over 200 spays and neuters to animals across Polk, Hillsborough and\nMarion Counties.  TLC PetSnip-Ocala provided\n132 free surgeries to feral cats with funding assistance from The Florida\nAnimal Friend Foundation and Humane Society of Marion County for Ocala.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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What is the impact to\nPolk County?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The impact from these services has prevented thousands of\nunwanted puppies and kittens being born in Polk County.  TLC PetSnip Lakeland spayed 39 and neutered\n23 dogs and cats in one day, thanks to a dedicated team.  Dr. Michele McCutcheon and Dr. Tsuyoshi\nWatanabe have both been trained to preform high volume procedures at the ASPA\nSpay\/Neuter Alliance in Asheville, NC. On average the ASPCA the estimated\neuthanasia rate across the country is 1.5 million animals annually. Here in\nPolk, TLC PetSnip is working to prevent unwanted animals from entering the\nshelter by providing affordable spay neuter services.  Primary areas of focus are cats and kittens\nand dogs over 40lbs, due to shelter overcrowding these demographics are the\nmost likely to be euthanized due to space. \n<\/p>\n\n\n\n