WHEREAS, Spay Day USA is America's first and only national day of action to promote the spaying and neutering of pets; and
     WHEREAS, The Doris Day Animal League created Spay Day USA in 1995 to inspire people to save animal lives by spaying and neutering their pets and feral cats; and
     WHEREAS, Spay Day USA became the annual campaign of the Humane Society of the United States after the group combined operations with the Doris Day Animal League in 2006; and
     WHEREAS, During Spay Day USA, veterinarians and their staff, animal welfare professionals, business owners, and citizens join forces nationwide to provide spay and neuter services and to promote spaying and neutering as essential components of good pet health care, as well as an effective and humane means of decreasing the euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters; and
     WHEREAS, During Spay Day's first 13 years, participants spayed or neutered an estimated 1,387,000 animals, preventing millions of potentially surplus births, reducing exposure to health problems, and saving taxpayers millions of dollars in homeless animal shelter costs; and
     WHEREAS, Spay Day USA takes place each year on the last Tuesday of February; and
     WHEREAS, The 14th Annual Spay Day USA will be held on February 26, 2008; and
     WHEREAS, Events and activities in conjunction with Spay Day USA will occur throughout the month of February; and
     WHEREAS, Washington state issues a special license plate, "We Love Our Pets," which helps raise money for the spaying and neutering of pets; and
     WHEREAS, Dogs and cats that are spayed and neutered are less likely to roam, become strays, and cause problems; and
     WHEREAS, Spaying and neutering reduces pet overpopulation, a problem that forces shelters to euthanize hundreds of thousands of healthy kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs each year; and
     WHEREAS, Spaying and neutering helps dogs and cats live safer, longer, and healthier lives; and
     WHEREAS, Spaying and neutering can eliminate or reduce the incidence of a number of diseases that can be life-threatening and very difficult or expensive to treat;
     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize that Spay Day USA serves a noble and just cause of promoting spaying and neutering and responsible pet ownership in communities across our state and nation; and
     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be sent to the Washington Federation of Animal Control Officers and the Doris Day Animal League.