The Spay Neuter Assistance Program of WV was established to provide financial aid to qualified low income citizens of WV to have their pets sterilized. SNAP-WV had received $25,000 in seed money from a member of the West Virginia House of Delegates to begin the program. This is a matching grant program for 501c3 designated humane groups in WV that already have programs providing this type of financial aid. We felt this would have the effect of encouraging and inspiring these groups as they were working to raise funding to provide financial aid to the people in their areas. An application and approval process for these groups was put into place late in 2009.
Since the program’s inception in Nov. of 2009 through 2011, 15 matching grants were awarded. A total of 1422 cats and dogs were sterilized around the state. Positive feedback was received from the funded groups along with valuable statistics. The numbers of animals not being born to add to the already over burdened animal sheltering system is tremendous. This is a great savings of lives and taxpayer money.
The groups have shared with us stories and comments from the citizens they have been able to help using this funding. All of the participating veterinarians have worked with these groups by giving them special pricing for low income citizens. This is good public relations for the groups, the veterinarians, the state and SNAP-WV. The statistics we have received will be invaluable for us to present to our legislators as we work to obtain more public funding.
We need to be able to get the word out to more people about the positive effects of spay and neuter programs. We feel that the best way to disseminate this information would be through advertising of some form. This is presently in the planning stages. SNAP-WV and the humane groups have accomplished a tremendous effect on the numbers of animals sterilized with the $25,000 we were given. We can do a great deal more to save tax payer money by continuing the program. |
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Spay/Neuter Advertising Campaign in WV |
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In 2008, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) launched a campaign to increase spay/neuter rates in Louisiana and Mississippi. The campaign was based on extensive research into pet owners’ attitudes and behaviors regarding spay/neuter. The ads used in the campaign were created by a renowned communications firm and backed by the latest in spay/neuter research. The campaign included television ads, radio spots, billboards, posters, doorhangers, and postcards.
For more information on the HSUS campaign, go to:
http://www.animalsheltering.org/programs_and_services/spay_neuter/spay_neuter_campaign_materials/
These ads are available to groups nationwide to be customized and used locally. The Federation of Humane Organizations of WV (FOHOWV) decided in 2010 to pursue developing a campaign for West Virginia (WV). Since the research showed that the most convincing message is a statement with euthanasia statistics including a comment about offspring of one’s “own” pet, FOHOWV started by gathering statewide animal shelter intake and disposition numbers, including euthanasia, rescues and adoptions on an annual basis. With the help of a senior West Virginia University student in advertising (Christin Ogden), the information was gathered over a period of about nine months. Considerable variation in the animal control operations of WV’s 55 counties was noted.
The WV project is now in the budget planning phase and focusing on grant applications and how best to use the available ads. The customized ads (with WV statistics) will include a contact phone number for those who seek more information. We will use the Spay WV number 877-SPAY-WV1 (877-7729-981). Previous articles in FOHOWV newsletters have discussed Spay WV’s goal of establishing a database of low-cost spay/neuter services and assistance programs available in WV.
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Plan now for State Animal Conference Spring 2012! |
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Plan now to attend the FOHO WV Conference on Animals 2012!
May 4, 5, 2012 - Flatwoods Day’s Hotel & Conference Center, 2000 Sutton Lane, Sutton, WV 26601
Plan now to attend the FOHO WV 2012 Conference on Animals. There will be sessions throughout Saturday covering spay neuter initiatives, grant writing, developing a children’s summer camp focused on pet care, inside track on Greyhound racing, winning support for animal welfare from non-traditional sources, exploring your relationship and responsibility to nonhuman animals, developing a cat rescue and outreach program and our always popular WV animal law round table with an informative discussion covering new animal law, inclusive of existing animal cruelty code & other applicable animal laws. A Friday workshop is also planned centering on the topic of Animal Cruelty & Fighting Investigations. We are hoping to get a number of law enforcement and humane officers to attend this informative Friday workshop. The conference is being organized by FOHO WV (Federation of Humane Organizations of West Virginia). FOHO is an information network for animal issues within the state. Our conference is co-sponsored by ASPCA, Animal Lifeline, Help for Animals, HSUS, Petfinder, Petco, SNAP WV & of course FOHO WV.
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