January 20, 2009
 
"Maria and Ray's Appreciation for Cats Day" ensures no-cost surgery for 50 cats at Arizona Humane Society's Sunnyslope Facility in Honor of Spay Day USA 2009

To help address pet overpopulation, a donation by two generous members of the Arizona Humane Legacy Society will enable 50 cats to be spayed or neutered at no cost on Tuesday, Feb. 24.  
    
Fifty felines (25 male and 25 female) will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis at the Marge Wright Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic at the Sunnyslope facility, 1311 W Hatcher Rd, in Phoenix. Check-in begins at 7 a.m. Early arrival is highly recommended! This type of spay/neuter day costs the AHS about $3,500 to offer and includes surgery for each cat or kitten, plus a protective "E-collar" and post-operative pain medication that is sent home with each patient. According to the ASPCA, theoretically, one cat and her offspring can produce more than 400,000 cats in just six years!
        
Devoted cat lovers Maria and Ray Sancho of Sun Lakes, Arizona have asked to have their donation used to address the pet overpopulation, and they’re sponsoring this day to offer spay/neuter surgeries at no cost to the community. "As we begin our 6th year working as volunteers in the AHS Foster Program, we continue to experience much happiness in caring for underage kittens, and find it very rewarding on many levels. Seeing firsthand so many kittens in need of good homes makes us very aware of the need for as many pet owners as possible to neuter or spay their pets. We are grateful that we are able to 'share the love' with others through this donation," says Maria.
         
The Marge Wright Low-Cost Spay and Neuter Clinic is accredited by the American Animal Hospital Association, which sets the standards for excellence for veterinary practices in the United States. For more information, call the clinic at (602) 216-6442. Anyone interested in sponsoring a "spay and neuter day" should contact the Arizona Humane Society Development Department at (602) 997-7586 and make a donation to help animals.

Keep in mind that all cats:

• Must arrive in a cat carrier; only one cat per carrier.
• Must have fasted (no food) for 12 hours prior to surgery.
• All felines must be at least two months and weigh 2.5 pounds. Cats can not be older than nine years.
• Will go home the same day as surgery; owners should be prepared to pick up pets at a designated time with a carrier for each cat.

• Cats five years and older will need blood work before performing surgery at the owner's expense.
• Female cats who are pregnant or in heat will not be accepted.