p10, v7.39 — Just for Best Friends

Just for Best Friends

Mountain Views News Saturday, September 28, 2013

MVNews this week: Page 10

JUST FOR BEST FRIENDS

Mountain Views News Saturday, September 28, 2013

CALIFORNIA’S ANIMAL
LOVERS GETTING PERSONAL

WITH NEW SPAY AND NEUTER
LICENSE PLATE PROGRAM

Happy Tails

by Chris Leclerc

Nothing thrills me more than to hear good
news about people coming together to make a
difference for the better on behalf of animals,
so it is a small wonder that when I read about
California’s new Spay and Neuter License Plate
Program, I was absolutely elated!

The program was initiated by a group of dedicated
animal lovers in California including our state
governor Jerry Brown, actor Pierce Brosnan
and TV celebrity/dog behaviorist Cesar Millan.
The common concern among those involved is
shared by most sincere animal advocates as well;
that of reducing the number of animals being
euthanized in shelters across our state. Over
a half million animals are killed in California
shelters every year. The statistics are absolutely
mind-boggling and it is hard to think about the
fact that we are literally murdering that many pets
annually because we just can’t seem to get a grip
on the basic concept of spaying and neutering.

Although it is not the most popular subject to
engage in while chatting with a friend, any one
who knows me well knows I have long been
a strong advocate for not only spaying and
neutering but also for squelching the breeding
process at least to a point where the population of
death-row animals in shelters throughout the US
can be reduced to allow the human population to
“catch up” in proportionate numbers. Currently
there are so many shelter animals in need of good
homes with a budget that allows little time to
wait, that there are not enough good homes to
match them with. We are way off balance with
this regard and as members of a civilized society
in this day and age, we should be ashamed of
ourselves. The animals cannot control their own
populations, we must do it for them. Remember,
we humans consider ourselves to be the most
intelligent among the species, right? Then it’s
high time we take responsibility for the role that
comes with the title.

There are numerous rescue organizations of
dedicated people who work feverishly to save
as many shelter pets as they can, however I can’t
help thinking it is almost like putting a band aid
on a gun shot wound. The fine people involved
in fostering and placing otherwise euthanized
animals are saints in my mind, but there are
still so many falling to the fate of an untimely
death, it’s no longer enough to approach the
issue strictly from the perspective of rescuing
and placing. We have got to nip the problem in
the bud. One analogy might be, “Let’s pull the
weed out by the roots rather than pruning it and
allowing it to grow thicker.” We need to get to the
root of the problem, and let’s face it, the root in
this case is un-controlled pet proliferation and
over-population.

Just as it costs loads of cash to maintain shelter
facilities for homeless pets and to euthanize those
not fortunate enough to be adopted, it also costs
a lot of money to spay and neuter in order to
help prevent further breeding. So, the initiators
of the new Pet Lover’s License Plate Program got
together with the DMV and came up with a very
practical means of helping raise funds necessary
to carry out the task. The Pet Lover’s License
Plate was added to the DMV’s list of specialized
products just last week, offering the applicant
either a standard random alpha-numeric ID
or a personalized ID based on availability.
Personalized plates are issued on a first come first
serve basis, so if you have a particular name in
mind, you might want to place your order right
away. The plates cost $50 for standard and $98 for
personalized, with approximately $40 per plate
going to spaying and neutering shelter pets in
California.

The plate itself bears original artwork designed
and donated by Pierce Brosnan and his family,
depicting a whimsical, colorfully drawn image of
their two rescued pets, Shiloh, their dog and their
cat, Angel Baby. The Cesar Millan Foundation
backs the program to help raise awareness of the
importance of spaying and neutering pets. The
President of the fund, Judie Mancuso told the
Social Compassion Legislation Organization, a
non-profit focused on reducing pet population
through legislation, “The Pet Lovers License Plate
provides a fun and easy way to help reduce pet
over-population.” There are about 32 million
plates available to registered vehicle owners who
wish to take part in saving the lives of innocent
animals in our Golden State. To order a Pet
Lover‘s License Plate, visit your local DMV office
or log on to their website at www.DMV.CA.Gov
, and for more information and further details
about the program, visit www.PetLoversPlate.
com.

Just so you know, I plan to purchase a personalized
Pet Lovers License Plate of my own, assuming
they still have one available that will read:
TATERTOTTS. We’ll see if I succeed in obtaining
a plate that will proudly display the endearing
name of my adopted beloved bloodhound.
Meanwhile, I encourage all pet lovers out there to
get on board with helping save animal’s lives by
purchasing a Pet Lover’s License Plate to show the
rest of the state that you care enough to do your
part to make a difference for the better on behalf
of the animals. And finally, until next week my
friends, don’t forget to love and let live!

SAN MARINO STUDENTS RAISE FUNDS FOR SAN
GABRIEL VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY

The Huntington Middle School Rotary Interact Club is sponsoring the 4th All City Talent Show this
Friday, September 27 from 7 pm to 9pm in the school auditorium located at 1700 Huntington Drive,
San Marino, 91108.

The Talent Show will benefit the San Gabriel Valley Humane Society and Friends In Deed. Tickets
are $25 for adults and $10 for students.

For tickets and information, contact: denise.wadsworthSLP@gmailcom.

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