World Spay Day

World Spay Day
Event Planning Guide
Connect • Promote • Inspire

GUIDE AT A GLANCE
For newbies to long‐time alumni, this three‐part World Spay Day Event Planning Guide contains loads of
useful information for planning and promoting your World Spay Day event!
Welcome Message / World Spay Day Overview ......................................................................... 1
Part I: Plan Your Event ........................................................................................................... 2-17
World Spay Day Q & A .............................................................................................................................. 3
How Do I Begin Planning My World Spay Day Event? .............................................................................. 4
Effectively Delivering the Spay/Neuter Message ...................................................................................... 5
Spay/Neuter Event Ideas .......................................................................................................................... 6
Important Considerations ................................................................................................................ 7
Guide to Proper “Vetiquette” ................................................................................................................ 8‐9
Event Ideas for Veterinary Professionals ................................................................................................ 10
Fundraising for Fido . . . and Fluffy, Too! ................................................................................................ 12
Spay‐ghetti (and No Balls) Dinners ................................................................................................ 13
Education Creates Change ...................................................................................................................... 14
Photographing Your World Spay Day Event ............................................................................................ 15
Get Politically Active—Pass a Resolution ................................................................................................ 16
Sample World Spay Day Resolution ............................................................................................... 17
Part II: Promote Your Event ................................................................................................. 18-29
Attract Media Attention .......................................................................................................................... 19
Make It Newsworthy ............................................................................................................................... 20
Create a Press Advisory ........................................................................................................................... 21
Sample Press Advisory .................................................................................................................... 22
Write an Op‐Ed ........................................................................................................................................ 22
Write a Letter to the Editor ..................................................................................................................... 22
Sample Letter to the Editor ............................................................................................................ 23
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) .................................................................................................... 24
Write a Press Release .............................................................................................................................. 24
Sample Press Release ..................................................................................................................... 25
Promote Via Social Media .................................................................................................................. 26‐28
Be a Media Superstar! ............................................................................................................................. 29
Part III: Additional Resources ............................................................................................... 30-32
HSUS/HSI/HSVMA Contact Info .............................................................................................................. 31
Revised 5/20/15 LG

WELCOME
A Message to All World Spay Day Event Organizers
Welcome to the World Spay Day Event Planning Guide! And thank you for joining The Humane Society
of the United States (HSUS), Humane Society International (HSI), Humane Society Veterinary Medical
Association (HSVMA) and our partners and sponsors in this worldwide campaign to shine a spotlight on
spay/neuter as a proven means of saving animals’ lives.
This Event Planning Guide contains all the information you need to run an effective, exciting and
enjoyable World Spay Day event.
Since World Spay Day’s inception as Spay Day USA in 1995, the number of cats and dogs sharing U.S.
households has increased by as much as 60%, yet the number of cats and dogs put down in U.S. shelters
has dropped by as much as three‐quarters! As a movement, we have made great gains in the effort to
end the tragedy of euthanizing healthy and adoptable pets. Most people are in favor of spay/neuter
once they understand its importance to saving animals’ lives. Yet, cost and accessibility are barriers to
spay/neuter for many people. As you plan your participation in World Spay Day, we invite you to
discover where the need is greatest in your community, and do what you can to help address those
needs. For example, are there areas where affordable, accessible spay/neuter services are lacking? Are
there populations of unaltered community (feral and stray) cats? The Pets for Life
(animalsheltering.org/petsforlife) and Community Cats programs of The Humane Society of the United
States have information and resources that may help you begin to address those needs.
Your participation in World Spay Day will inspire more people to save animals’ lives by spaying or
neutering their pets and community (feral and stray) cats, and by donating to spay/neuter programs.
Together we can end the euthanasia of healthy and treatable homeless pets, community cats and street
dogs in the United States and around the world.
WORLD SPAY DAY
OVERVIEW
World Spay Day takes place each year on the last
Tuesday of February. Created as Spay Day USA by
the Doris Day Animal League (DDAL) in 1995,
World Spay Day is now a program of The Humane
Society of the United States (HSUS), Humane
Society International (HSI) and Humane Society
Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA).
World Spay Day is the first and ONLY international
day of action to promote the spaying or neutering of
The Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon helped 54 cats during
World Spay Day 2014.
pets, community cats and street dogs to save animals’ lives. On World Spay Day and throughout
February—Spay/Neuter Awareness Month—veterinary and animal welfare professionals, business
owners and concerned individuals join forces to shine a spotlight on spay/neuter as the most effective
and humane means of decreasing the euthanasia of homeless animals in shelters.
Photo credit: O. Hinton. Portland, Oregon. 2/25/2014.
1

Part I:
Plan Your Event
“Without leaps of imagination, or
dreaming, we lose the excitement of
possibilities. Dreaming, after all, is a form
of planning.”
—Gloria Steinem
Photo credit: Fernando Arroyo Avilés. Ecuador. 2/16/2014.
A woman is ready to offer comfort as soon as her dog wakes up after surgery at
TerrAnimal Ecuador's World Spay Day 2014 event.

WORLD SPAY DAY Q & A:
When is World Spay Day?
The last Tuesday of February each year is “World Spay Day.” To earn the biggest bang for your media
buck, plan to recognize World Spay Day in some way on this day. However, you may choose to extend
your awareness‐raising activities throughout February, which is Spay/Neuter Awareness Month.
How can I participate in World Spay Day?
World Spay Day is all about raising awareness of the lifesaving importance of spay/neuter, and the
particular need to reach pets in underserved communities, community cat colonies and street dogs with
affordable spay/neuter services. Anything you do to help effectively raise this awareness counts! Here
are some broad ideas:
1) ORGANIZE an event or activity. You can distribute spay/neuter brochures, host a fundraiser, lobby
your legislators to pass a World Spay Day resolution, offer discounted spay/neuter services to lowincome
pet owners . . . no event is too big or too small!
2) VOLUNTEER to help out with an event or activity organized by someone else in your community.
Search “World Spay Day” on the Internet, or contact your local animal shelter or veterinary clinic to find
out if someone is organizing an event near you.
3) DONATE to help pay for the spay or neuter of an animal in need! Did you know that nearly 90% of
pets in underserved communities are unsterilized * ? Consider Sponsoring a Spay (or neuter) for pet in an
underserved community in the U.S. by visiting humanesociety.org/sponsoraspay.
What qualifies as a World Spay Day “event”? Any organized activity you perform on the last
Tuesday of February (World Spay Day)—or any time during February, Spay/Neuter Awareness Month—
to promote spay/neuter as an effective and humane means of saving animals’ lives qualifies as a World
Spay Day event. Consider focusing your efforts on the populations of pets most in need –those living in
underserved communities, community cats and street dogs.
Am I required to provide discounted or free spays and/or neuters? Cost is a major barrier to
many owners of unsterilized pets, so the majority of event organizers do offer special discounted or free
spay/neuters to targeted populations. However, there are many ways to participate in World Spay Day,
limited only by your imagination and resources! Do what you can with what you’ve got to raise
awareness of the lifesaving importance of spay/neuter.
Is World Spay Day for cats and dogs only? World Spay Day enhances local efforts aimed at
reducing the number of animals put down in shelters. We encourage the spaying or neutering of any
animals on whom such surgery can be performed. (See p. 31 for special resources.)
Does World Spay Day take place outside of the United States as well? Yes! World Spay Day
events have been held in at least 46 countries (including the U.S.).
*
See The Data Behind Pets for Life at http://www.animalsheltering.org/how‐we‐help/work‐for‐change/pets‐for‐life/pets‐for‐life‐data.html
3

HOW DO I BEGIN PLANNING MY WORLD
SPAY DAY EVENT?
Successful events start with clear, achievable goals, a hardy dose of effort, and a bucketful of optimism!
First, create specific goals. For example, instead of “provide low‐cost spay/neuters” or “raise money,”
aim to “neuter 50 community cats at a charge of just 5 cents each” or “raise $5,000 to spay or neuter
pets in underserved communities.” Once you’ve identified your goals, build a timeline. To produce an
accurate timeline, list each goal, and then determine the steps needed to achieve each goal and
approximately how much time each step will take.
Identify the needs in your community.
Contact animal care and control, shelters, rescue groups, veterinarians and local government. Find out:
Is there a substantial population of low‐income families with pets and, if so, what resources are
available to them? Only about 13% of pets in underserved communities have been spayed or
neutered (see p. 13 of the Pets for Life data report), so this is a great area to focus your efforts!
Which zip codes or neighborhoods are responsible for a disproportionate amount of animal
intake to shelters and rescues?
Which species is responsible for the bulk of intake?
For dogs, which breeds account for disproportionate rates of intake or enter the system
unaltered?
Is there a high population of community (stray and feral) cats?
Is there a neighborhood where foreclosure rates are high and families need extra help caring for
pets?
Once you know your community’s priority needs, match this with your event planning.
Identify available resources, such as key players, potential sponsors and event location.
Match locations with areas of high need based on your community assessment.
Cater your efforts to the needs of species and breeds identified in your community assessment.
Advertise the location of the event several weeks in advance through radio, newspapers and by
hanging banners.
Use creative marketing to reach your target audience: touch pet‐owners where they live, work
and shop. Pet supply stores, large retail megastores, food stores and other high traffic areas
should be priorities for leafleting. Use your most people‐friendly volunteers to engage one‐onone
with pet owners about the event. All people, pet owners included, want to be treated with
respect. Use The HSUS’s Pets for Life Community Outreach Toolkit to train your team for
maximum effectiveness! Available at humanesociety.org/petsforlifetoolkit.
General questions to ponder: How much time do I have to devote to planning my event? How
many people do I need to bring on board? Can I round up family and friends to help? Where else can I
locate volunteers?
Contact local humane organizations and rescues to find out if an event is already taking place near you.
If there is, don’t duplicate efforts! Share resources, join forces and/or have your event fulfill a different
community need.
4

DELIVERING THE SPAY/NEUTER MESSAGE
EFFECTIVELY
By far, the most popular way to participate in World Spay Day is to organize some sort of special,
beyond‐your‐everyday‐normal outreach event to motivate pet owners to make that spay/neuter
appointment NOW! Here are some important things to think about before you run out the door with
your megaphone:
The Humane Society of the United States conducted groundbreaking, in‐depth research with owners of
unaltered pets to gain a better understanding of what barriers get in the way of spaying or neutering,
and what the most effective messages are to help pet owners overcome these barriers and make the
decision to spay or neuter. The eye‐opening findings from this research are summarized in a report,
which we strongly encourage anyone involved in spay/neuter advocacy to download: Messaging
Spay/Neuter: Lessons from the Gulf Coast Spay/Neuter Campaign. This PDF download is available for
free at animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign.
A few examples to challenge your assumptions (we’ve questioned ours!):
Most owners of unaltered pets are NOT ideologically opposed to spaying and neutering. When
informed about the consequences of accidental litters in a respectful manner and provided
access to low‐cost services, the majority of pet owners will have their pets spayed or neutered.
Most people truly love their pets and are offended by implications that they do not, or that they
are irresponsible if they have not yet spayed or neutered their companions. We need to set
aside the assumption that the general public shares our understanding of pet overpopulation.
Who is the most credible spokesperson for your cause? It’s NOT a celebrity! Find out who the
best messengers are, and learn more about how to deliver the message with more impact, at
animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign.
The HSUS is pleased to offer you free, downloadable, customizable materials developed by our researchdriven
marketing campaign.
World Spay Day‐specific customizable
fliers are available from December
through February at worldspayday.org.
Materials for year‐round use are available at
animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign:
5

SPAY/NEUTER EVENT IDEAS
Here are just a few ideas that have worked well for other World Spay Day event organizers. Feel free to
brainstorm new ones!
Humane Organizations
If your organization has its own spay/neuter clinic, you might wish to:
Invite local veterinarians to volunteer for a shift on World Spay Day to increase the numbers of
animals you are able to spay or neuter. Host a special spay/neuter clinic, after hours.
Bring animals from underserved communities to be spayed or neutered at your clinic.
Invite local veterinarians to view/participate in a special seminar involving:
o Pediatric age spay/neuter
o High‐volume spay/neuter
Coordinate a “Zeuterathon” (utilizing the non‐surgical sterilant Zeuterin) for 50 or more dogs.
Mini‐grants available through Ark Charities. Email abolzoni@arkcharities.org for information.
If your organization isn’t currently spaying or neutering each adopted animal before releasing them
to their new family, make a commitment to start doing so on World Spay Day.
If your organization does not have its own clinic or veterinarian on staff, consider teaming up with a
local clinic or clinics to provide them with needed services while they concentrate on performing
spay/neuter surgeries. You may consider providing:
Advertising
Distribution of spay/neuter vouchers
Screening of clients for eligibility for low cost spay/neuter
Monitoring animals recovering from surgery
Food. Surgery is hard work, veterinary staff need sustenance!
Shoulder rubs! Follow Bellingham, Washington’s lead and recruit a local massage therapist to rub
down tired shoulders and backs during surgery breaks.
Individuals
Many of these event ideas may also apply to motivated individuals wishing to organize a World Spay Day
event. As an individual, you can serve as a liaison between veterinarians and humane organizations, and
volunteer for both in numerous ways. Contact organizations in your area to find out what events are
being planned for World Spay Day and learn how you can get involved.
Other things you can do to help:
Lobby your legislator(s) to issue a World Spay Day Resolution (pps. 16‐17).
Write a letter to the editor of your local newspaper (pps. 22‐23).
Download, customize and print World Spay Day fliers at worldspayday.org (available December
through February) and distribute or post them.
Encourage family, friends, and neighbors to spay or neuter their pets!
Promote World Spay Day on the last Tuesday of February via social media (pps. 26‐28).
6

IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPAY/NEUTER EVENTS
Prior to your spay/neuter event, there are several areas that need to be considered by you and your
veterinarian(s). They include the following:
Pregnant animals
• Prior to World Spay Day, develop options for handling pregnant animals. To avoid
handling these potentially more difficult surgeries in a high‐volume setting or
potentially having a litter born before World Spay Day, consider asking the veterinary
clinic to spay these animals as soon as possible prior to the World Spay Day event.
• If the veterinary clinic agrees to spay pregnant animals on World Spay Day, consider
asking pet owners to sign an authorization form allowing the pet to be spayed if she
is found to be pregnant. If the owner refuses, reschedule the surgery for a time after
the litter is weaned.
Sick animals
• Do a complete, pre‐anesthetic physical examination of the animal.
• Assess the body systems that are most likely to affect how the animal does under
anesthesia and in surgery. Your veterinarian may decide:
▪ If mild signs of disease are present, inform the owners of the higher risk
during the procedure and provide medication, if indicated (e.g., antibiotics
and dewormer).
▪ If serious signs of disease are present, recommend that the pet be treated
for illness and returned at a later date for sterilization.
Laboratory tests
• Are you going to require any? If so, what specific tests and what is the additional
cost?
Microchipping
• Is this going to be mandatory?
Handling of “crash” situations
• Have emergency drugs and supplies available at all times during the event with
written drug dosages/protocols that are easily accessible (e.g., written on a poster
placed on the wall).
Post‐surgical care
• Be certain to clarify post World Spay Day surgical care/emergency needs to avoid
problems and misunderstandings with both veterinarians and clients.
▪
▪
Some clinics may want to handle follow‐up care, others may not.
If the clinics do not wish to provide follow‐up care, where do clients go if
they have problems both during and after regular business hours? Who
pays? You need a clear protocol.
▪ Stress to clients the importance of aftercare to prevent complications.
▪ Verbally review discharge instructions with each pet owner.
“Emergency fund”
• Consider establishing an “emergency fund” for World Spay Day animals. This might
come in handy if there are serious aftercare needs and a needy client is unable to
pay.
7

GUIDE TO PROPER “VETIQUETTE”
Veterinary professionals are vital to the success of World Spay Day—after all, only veterinarians can
perform spays and neuters! Follow these tips to build great working relationships with your
community’s vets—it will pay off many times over for the animals.
Before World Spay Day
Be polite! When asking veterinary professionals to participate in your World Spay Day event,
be respectful and courteous of their time. Ask when they might be available to talk or meet
with you. And remember, a veterinarian or veterinary technician has to balance your
request with other requests being made.
Send them a friendly letter explaining what you have planned for World Spay Day and how
you would like them to participate. Then follow up with a telephone call. Ask for their
feedback, and be open to alternative ideas your veterinarians may suggest. (Consider faxing
your letter as well. Veterinary offices use their fax machine frequently, so your letter will
have a greater chance of being seen.)
As a follow up to the letter, consider offering to bring breakfast or lunch to your veterinarian
at her or his practice, to further discuss your World Spay Day plans.
Invite them for a tour of your facility! This “visual connection” may encourage local
veterinarians to become more vested in your efforts.
Have a single “point person” for communication. Have too many people involved can cause
confusion and miscommunication.
When you approach your veterinarians for help, offer to do something for them, too. Ask
how you might be of service to them. For example, inform them of any services that may be
of benefit to their practice, like behavior classes and grief counseling.
Highlight the benefits of participation in the World Spay Day event. For example, community
goodwill (the “feel good factor”), donated supplies, food, T‐shirts, etc.
Do you have any other veterinarians already onboard? Let them know (in a nice way)! They
probably won’t want to be the only clinic in town not participating in this event.
Have volunteers ask their own veterinarians to participate.
Approach veterinarians and veterinary technicians who work with rescue groups and
shelters to participate.
Let the clinic pick the number and species of animals they are willing to sterilize and the
schedule.
If you ask your veterinarian to offer reduced cost or no‐charge spays and neuters, keep in
mind that this request is expensive for them, as the costs must come out of their operating
budgets. Suggest targeting community cat colonies or your area’s most under‐served animal
guardians, and consider holding a fundraiser to help subsidize the cost of the donated
services.
If there is no objection, offer to publicize the names of all the veterinarians who assist with
your World Spay Day event. Include their names in all of your organization’s World Spay Day
press releases and advertisements, and on posters, flyers, t‐shirts and other materials.
If a veterinarian chooses not to participate this year, thank her or him for their time and
consideration. Circumstances change, and perhaps this veterinarian may be in a better
position to collaborate with you next year.
Work with local and/or state veterinary medical associations (VMAs) and consider
developing a partnership. These organizations may be a source of potential veterinary
volunteers. For contact information on state VMAs visit avma.org/statevma.
8

Ask a veterinary professional whom you know to recruit peers. They may know of
individuals who would have an interest in helping out.
Learn veterinary lingo. For example, use their professional titles and understand some of the
medical terminology.
During World Spay Day
Assign a World Spay Day liaison. This person is at the event to handle any potential problems.
Ask participating veterinarians if it would be helpful if you provided yourself, your staff or
volunteers to assist during the event. Offer to clean cages, screen participants, do paperwork, run
errands or fetch lunch. (Ask a local restaurant or caterer to donate the food.)
If your veterinarians don’t object, distribute their contact information to everyone who attends
your event—and who adopts an animal from your shelter or rescue organization (if applicable)—
and recommend your veterinarians for their future pet healthcare needs.
Follow through on commitments. For example, if you committed to bring food, make sure you
have enough for all participants and that it arrives on time. World Spay Day volunteers get hungry!
Manage clinic expectations and provide training for the volunteers.
After World Spay Day
If your organization is subsidizing the cost of spays/neuters performed by your veterinarian(s)
during World Spay Day, be sure to reimburse them promptly!
Thank all the veterinary professionals who worked with you. A personal thank‐you note is always
appreciated!
Offer the participating veterinary professionals a one‐year membership to the HSVMA for their
efforts. Email info@hsvma.org for availability and details.
Be creative! Host a reception, send a gift basket, etc.
With their permission, thank your veterinarians publicly in your newsletter, in a letter to the editor
of the local newspaper and/or by referring new clients their way.
Photo credit: Brian Sugerman. Oakland Park, Florida. 2/28/2014.
Animal Aid clinic staff spayed or neutered 85 cats and dogs in honor of World Spay Day 2014!
9

EVENT IDEAS FOR VETERINARY
PROFESSIONALS
Veterinary professionals are vital to the success of World Spay Day. Your clients look to you as the
experts in animal health and welfare and without your involvement, no spays or neuters would be
performed! Following are just a few suggested ways you can participate in World Spay Day.
Get the Word Out!
Encourage your state and local veterinary medical association to promote World Spay Day and
seek out opportunities to support local events.
Submit a press release or letter to the editor to your local newspaper explaining the importance of
spay/neuter and highlighting any upcoming local World Spay Day events.
Educate Clients —“Sell” pet owners on the benefits of spay/neuter. HSVMA has public service
announcements to help educate clients about the importance of spay and neuter.
Put a donation jar out in your clinic lobby and donate all proceeds during the month of February
to fund low‐cost or free spay and neuter for pets of low‐income families.
Spread the Word—download, customize and display World Spay Day fliers, available from
worldspayday.org (December through February).
Pediatric Spay/Neuter—review, promote and distribute to colleagues scientific findings on
spay/neuter. Visit the Humane Alliance’s website (whentospay.org) for helpful resources.
Have you been trained to administer Zeuterin, the non‐surgical sterilant for male dogs? Host an
event to showcase this new tool in the sterilization toolbox. Not yet trained? Ark Sciences
charges nonprofits $250 to train each veterinarian; however, the maximum fee for multiple vets at
a single training session is $1,000. Assemble five or more vets for a training to maximize cost
effectiveness. Contact Don Cowan, dcowan@arksciences.com or 619‐246‐7510, to learn more.
Script World Spay Day PSAs and promote World Spay Day on local radio and TV stations (p. 24).
Provide an Incentive . . .
Offer your existing clients—or new clients only—a special discount on all spay/neuter surgeries
performed during the month of February (Spay/Neuter Awareness Month), the last week of
February, or just on the last Tuesday of February (World Spay Day).
Provide special, discounted spay/neuters to low‐income households. Partner with social service
agencies or local animal rescue groups to identify qualifying households. Search online “social
service agency” and the name of your county or state to find such agencies near you.
Provide special, discounted spay/neuters to caretakers of community cat colonies.
BOGO (Buy One Get One)—for every animal someone brings in for sterilization, alter a shelter
animal or community cat or at no charge or a discount. Check with your tax advisor to see if your
donated services are deductible.
Buddy Program—for every animal someone brings in for sterilization, alter their friend’s pet at a
discount.
Dental Duo—for every client who schedules a teeth cleaning in honor of National Pet Dental
Health Month (also during February), provide a discount voucher for a spay or neuter. Alternately,
provide free preventive dental care training and samples for owners who have their pets
spayed/neutered during Spay/Neuter Awareness Month (February) in honor of World Spay Day.
Bundle Services—offer low‐cost sterilization with vaccinations and pet identification.
Take it after‐hours! Schedule special discounted spay/neuter surgeries when your clinic is
normally closed.
Free Gift—give a gift to every client who has a pet spayed or neutered for World Spay Day. Ask
local businesses to donate the gifts. Some examples include pet toys, educational materials, food
samples, gift cards, or similar items.
Spay Taxi—recruit local humane society volunteers to provide a special pick up/drop off service
for housebound pet owners (liability issues may apply).
10

Lend a Hand . . .
Contact your local animal shelter and volunteer to spay or neuter a certain number of adoptable
animals at no charge. Ask the shelter to provide the animals’ adopters with your business card for
follow‐up health care visits.
If your community has a mobile spay/neuter unit, volunteer for a shift.
Form or join a coalition of local veterinarians and hold a city, county or even statewide
World Spay Day event!
Tip: Remove all barriers to spay/neuter! Once a client signs their pet up for a spay/neuter appointment, it
pays “in spayeds” for the service provider to follow up and help ensure that the appointment is kept. This
may involve numerous reminders, quick turn‐around appointments (for example, no longer than two
weeks in advance), adjusted check‐in and check‐out times, transportation assistance, patiently and
thoroughly answering concerns, etc. Make it easy and be understanding that “life happens.” The rewards
of this extra effort include strengthened bonds with the community, appreciation, gratitude and,
ultimately, fewer animals put down in shelters.
“As a veterinarian, I am privileged to be a trusted source of
information for people with pets, and I am proud and honored
to be able to lend a helping hand in my community.”
— Dr. Susan Krebsbach, Humane Society
Veterinary Medical Association
Photo credit: Susan Salyards. Aliquippa, Pennsylvania. 2/25/14.
Veterinary staff dressed up during an open house in 2014 to promote Beaver County Humane Society’s new TNR program.
Pictured here (from left to right) are: Erin Welch, vet tech; Debra Moon, DVM, veterinarian; and Brittney Hose, vet tech.
11

FUNDRAISING FOR FIDO . . . AND FLUFFY, TOO!
Raising money to help subsidize the cost of spay/neuter surgeries is a valuable and greatly appreciated
activity that will allow more animals to be altered. The money you raise can be applied toward the cost
of surgeries performed during your World Spay Day spay/neuter event, or donated to a local humane
organization or spay/neuter clinic to provide spay/neuter surgeries after World Spay Day has passed. Set
a fundraising goal and plan a strategy for success!
Oodles of Ideas!
Corporate Sponsorship—many local businesses welcome the opportunity to raise their “good
citizen” profile. Ask them to sponsor all or part of your event costs, or for a donation in kind—
meeting space, volunteer labor, equipment, consulting and/or food.
Shelter Open House—set up information tables, and sell/raffle off goodies donated by sponsors.
Craft or Bake Sale, or both! Get out the glitter or chocolate chips and enlist the help of family
and friends!
Walk‐a‐thon—invite people to bring their dogs!
Haircut‐a‐thon—ask salons and groomers to participate!
Contest or Raffle—ask businesses, shops and restaurants to donate prizes.
Auction—get local celebrities to donate items, as well as artists and retail stores alike. Or,
auction off a date with a local celebrity.
Donate‐a‐Portion—ask restaurants, stores, movie theaters, etc. to donate a portion of their
profits on World Spay Day to a local spay/neuter program.
Benefit Concert—get local bands/musicians involved.
Pet Portraits—ask photographers to take pictures of people and their pets. Sell copies of photos
and extras like frames, albums, etc.
Garage or Yard Sale—ask the public to donate gently used or new items for resale.
Organize a Competition—local schools compete to raise the most money.
Capitalize on Valentine’s Day—Sell heart‐shaped dog and/or cat treats.
Spay‐ghetti (and No Balls) Dinner—Throw one! See right.
House Party: invite a representative from your local shelter to speak.
PUBLICIZE ‐ Whatever you decide to do, don’t forget to publicize your event to ensure a large turnout. It
would be a sincere shame to do all this planning and not have anyone know about it! See pp. 18‐29.
“There are two ‘i’s’ in Fundraising – they should stand for
inspiration and innovation . . . ”
—Ken Burnett
12

SPAY-GHETTI (AND NO BALLS) DINNERS
Everyone enjoys going out for a good meal. Why not take that idea and turn it into a fundraising (and
awareness) event? Many World Spay Day event organizers have done just that, by hosting Spay‐ghetti
(and No Balls) Dinners, during which patrons are treated to a delicious Italian meal with a punchy prosterilization
undertone. Read on to learn from experienced dinner planners.
Plan ahead! Take prepaid reservations, offering different prices for adults, children and seniors. This
will help with food quantity estimates and help provide a base audience that your event can use to
flourish and thrive. Walk‐ins on the day of the event are certainly welcome but the fee should be higher.
Plan to sell a limited number of tickets as a crowd control method if you suspect your event could be
wildly popular (and why wouldn’t it be?).
Who are you again? This kind of an event can help elevate your visibility within your community and
create awareness among a demographic that may otherwise not be familiar with your organization.
Make sure that you have informational literature available, and especially spay/neuter information.
Also, make sure that your diners know what specific goal or project their support that evening is going
toward.
Bring an empty stomach and a full wallet! Sure, hosting a dinner fundraiser is great, but why stop
there? Add a bake sale or silent auction to the event’s menu as well! You will already have the venue
and the audience, so the extra money that you can raise will come with minimal effort compared to
having another event separately.
The date on
Brother Wolf
Animal Rescue’s
poster at left has
been edited from
its original date of
May 3 to serve as
an example of an
event you might
host for World
Spay Day.
Special thanks to Elaine DeClue of Community Animal Rescue Effort (C.A.R.E.) in Columbus, Indiana; Sharon Shailer of A.R.F. of
Jackson County in Balsam, North Carolina; Eileen Price of Wally's Friends Spay Neuter Clinic in Chattanooga, Tennessee; and
Brother Wolf Animal Rescue of Asheville, North Carolina for sharing their Spay‐ghetti Dinner ideas with us!
13

EDUCATION CREATES CHANGE
Sharing information with people about spay/neuter—what it is, why it’s important, and where to get it
done—in a friendly, non‐judgmental way can inspire them to take action. World Spay Day educational
activities can be performed alone or in conjunction with a spay/neuter event, and/or a fundraising
event.
Reaching Young Audiences
Young people are an important target audience. Most kids love animals and are very open to messages
about their well‐being. By instilling in children good attitudes about spaying or neutering their pets, you
are helping to ensure a better future for animals.
Arrange to give a presentation at a local school or youth club. Do it yourself, or enlist a humane
educator from your local humane society, or your veterinarian.
Hold an essay, poster or coloring contest. Ask businesses to donate prizes, and print the winning
entries in the newspaper or display them in a public place such as a library.
o Download a World Spay Day coloring/essay sheet and other kids’ activity pages from
worldspayday.org
o
Purchase spay/neuter coloring books from The HSUS Marketplace at
animalsheltering.org/marketplace
Distribute buttons, stickers and other kid‐friendly items with positive spay/neuter messages.
Reaching the Public at Large
It is important for people to understand that animals are euthanized every day due to insufficient
resources and that the offspring of their unaltered animals could be put down in a shelter.
Research has shown that 60% of owners with unaltered pets purchase their pet supplies
at Wal‐Mart. Read the full report, Messaging Spay/Neuter: Lessons from the Gulf
Coast Spay/Neuter Campaign, at animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign
Download, customize and distribute or post World Spay Day fliers, available December through
February at worldspayday.org.
o Ask businesses to display posters, your supermarket to insert flyers into shopping bags,
or set up a table at a local event.
o Organize a rabies vaccination clinic.
o Set up a tent and table at your local pet supply store.
Lobby your local legislators to issue a resolution declaring the last Tuesday in February “World
Spay Day” (pp. 16‐17).
Organize free seminars at community colleges, churches, etc.
Invite a vet, animal care and control officer, shelter staffer or another expert to speak.
Reserve your public library’s display case for the month of February and install a World Spay Day
exhibit.
Place World Spay Day ads in community theater, school and sports programs.
14

PHOTOGRAPHING YOUR WORLD SPAY DAY
EVENT
Photographs of your World Spay Day event can inspire other organizations and individuals to spay or
neuter their pets and advocate for spay/neuter for shelter animals and community (feral and stray) cats!
Share your photos on social media and/or provide them to news outlets.
Here are a few tips for taking good photographs:
1) Show your team in action – speaking to the media, sharing information with the public,
transporting animals, caring for animals and
handing out fliers.
2) To encourage people to spay or neuter their
beloved pets, avoid showing incisions, blood and
restrained animals. Take surgery photos from
behind the veterinarian or at an angle that puts
the focus on the surgical team and not the
animal.
3) Keep the subject matter simple, without
background distractions. A close‐up shot of a
family or one person with their pet is better than
showing a waiting room or line with many people
and many pets.
4) Show people caring for animals – holding or
petting them, or tending to them in post‐surgery
recovery.
One of the five winners of a free spay/neuter
surgery on Spay Day!
Photo credit: Ashlee Yepez. Watauga County, North Carolina. 2/25/2014.
5) Show images that give a sense of the community in which you work.
6) If possible, take photos in natural light. Avoid flash which can cause ‘glowing eyes’ in people and
animals.
7) Show what makes your event special!
8) Use photos that are crisp and clear—not blurry.
9) Don’t share every photo you take. Be choosy! Select the best photos, those that are clear,
attractive and tell a story.
10) Caption your photo well. Include specific information.
11) Be sure to include all pertinent information with each of your photos: photographer’s name,
date the photo was taken, place where the photo was taken, and the names of all people and
animals in the photo.
15

GET POLITICALLY ACTIVE
Adopt a Resolution. As a voter, you have a lot of power! Introducing a resolution is a great way for
your legislator to connect with animal‐friendly voters in her or his district.
Resolutions (also called “proclamations” or “commendations”) are a great way to educate legislators
and bring credibility and visibility to an important issue in your community or state. A resolution is a
formal statement adopted by the state legislature or city or county council recognizing a particular issue
and a method of addressing it. A World Spay Day resolution formally recognizes the tragedy of healthy,
adoptable pets being put down in shelters and endorses spay/neuter as an effective means of saving
pets’ lives. It is generally non‐controversial.
Resolutions can also be used to designate a particular time period in honor of a cause. For example, the
last Tuesday in February officially becomes “World Spay Day.” The concept is simple, yet goes a long
way to putting an issue on the political radar screen. Adopting a World Spay Day (or Spay/Neuter
Awareness Month) resolution gives legislators an opportunity to take a humane position with very little
risk. World Spay Day resolutions put the tragedy of pet homelessness on the legislative agenda and can
pave the way for more substantive legislation in the future.
How to Get a Resolution Passed
First, locate your HSUS state director at humanesociety.org/statedirectors and check with her or him to
see if plans to pass a resolution in your state, county or parish, or community are already underway. If
so, perhaps you can collaborate! Otherwise, face‐to‐face meetings are the most effective way to ask
your legislators to introduce a resolution. Set up a meeting with the state or local legislators who
represent you and ask them to introduce a resolution to declare the last Tuesday in February “World
Spay Day.” (You are welcome to customize the sample resolution at right.) Most legislators will at least
consider this request, but if not, the next step would be to have friends and family in different districts,
meet with their legislators and make the request. Review our tips and resources to become a better
grassroots advocate to help make your meeting as successful as possible.
Once Your Resolution Is Adopted
Hold a Press Event—Invite officials to sign the resolution at a public ceremony at city hall, the
county office building or on the steps of the capitol. Coordinate with your official's press office to
maximize potential press interest in your event. And inform your HSUS state director!
Show Appreciation—Be sure to thank your legislator and forward a summary of press attention to
his or her office. Build on your new relationships with your local legislators to encourage them to do
more for animals.
Celebrate—After the resolution is signed, congratulate yourself for making a big difference for
animals!
FIND YOUR LEGISLATORS
Visit hslf.org and click on "Find My
Legislators" button.
FIND YOUR HSUS STATE DIRECTOR
Visit humanesociety.org/statedirectors
and click on your state!
Photo credit: Jeff Geissler. Pittsburgh,
Pennsylvania. 2/25/2014.
16
On World Spay Day 2014, Pittsburgh City Council president Bruce Kraus
looks on as Kaley Kaczynksi, Animal Friends' Low Cost Spay and Neuter
Program Assistant, addresses the council.

SAMPLE WORLD SPAY DAY RESOLUTION
Office of the [Mayor, County/Parish Council or Governor]
Resolution
Designating Tuesday, February 23, 2016, as “World Spay Day”
For maximum effectiveness,
customize this resolution by
providing local statistics.
WHEREAS, pets provide companionship to 68% of U.S. households 1 ; and
WHEREAS, nearly 3 million 2 healthy and adoptable cats and dogs are put down in animal shelters
each year due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness; and
WHEREAS, nearly 90% of pets living in poverty 3 , and 98% of community (feral and stray) cats are
unaltered 4 ; and
WHEREAS, spaying and neutering has been shown to dramatically reduce the number of animals
who are put down in animals shelters; and
WHEREAS, programs exist to assist with the cost of spaying or neutering pets living in poverty
and community cats; and
WHEREAS, veterinarians, national and local animal protection organizations, and private citizens
worked together to advocate the spaying and neutering of pets and community cats through “World
Spay Day” in the United States and throughout the world in 2015; and
WHEREAS, veterinarians, national and local animal protection organizations, and private citizens
have joined together again to advocate the spaying or neutering of pets and community cats on
“World Spay Day 2016”:
Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED by the [local or state government body], that February 23, 2016,
is designated “World Spay Day.” The [mayor, county/parish council or governor] is authorized and
requested to issue a proclamation calling upon the people of [city, county/parish or state] to observe
the day by having their own pets spayed or neutered or by sponsoring the spaying or neutering of a
pet in need.
Signature_______________________________ Date______________
1
”Pet Industry Market Size & Ownership Statistics: 2013‐2014 APPA National Pet Owners Survey Statistics: Pet Ownership & Annual Expenses,”
americanpetproducts.org.
2
“Pets by the Numbers: Pet ownership survey data and The HSUS's estimates on pets adopted from or euthanized in U.S. shelters in 2012 and
2013,” humanesociety.org. Last modified January 30, 2014.
3
The Humane Society of the United States. Pets for Life: An In‐Depth Community Understanding. 2014. PDF e‐book.
4
Levy, J. K., & Crawford, C. (2004). Humane strategies for controlling feral cat populations. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical
Association, 225(9). Retrieved from https://www.avma.org/News/Journals/Collections/Documents/javma_225_9_1354.pdf
17

Part II: Promote Your Event
“Promotion is one of the most important
elements to a successful event of any kind,
whether professional or personal. Failing to
spread awareness will lead to a flop, as no one
who might have been interested will even
know about it to show up.
—Ann Smarty, How to Promote Your Event
Photo credit: Basharat Ali Khan. Pakistan. 2/25/2014.
Vets Care Organization Pakistan brought together administrators, instructors and students at
the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore for an awareness walk, seminar,
sterilization clinic and pledge signing to encourage spaying and neutering and end the killing of
street dogs.

ATTRACT MEDIA ATTENTION
Getting media coverage of your event is crucial to ensuring as many people as possible hear the
important, lifesaving spay/neuter message.
While The HSUS promotes World Spay Day nationally, it’s up to you to get the word out about your
event locally. Here’s how:
Create a Media List—compile a thorough and well‐targeted list. Every news outlet has a “Contact
Us” tab on their website and many broadcast outlets have a “Meet the Team” tab. These are the
best places to get the most accurate and up‐to‐date contact information.
Organize your list into the following categories:
o
o
o
Print Media: Daily newspapers, weekly newspapers, local magazines, local newsletters
and specialty publications (non‐profit organizations, community clubs or groups). For
each entry, list all pertinent contact information including the names of the news, city or
assignment editor; the features editor; the editorial page editor; and the person
responsible for the community calendar or bulletin board.
Electronic Media: Local television and cable stations, local radio stations, local
websites (pet‐related and community calendars). For each entry, list all pertinent
contact information including the names of the assignment editor (for TV stations),
news director (for radio stations), public service director and the people responsible for
booking talk show guests.
Social Media: If your organization doesn’t already have a Facebook or Twitter account
– create one! You can create an event on Facebook and have your fans RSVP and share
with their friends. On Twitter, you can get #spayday trending while promoting your
organization’s World Spay Day event (see pp. 26‐28 for more information).
Write a Media Advisory (p. 21)—and submit it to each contact person on your media list.
Write a Press Release (pps. 24‐25)—and submit to each contact person on your media list.
Write a Letter to the Editor (pps. 22‐23).
Write an Op‐Ed (p. 22).
Submit your own PSA (p. 24). Provide TV and radio Public Service Announcements to identified
stations on your electronic media list.
Follow‐up—it is important to follow‐up with the media you contacted to make sure they received
your information. A media advisory should be sent several days in advance of the event. Follow up
by phone the day before the event and contact them again the morning of your event (early), as
well, reminding them of the exciting details!
Follow‐up AGAIN!—contact the media who were not able to attend but may be interested in
running your story after the fact. This time, offer to send photos or video you have from the event.
Be your own journalist! Find a hook, tell a good story and take great photos. Then write an article,
op‐ed piece or letter to the editor.
Use Your Connections!—contact everyone who can spread the word fast and far, at rabies
vaccination clinics, Wal‐Mart parking lots, churches, festivals, parades, etc.
Piggy‐Back—promote your upcoming event at an existing event or well‐trafficked public space. For
example, pass out info to a line of movie‐goers, people exiting a sports arena, etc.
DO NOT MISS DEADLINES! Organize your media contacts into daily, weekly or monthly categories
listing deadlines for each. Daily newspapers/TV and radio stations have short deadlines, so be sure
to contact them NO LATER THAN the third week of January. For magazines, you may need to send
your information as much as two or three months in advance!
19

MAKE IT NEWSWORTHY
Why “World Spay Day” when, for so many organizations, rescues and clinics, “Spay Day is every day”?
Because, when you do something every day, it’s not “news.” By joining like‐minded (and like‐hearted)
people worldwide to focus extra attention on spay/neuter during World Spay Day each year, you are
helping to create a newsworthy event!
Reporters cover interesting stories because interesting stories sell papers. Sell them your story and
you’ll gain a lot of exposure. Here’s how to make your event irresistible:
Prepare—Have your thoughts and materials prepared ahead of time. Create sound bites (short,
catchy phrases) for interviews and articles.
Important Points—Organize and state them clearly and briefly. A sound bite shouldn’t be more than
two sentences. Keep it brief.
Local Angle—Focus on what people in your community are doing to promote World Spay Day and
how it helps animals in your community. Having local facts and figures on hand is always helpful.
Milestones—Create a strong headline for the media. If your event is saving 1,000 lives or reaching its
500th (or even 50th) spay/neuter, it will have a better chance of being covered.
Mayor/Governor Seal of Approval—Ask your legislator to issue a World Spay Day Resolution
(pps. 16‐17). Getting local TV coverage of the signing is a great way to launch your campaign.
Promote—Place signs/banners so that the words “World Spay Day” and contact info are visible for
the cameras. Ensure logos, banners, t‐shirts and other visual identification are prominent when the
media is around.
Join the Gang—The media can do a feature story on local experts, such as a veterinarian, in
conjunction with their participation with World Spay Day.
Money Talks—Crunch numbers and show how many tax dollars you are saving the community with
your efforts. Emphasize and promote this.
Impact—The more people and animals affected by your event, the more newsworthy it is. Not only
are tax dollars saved, but many animals’ lives are improved. When a community takes care of its
problems, everyone benefits.
Originality—Something new and fresh like your event could be just the story the media is looking
for. So make it fresh every year!
Proximity—The closer the event is to the media source, the more likely the media will consider it
news.
Star Power–Celebrities aren’t the way to go for delivering the spay/neuter message (read the report,
Messaging Spay/Neuter: Lessons from the Gulf Coast Spay/Neuter Campaign at
animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign), but they sure do attract supporters to your fundraising
event!
Props will get you noticed. Construct an oversized check to show how many tax dollars your event
saves the community. Get artistic! Create posters and other visual promotion for your event. Have a
teacher help organize a contest for the winning poster.
20

CREATE AN ADVISORY – SAMPLE ADVISORY
If you have time and resources for only one media activity, this is it! Send this advisory to all your local
media outlets. Such information is often posted in "Community Calendar" sections of local publications.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: [insert Month, Date, Year]
[NAME OF ORGANIZATION] IN [CITY] TEAMS UP WITH
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES TO PROMOTE WORLD SPAY DAY
Local Citizens Urged to Spay or Neuter Their Pets
WHAT:
In honor of World Spay Day, an international campaign of The Humane Society of
the United States Humane Society International, and Humane Society Veterinary
Medical Association, [insert Organization name] will host the [insert Event Name]
to promote spay/neuter as a humane and effective means of reducing the
number of animals who are put down in shelters each year.
WHO:
[Insert Organization’s Name and/or Participants’ Background Information]
WHEN:
[insert Day of Week], [insert Date], at [insert Time] OR from [insert Beginning
Time] to [insert Ending Time]
WHERE:
[insert Location]
[insert Street Address], [insert City]
[insert Parking Information, Directions (if applicable)]
WHY:
Between six‐eight million cats and dogs enter our nation’s shelter system each
year. Shelters can’t save and support this huge number of accidental litters,
strays and offspring of family pets. As a result, nearly three million are put down
annually. Spaying and neutering is the only 100% proven way to reduce these
numbers and save animals’ lives.
VISUALS:
[Explain what makes your event visual]
[Ex. Thousands of dogs and cats lined up with their owners awaiting services]
[Ex. Costume contest, Lemonade stand raising money, gift bags, etc.]
Contact: [Media/Publicity Contact Name]
[Phone]
21

WRITE AN OP-ED
An op‐ed (short for “opposite the editorial") is an article of 500‐800 words that summarizes an issue,
develops an argument and proposes a solution. As with letters to the editor, review the op‐ed pieces in
targeted publications to get a sense of what gets published. Many newspapers list desired word length
on their websites; for example, the Washington Post prefers fewer than 800 words. Send the article to
the Editorial Page Editor with a cover letter explaining why you feel it should be printed. Establish your
expertise/stake in the issue.
Tips
Credibility—include anything about yourself that lends clout (your status as a board member or
longtime volunteer, your education, who you know, etc.).
Avoid negative language and hyperbole. Don't preach.
Write affirmatively. People respond well to positivity.
WRITE A LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Writing a letter to the editor is an inexpensive way to inform people of the importance of spay/neuter
and to promote your World Spay Day event.
Follow these tips to ensure your letter gets published!
Read existing letters in the publications you want to get published in and identify what makes it
to print.
Get It Right—address your letter, “Dear Editor.” Type it, double‐spaced, and follow any specific
publication guidelines.
Keep It Short—preferably 100‐150 words (10 to 15 typed lines). Three hundred words are the
maximum most papers or magazines will publish without cutting. Contact your local paper to
find out what their requirements are.
Grab ‘em!—make the first sentence count, so they keep reading.
Clarity—write concise sentences and stay focused on your one issue.
Get Real—sign your letter and include home and work telephone numbers. Some papers will
want to verify that you wrote it.
Avoid worn‐out clichés, exaggeration, weak puns and run‐on sentences. Keep it short with
punchy sentences.
Follow up – The editors get a lot of letters and after submitting a letter to the editor, always
follow up with a phone call to confirm receipt and inquire as to when it might run.
22

SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR
To maximize effectiveness,
customize this information with
local statistics.
[insert Date]
Letter to the Editor
[insert Name of Publication]
[insert Street Address]
[insert City, State Zip Code]
Dear Editor:
25
According to The Humane Society of the United States, nearly three million cats and
dogs are put down in U.S. shelters each year. That means one homeless pet is
euthanized about every twelve seconds. Often these animals are the offspring of
cherished family pets, even purebreds. Maybe someone's cat or dog got out just that
one time or maybe the litter was intentional, but efforts to find enough good,
permanent homes failed. The result is that homeless animals have to be euthanized.
Spaying and neutering saves lives.
SAMPLE LETTER TO THE EDITOR
World Spay Day takes place on February 23, 2016. Humane organizations and rescue
groups, veterinary clinics and individuals all across the U.S. and around the world are
organizing reduced cost spay/neuter clinics, hosting fundraisers and bringing
awareness to the importance of spaying and neutering—particularly in underserved
communities and to manage community cat colonies. To volunteer or to spay or neuter
your pet, simply call [insert local number] or visit [or insert local website/contact
information]. Together, we can end the euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets and
ensure every pet enjoys a long, happy life in a loving home.
Sincerely,
[Insert Signature]
[Insert Typed Name]
[Insert Address]
[Insert Contact Details]
23

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS (PSAS)
Public Service Announcements (PSAs) are short (10 to 60 seconds) ads
aired on radio and TV stations, designed to raise awareness of
significant social issues in an effort to stimulate positive change. The
Federal Communications Commission requires stations to air PSAs to
balance the effects of paid advertising and to present balanced
coverage of issues, so the airtime is generally free to nonprofit
community groups. As a result, PSAs present a cost‐effective way of
reaching the broadest possible audience.
Create and send stations your personalized PSAs. Community Tool Box has a chapter on Preparing
Public Service Announcements. Review these tips from the Ad Council on how to approach media to
request they play your PSAs. While the Ad Council’s tips are specific to promoting The Shelter Pet
Project’s PSAs, you can use the same tips to promote your World Spay Day PSAs.
WRITE A PRESS RELEASE
A press release is a brief announcement of a newsworthy event. It is sent to media outlets to interest
them in covering your story. News directors receive hundreds of releases every day, so yours must look
professional, present the facts quickly and grab their attention in seconds!
The Dos!
Type, double‐spaced on or on 8.5” x 11” standard white paper with your contact information.
Download the World Spay Day artwork (available after you register your World Spay Day event)
if you don't have letterhead or want to add it to the release. Note that you can add your
organization’s logo to the World Spay Day artwork; please review the logo usage guidelines first.
Always begin the body with the dateline: “CITY, State, Month, Day, Year” followed by 2
dashes (‐‐).
Proofread carefully for mistakes.
Fact check for accuracy.
The Don’ts!
Make sure it does not exceed one page.
Don’t use zeroes for time (e.g., use “11 a.m.” not “11:00”).
Don’t use letters after numbered dates (e.g., February “22” not “22nd”).
GET MAXIMUM VALUE FOR YOUR EFFORTS
The day before your event, call the news desk to inform them you are holding a newsworthy event the
next day. Do not read your entire news release to them. Just briefly describe your event, state your
phone number in case more information is needed and mention that you sent a release to the news
desk.
24

SAMPLE PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
[ORGANIZATION] IN [CITY] PARTNERS WITH
THE HUMANE SOCIETY OF THE UNITED STATES
TO PROMOTE WORLD SPAY DAY
Local Citizens Urged to Spay or Neuter Pets
[insert CITY], [insert State], [insert Month, Day, Year] -- [insert Organization’s
Name] will participate in World Spay Day, an international campaign of The Humane
Society of the United States, Humane Society International, and Humane Society
Veterinary Medical Association, to promote the life-saving benefits of spay/neuter,
when it [or sponsor name, if applicable] hosts the [insert name or brief description of
your event] at [insert place name, address] on [insert day, date and time of event].
[insert Local Dignitary/Celebrity Name if appropriate] will open the event that
will feature [list most interesting highlights of your planned event].
“Spay/neuter saves pets' lives while lessening the burden on animal shelters and
taxpayers,” said [insert Name of Local Spokesperson, title]. “We are inviting our
citizens to sponsor the spay or neuter of at least one animal—their own, a friend or
family member's, or a shelter animal awaiting adoption—in honor of World Spay
Day 2016.”
Since World Spay Day's inception in 1995 (then called Spay Day USA), thousands of
participants have spayed or neutered countless animals in nearly 50 countries. It has
been a proud achievement of World Spay Day participants like [name of your
organization or event] and other spay/neuter programs that the number of homeless
cats and dogs put down in the U.S. has fallen from approximately 13.5 million in
1973 to fewer than three million currently--all while pet ownership has increased.
[Insert a brief paragraph/boilerplate information about your organization here, if
appropriate and also contact information where you can be reached].
25

HOW TO PROMOTE YOUR
WORLD SPAY DAY EVENT VIA SOCIAL MEDIA
Step 1: Create a Facebook Event
Creating a Facebook Event for your World Spay Day event helps to spread the word and makes it easier
than ever for people to share your event with their friends.
To create a Facebook Event from your fan page, go to your Page's timeline, click Offer, Event
+ and select Event. Then fill out the name and details of your World Spay Day event and click
Create. If your World Spay Day event takes place during a specific time frame, such as from
6pm‐8pm for a spay‐ghetti dinner, make sure to include those details in the event information.
Make sure you have a photo to go with it! Here is a great example from the Washington
Humane Society of a Facebook Event with a photo that also serves as a flyer because it includes
the event information and organization logos:
26

Step 2: Post About Your Event on Facebook and Encourage Others To Do So, Too
Share your Event information on your Facebook page by doing a post on it. Ask your fans to
RSVP and spread the word by sharing your post. Keep your post short and sweet. For example:
Join us at our annual Spay‐ghetti dinner at the New Market Fire Hall to support our work to spay
and neuter 100 dogs and cats during World #spayday! It’s a fun family event, so RSVP and share
to spread the word: https://www.facebook.com/events/012345678901234/
Notice a few things about this post:
o
o
o
We tagged the venue (New Market Fire Hall) where we’re having the event. If your
venue is on Facebook, tag it in your post so it shows up on their Facebook page, too. Are
any local celebrities hosting or emceeing the event? Tag them as well! To tag someone
from your fan page post, type the “@” symbol and then start typing the Page’s name. A
drop down will appear where you can select the page you wish to tag.
We used the Spay Day hashtag (#spayday) so that you can click on the hashtag and be a
part of all of the conversations people are having about World Spay Day on Facebook.
We included the URL (https://www.facebook.com/events/012345678901234/) to the
Facebook Event. Cut and paste the web address (URL) of the Facebook Event so that it
pulls in your event information and can be easily shared.
Look for businesses and community leaders with large Facebook audiences that support you and
ask them to share your Event on their Facebook page. Include in your ask a link to your
Facebook Event.
27

Step 3: Include Your Facebook Event in Your Email Communications
Include a link to your Facebook Event in your emails and other communications about the event,
with instructions like, “RSVP on Facebook” or “Share our Facebook Event.”
Include a link to your Facebook Event on the “thank you” page of the registration process so
after they’ve registered they can share that they are going with their friends.
Step 4: Use Twitter to Promote Your Event
Use the #spayday hashtag in every Tweet you put out about World Spay Day.
Using commonly used hashtags, such as your city (example: #sanantonio) may also help your
Tweet get seen by people searching that hashtag for events happening in the city.
Upload your event flier as an image to Tweet.
If it’s a ticketed event, consider doing a ticket giveaway on Twitter or with a radio station.
Live Tweet during the event, and include photos. It’s a great way to show off how fun your
event is!
Want to learn more about how to utilize social media to promote your World Spay Day event or your
organization in general? The HSUS social media team is happy to help!
Email us anytime at facebook@humanesociety.org.
last updated 11/5/14 kf
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BE A MEDIA SUPERSTAR!
Do a Radio and/or TV Talk Show Interview
You can reach thousands of people through talk shows. However, before you can do an interview, you
must get the radio or TV station interested!
Here’s how:
Contact your local radio station's talk show host or producer (call the station first to find out her or his
name) several weeks before your event. Similar to a pitch letter, when you pitch, create a solid first
impression with your credentials (or those of your organization’s spokesperson), explain what you’d like
to discuss and convey why they and their audience should care about what you’re telling them.
Interview Preparation
Research—familiarize yourself with the show’s style and format, so you’ll know what to expect.
Be an Expert–study the issue inside and out. Anticipate and be prepared to answer difficult
questions. Memorize facts and quotes and have sound bites ready.
Key Points—make a list of up to three things you want to get across during the interview and be
prepared to back them up.
Practice Makes Perfect—have a friend play talk show host and interview you. Tape the interview
with an audio or video recorder for reference on how you can improve.
It’s All Surface—if appearing on TV, follow these general rules: Don’t wear patterns or solid
black, white, or bright red. Do wear plain, solid colors others than those just listed (green and
blue show up especially well). Smile, and don’t fidget or touch your face or hair.
Sound Bites—the media looks for brief, catchy phrases to plug into a 60‐second story. So, only
express the most important points and make them concise and strong. Sample sound bites:
“Spaying and neutering saves lives.”
“Spaying and neutering prevents more animals from becoming homeless.”
“ X number of animals are put down every year in NAME OF TOWN OR STATE.
Spaying and neutering will help significantly lower that number.”
Appoint a Spokesperson. Make sure it’s someone credible, like a veterinarian or a shelter
representative.
While your spokesperson will be the primary media contact, everyone at the event should be
familiar with the main points, as reporters will often want additional comments from others
involved.
Be careful what you say. Don’t say anything in an interview that you wouldn’t want attached to
your name.
Resources
Communications Toolkit: A Guide to Navigating Communications for the Nonprofit World and other
great resources available from hersheycause.com/pages/tools‐publications
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P a r t I I I :
A d d i t i o n a l Resources
“. . . by offering resources and information with
respect and understanding, the human-animal
bond is elevated, quality of life is improved, and
ultimately, long-term, sustainable change is
created.”
—Amanda Arrington, Director, Pets for Life,
The Humane Society of the United States
Photo credit: Diego Barrera. Ecuador. 2/15/2014.
A woman from one of
10 village communities
in the mountain areas
of Ecuador tends to
her dog after surgery.
Protección Animal
Ecuador Ambato
treated 1,540 dogs and
cats during a weeklong
World Spay Day
clinic held at a
municipal facility and
two MASH units.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Use this information to connect with people and publications that can increase your World Spay Day
effectiveness!
World Spay Day
worldspayday.org
The HSUS
The Humane Society of the United States is the
nation’s largest animal protection organization,
rated most effective by our peers. For more
than 60 years, we have celebrated the
protection of all animals and confronted all
forms of cruelty. Visit humanesociety.org to
learn more.
Animal Welfare Organization Resources
animalsheltering.org
animalsheltering.org/marketplace
Community (feral and stray) Cats
humanesociety.org/outdoorcats
Managing Community Cats: A Guide for
Municipal Leaders [PDF]
Pets for Life
animalsheltering.org/petsforlife
Pet Overpopulation
humanesociety.org/spayneuter
Pet Ownership Statistics
humanesociety.org/petownershipstats
Spay/Neuter Messaging
animalsheltering.org/spayneutercampaign
HSI
An affiliate of The HSUS, Humane Society
International is one of the only international
animal protection organizations in the world
working to protect all animals—including
animals in laboratories, farm animals,
companion animals and wildlife—and our
record of achievement demonstrates our
dedication and effectiveness. Visit hsi.org to
learn more.
Resources for Animal Protectionists
hsi.org/about/how_we_work/local_empower
ment/training/electronic_library.html
HSVMA
An affiliate of The HSUS, The Humane Society
Veterinary Medical Association was formed as a
home for veterinary professionals who want to
engage in direct care programs for animals in
need and educate the public and others in the
profession about animal welfare issues. Our
mission is to protect and advocate for animals
while providing leadership and service
opportunities that support a humane veterinary
profession. Visit hsvma.org to learn more.
General Resources
hsvma.org/resources#top
Other Companion Animals
House Rabbit Society’s Spaying and
Neutering FAQ’s
Spay/neuter facts from the rabbit experts.
rabbit.org/faq‐spaying‐and‐neutering
Small Pet Care
The ASPCA’s recommendations for small pet
care.
aspca.org/pet‐care/small‐pet‐care
World Spay Day Partners
Alliance for Contraception in Cats & Dogs
(ACC&D)
The nonprofit organization ACC&D serves as a
catalyst to advance new methods of nonsurgical
birth control to save the lives of dogs
and cats, expand options for pet owners and
improve the well‐being of animals and
communities worldwide.
info@acc‐d.org
acc‐d.org
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Ark Charities
The mission of Ark Charities is to enhance the
quality of life for animals and humanity through
compassionate, scientific and educational
action. Ark Charities actively organizes zinc
neutering (Zeuterin) training for nonprofit
organizations. See p. 10 of this guide, and visit
arkcharities.org to learn more.
abolzoni@arkcharities.org
877‐346‐4664, ext. 10
ASPCA® & PetSmart Charities® Low‐Cost
Spay/Neuter Locator
This tool allows pet owners to easily find lowcost
spay/neuter services near them.
humanesociety.org/spayneuterhelp
ASPCA®
The American Society for the Prevention of
Cruelty to Animals presents the Top 10 Reasons
to Spay or Neuter Your Pet and, for animal
welfare professionals, offers a range of
spay/neuter information and grant
opportunites.
aspca.org/pro
Best Friends Animal Society
Best Friends Animal Society operates the No
More Homeless Pets® Network of animal
welfare and sheltering organizations committed
to saving the lives of homeless pets through
effective adoption and spay/neuter programs.
nmhpnetwork.bestfriends.org
Doris Day Animal Foundation
The Doris Day Animal League created Spay Day
USA—now World Spay Day— in 1995, and Doris
Day and her foundation continue to support the
program, helping to spay and neuter thousands
of pets.
ddaf.org
House Rabbit Society
One of the primary goals of the House Rabbit
Society, a volunteer‐based nonprofit
organization, is to educate the public and assist
humane societies on rabbit care. Visit rabbit.org
for a wealth of rabbit information.
Humane Alliance
Through its National Spay/Neuter Response
Team (NSNRT), Humane Alliance offers a
mentoring and training program that helps
other organizations learn how to open and
operate self‐sustaining clinics in their
communities. Humane Alliance also provides
training in high‐volume, high‐quality surgical
techniques to for private practitioners and
veterinary extern students. Through
WhenToSpay.org, Humane Alliance provides
shareable information about the benefits of
spay/neutering pets by 4 months of age.
info@humanealliance.org
humanealliance.org
Petfinder Foundation
The Petfinder Foundation is an independent
nonprofit organization that supports the
shelters and rescue groups that post their
adoptable pets on Petfinder.com. Visit
petfinderfoundation.com and click on the “For
Shelters” tab to review a list of grants available
to animal shelters, and other information.
PetSmart Charities®
PetSmart Charities has a range of grants
available to animal welfare organizations,
including high‐impact spay/neuter grants. Their
“Beat the Heat” grant to spay cats coincides
with World Spay Day in February.
petsmartcharities.org/pro
Other Resources
Community Tool Box
A service of the Work Group for Community
Health and Development at the University of
Kansas, the Community Tool Box offers a
number of online toolkits, such as
“Implementing a Social Marketing Effort” and
“Advocating for Change,” to help you make
positive change in your community.
ctb.ku.edu
worldspayday.org
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