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ARF to hold marathon adoption weekend
Volunteers of Jackson County Humane Society will host an adoption marathon from 5 p.m. Friday, May 5, to 5 p.m. on Sunday, May 7, in honor of National Pet Adoption Week and National Mayday for Mutts.

Volunteers will camp on the lawn in front of Wal-Mart for the entire weekend to help adopt pets and to promote awareness of Jackson County's stray animal problem.

The first Sunday of each May has been declared national Mayday for Mutts. This nationwide event was established to promote the adoption of mixed-breed and special needs dogs. During the month of May, humane organizations, pet-related businesses, and individual dog lovers will be holding mutt-related activities and distributing literature to celebrate this long-awaited event.

Since 1981, ARF has helped in the rescue, care, and spay/ neuter of stray animals in Jackson County. Abandoned pets often wander onto roads and highways where they can be injured or killed.

Jackson County has no comprehensive program to deal with this issue, so volunteers pick the animals up and arrange for emergency care at the Sylva Animal Hospital.

People often leave whole litters of unwanted puppies and kittens at garbage dumps and by the roadside. ARF volunteers foster them in their homes and provide them with medical care if needed. Volunteers also rescue animals from the Jackson County animal shelter. The shelter nearly always operates at capacity, which means that unclaimed pets must be euthanized after only a few days. ARF volunteers foster as many of these animals as they can.

However, the problems persist. The Jackson County Animal Shelter took in more than 700 dogs and 500 cats in 1998. About 70 percent (close to 900) of those animals were euthanized because no one adopted them.

Some 7.6 million homeless dogs and cats are euthanized in the Unites States each year. These numbers would be greatly reduced if all pets were spayed or neutered.

Spaying/neutering is also more cost-effective for taxpayers. Tax-supported spay/neuter programs could be instituted for a fraction of what it costs to euthanize so many animals.

Here are some reasons why you should spay or neuter your pet:

- In six years, one female dog and its offspring can be the source of 67,000 puppies.
- In seven years, one female cat and its young can produce 420,000 cats.
- Every day in the U.S.A. alone, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born.
- Spayed and neutered pets live longer, healthier lives.
- Spaying eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
- Spaying before the first heat cycle greatly reduces the chance of breast cancer.
- Neutering reduces the incidence of prostate cancer and disorders.

If you are looking for a pet, consider adopting a "mutt" from ARF or the Animal Shelter during this special weekend.

10 reasons to adopt a mutt:

  • 1. The best of all breeds rolled into one.
  • 2. Each mutt is a unique, one-of-a-kind dog.
  • 3. Experience the fun and mystique of the mixed-breed.
  • 4. It's a dog's personality, not the pedigree, that really matters.
  • 5. Mutts are welcome at a variety of dog-related events and activities.
  • 6. The more mutts are adopted, the less purebred puppy mills will thrive.
  • 7. Mutts are less prone to the genetic diseases that afflict many purebred dogs.
  • 8. 75% of all dogs entering U.S. animal shelters each year are mixed-breed.
  • 9. Adopting a mutt is saving a life.
  • 10. Help put an end to canine discrimination.

    • For more information, contact:

  • Veronica Nicholas at 586-5647
  • Trish Painter at 586-8869
  • Mary Adams at 586-1801.

    • Back to Archive: 04/27/00.