SYD KRONISH | Stamps 2002 issues urge spaying, neutering

A new disease, monkeypox, has surfaced. It's a smallpoxlike virus never before found in the Western Hemisphere, and is spread by prairie dogs, mostly bought in local pet shops. Health officials thus have issued an emergency order to ban the sale and importation of prairie dogs.
For years, dogs and cats in our homes have been in danger -- not from monkeypox but rather from simple diseases that can be prevented. This situation was brought to the attention of the public by the U.S. Postal Service last year with the issuance of a pair of 37-cent stamps that emphasized the importance of neutering or spaying family dogs and cats.
Neutering and spaying make sense since these procedures can lead to better health and longer lives for pets. Neutered male dogs and cats have a decreased chance of developing prostate disease and also are less likely to stray from home. For female cats and dogs, spaying decreases the rate of breast cancer and eliminates nervous behavior associated with the heat cycle.
Stamp design
The two stamps depict a kitten and a puppy. The postal service commissioned photographer Sally Andersen-Bruce to prepare the design. She visited several no-kill shelters near her home in Connecticut before choosing a mixed-breed kitten and a mixed-breed puppy.
The two animals, who were respectively neutered and spayed according to the shelter's policies, enjoyed posing for the camera, said Andersen-Bruce.
Adding to the fun of the day at the shelter, a little girl was looking for a pet. She watched the picture-taking session and adopted the kitten on the spot. Another quick adoption occurred when a family who already had a 10-year old golden retriever fell in love with and took home the puppy.
The USPS was quick to point out that there is danger in numbers. An estimated 70,000 cats and dogs are born each day in the United States. To combat animal overpopulation and the spread of disease, animal shelters and veterinarians throughout the country urge pet owners to spay and neuter their dogs and cats.
Pet owners can also take heed from the U.S. Postal Service. The pair of attached stamps are still available from the postal service while supplies last, by calling (800) STAMP-24. A first-day set of four costs $3.