May 22, 2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 22, 2015
For more information:
Amy Styles
Young-Williams Animal Center
(865) 215-6668, cell: (865) 437-6599
Natalie Lester
Moxley Carmichael
(865) 544-0088, cell: (865) 599-4051
PetSmart Charities® sponsors campaign at Young-Williams Animal Center
They may be just babies, but kittens as young as four months and puppies as young as five months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later.
“These precious babies shouldn’t be parents at 5 and 6 months old,” said Jeff Ashin, CEO of Young-Williams Animal Center.
That’s why Young-Williams Animal Center, with funding provided by PetSmart Charities, the largest funder of animal welfare efforts in North America, is introducing the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign. Through the “Precious, Not Parents,” campaign, Young-Williams Animal Center Spay/Neuter Solutions will provide $20 spay and neuter surgeries for puppies and kittens under six months of age during the month of June.
Kittens as young as four months – like 2-month-old Daisy will be very soon – and puppies as young as five months are old enough to get pregnant and have their first litter just two months later. Daisy is available for adoption at Young-Williams Animal Center, and all adoption fees include a spay or neuter surgery. Current pet owners across East Tennessee can take advantage of the shelter’s “Precious, Not Parents” campaign, providing $20 spay and neuter surgeries in June.
Some pet parents may worry that their pet is too young for the procedure, but spaying and neutering is safe and easy for kittens and puppies as young as eight to 10 weeks old, according to the American Veterinary Medical Association.
“Many owners put off the procedure and wait until the puppy or kitten is six to eight months old,” Ashin said. “But by then, a litter of puppies or kittens can be born.”
The special $20 rate is even less than the shelter’s regular low-cost price and is available to all East Tennessee residents. Pet parents who wish to take advantage of the offer must mention the “Precious, Not Parents” campaign when they call to schedule an appointment. The campaign is based on availability.
Young-Williams Animal Center will provide 140 “Precious, Not Parents” sterilizations for $20 in June. Please visit www.young-williams.org or call (865) 215-6677 for more information or to schedule an appointment.
PetSmart Charities’ “Precious, Not Parents” campaign provides more than $705,541 to spay/neuter clinics to fund affordable, high-quality spay and neuter surgeries for more than 13,935 puppies and kittens across the country during the month of June.
About Young-Williams Animal Center
Young-Williams Animal Center reminds the community to please spay and neuter your pets.
Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the City of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization, community-supported through public and private donations, that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.
Young-Williams Animal Center is located off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. Young-Williams Animal Village is located at 6400 Kingston Pike adjacent to Deane Hill Drive. Both locations are open seven days a week from noon-6 p.m.
For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call 865-215-6599 or visit www.young-williams.org.
About PetSmart Charities
PetSmart Charities, Inc. is a nonprofit animal welfare organization that saves the lives of homeless pets. More than 400,000 dogs and cats find homes each year through our adoption program in all PetSmart® stores and our sponsored adoption events. PetSmart Charities grants more money to directly help pets in need than any other animal welfare group in North America, with a focus on funding spay/neuter services that help communities solve pet overpopulation. PetSmart Charities is a 501(c)(3) organization, separate from PetSmart, Inc.
Maria Cornelius
