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Georgia Department of Agriculture
Tommy
Irvin, Commissioner
19
Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. SW
Atlanta, GA 30334
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Yao Seidu, Arty Schronce or
October
31, 2006
Jackie
Sosby at (404) 656-3689
Dog
and cat sterilization program reinstated after an influx of donations and a
new tax check-off
Georgia Agriculture
Commissioner Tommy Irvin and Georgia Veterinary Medical Association
President, Dr. Mike Younker, hosted a dog sterilization procedure today to
alert the public that the hugely successful program was reinstated September
1st. The program was on a hiatus after public demand
for surgical procedures exceed donated dollars in the program.
Today’s procedure was
performed on seven-month-old Lucie, a Doberman mix, adopted by Fayette County
Deputy Sheriff Tommy Nations after being designated a stray animal. Dr. Younker performed the surgery at his veterinary
facility, Lafayette Center Animal
Hospital, in Fayetteville, GA.
For the past three years
specialty license plates have been sold to fund the dog and cat surgical procedures that operates without state
funds. A new license plate with a state income tax check-off
for the ’06 tax year is expected to fund the spay and neuter program well
into the future.
“Veterinarians across the
state believe in the program,“ says Younker.
“The public wants spay and neuter assistance and that can be achieved by just
purchasing a license plate. This program meets a need and helps in the
control of unwanted animals.”
Irvin agrees.
“It’s important that we
decrease of the number of unwanted dogs and cats in our state,” Irvin
says. “Our spay/neuter program -- supported entirely through the sale
of license plates -- has been tried, tested and proven to be effective and
successful. We want to grow this program so that we can support anyone who
wants to get their pet spay or neutered.”
Tuesday’s procedure was
performed by Younker at his Lafayette
Center Animal
Hospital, Fayetteville. All veterinarians in
this independent spay and neuter program are allowed to perform three procedures
monthly to allow greater participation of animal doctors and pet owners
statewide.
“We love our Lucie and we
support the spay and neuter program,” Nations
says. “We just hope that the program get can greater support and more
animals can be protected.”
Georgians interested in
purchasing the specialty spay and neuter license tag can pay a one-time fee
of $25 at their local county motor vehicle registration office. Persons with
old tags can return them to their tag office for the new specialty plate.
Since January 2006, more than 21,000 spay/neuter license plates have been
issued, netting close to $470,000 for the
program.
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GEORGIANS SWEEP NATIONAL VETERINARY
AWARDS
The American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) honored four
distinguished Georgians for their contributions to veterinary medicine and
animal well-being.
 Dr. Steven C. Budsberg received the Innovative
Veterinary Diets Fido Award for his cutting edge research in small animal
orthopedics. Dr. Budsberg developed a computerized
research tool that has been adopted by researchers worldwide to study many
types of therapy and surgical techniques including total hip replacement. He
has been a leader in developing multi-center testing for treatments of
orthopedic problems and other innovative testing methods. His innovations and
collaborations are widely known and published. He is Coordinator of Clinical
Research and teaches orthopedic surgery at the University of Georgia College
of Veterinary Medicine.
Dr. Lee M. Myers received the AVMA Public Service Award for her
contributions to public health and regulatory veterinary medicine. Dr. Myers
is State Veterinarian and Assistant Commissioner for the Animal Industry
Division with the Georgia Department of Agriculture. Dr. Myers was
instrumental in establishing the Georgia's Dog and Cat
Sterilization Program that funds spay/neuter statewide, enhancing animal
cruelty penalties and revising the Georgia Veterinary Practice Act of 2003.
Her recent accomplishments are in the area of bioterrorism preparedness and agrosecurity. She is the youngest individual and first
female to win this award.
Dr. Clarence A. Rawlings received the American Kennel Club Career
Achievement Award for his extraordinary contributions to canine research,
particularly in the areas of heartworm disease and minimally invasive soft
tissue surgical techniques. As one of the eminent researchers in heartworm
disease, Dr. Rawling was one of the first to
correlate the symptoms of heartworm disease to the damage done by the
parasite. Dr. Rawlings retired in June after serving the University of
Georgia College of Veterinary Medicine for thirty years. He will remain
active with the university as a mentor and to advance veterinary practices.
Carolyn Danese received the AVMA Humane Award
for her exceptional compassion for animals and efforts on behalf of animal
welfare. Carolyn is known for her work on the Georgia Animal Protection Act
of 2000 which made certain acts of animal cruelty a felony, the Dog and Cat
Sterilization Program, the Georgia Veterinary Practice Act of 2003 and other
local and national issues. Carolyn is a founding member and President of the
Humane Association of Georgia, and also serves as President of the Georgia
Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster. She advocates for veterinary
involvement in legislation as the animal experts and the "other family
doctor."
The awards were presented at the General Session of the AVMA Annual
Convention in historic Philadelphia on July
24th by AVMA President, Jack O. Walther of Nevada. Hill's Pet Nutrition Inc.
sponsored the ceremony where each of the recipients spoke to the audience of
veterinarians from all over the country.
HAGA SECRETARY WINS TWO NATIONAL AWARDS
Dekalb County Also Recognizes Advocate's Role in Helping
to Pass Enforceable Legislation in Georgia to Prevent
Animal Cruelty and Overpopulation
 Atlanta, GA July 29, 2002 - Carolyn Danese, who is a founding member and Secretary of the
Humane Association of Georgia, has recently received two national awards and
a commendation from Dekalb
County for her volunteer work on
behalf of animals in Georgia.
The awards recognize Danese's efforts leading to
the passage of Georgia's
Animal Protection Act of 2000, which provides felony-level punishment for
aggravated cruelty to animals, and to legislation passed in 2002 creating a
statewide Dog and Cat Sterilization Program to reduce animal overpopulation.
Danese, a tireless advocate of humane treatment and
good animal stewardship, has been a Dekalb resident
since 1979. On 7/23/02, she was commended by the Chief Executive
Officer and Board of Commissioners of Dekalb County
for her outstanding volunteer service in the prevention of animal cruelty and
overpopulation in the community and throughout the state.
On 6/11/02, Danese received the Andrew Heiskell Community Service Award from AOL Time Warner
for employees who have made exceptional contributions to public service,
equal opportunity and human rights. It is the most distinguished honor the
company bestows on its employees. Danese, who was
nominated by her peers, is an Analyst in the Marketing Department of Turner
Broadcasting Systems, Inc. in Atlanta.
The National Control Association
honored Danese on 6/13/02 for contributions and
outstanding action that assist in furthering the positive image of animal
control professionals on a local, state and national level. She was nominated
for this award by the Dekalb County Police
Department, Animal Control Division. Danese, in
turn, praises the animal control professionals for being "the unsung
heroes in the fight to end animal abuse, neglect and overpopulation."
Danese credits the success of her efforts to
working with diverse groups to find common ground, and to educating people
about the link between animal abuse and violence against humans, as well as
the social, environmental, health and economic reasons for reducing animal
overpopulation. She says she will continue to focus on education,
environmental issues and eliminating animal overpopulation.
Danese reminds everyone to Vote "YES" for
the "Dog and Cat Sterilization Support Program" on the November 5,
2002 Georgia
general ballot and that spay/neuter is a healthy choice for companion
animals.
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Governor Signs Legislation Paving The Way For License Plate
Animal Advocates from Across the State
Gather for Signing Ceremony
Macon, GA June 6, 2002 - HAGA members and animal friends from across
the state attended a festive ceremony held at the Macon Municipal
Airport to witness
Governor Roy Barnes sign HR 264 and HB 945. These two pieces of
legislation, passed by the General Assembly during the 2002 session, allow
for a referendum to be placed on the November 2002 general election ballot
for voter approval of the Cat and Dog Sterilization License Plate. If
voters approve the referendum, funds from the voluntary purchase of the
license plate will fund a low-cost spay/neuter program to be administered
by the Georgia Department of Agriculture.
About 50 attendees braved hot temperatures and somewhat crowded
conditions at the Lowe
Aviation Building
to be present for the historic occasion. Humane groups which sent
representatives included Humane Services of Middle Georgia, Animal Friends
of Dekalb County, Greyhounds Galore of Jones
County, and Save-a-Life of Monroe
County. Over 20 dogs and cats, many of them rescued animals, were
also present. Included among this number were several of the cats
rescued from the Walker
County
crematorium. The Macon Police Department K-9 Unit sent two officers
with their police dogs. Children from Bibb County Department of
Family and Children's Services enjoyed the learning experience of seeing
government in action, as well as making friends with many of the animals
present.
Senator Robert Brown, who shepherded the license plate legislation
through the Georgia Senate, said: "It's an opportunity for
citizens who are concerned about the animal population to do something
about it. And I'm delighted that there are people who care enough
about this issue to pay extra for the tag."
HAGA President Edwina Barnes introduced Governor Barnes and other
dignitaries, including Representative Lynmore
James who sponsored the legislation. A reception was held after the
ceremony.
To learn more about HAGA's Cat and Dog
License Plate Initiative, including ways you can help, click here.
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(L-R) Senator Robert Brown, Representative
Lynmore James, and Representative Robert Ray
watch as Governor Roy Barnes (center) signs license plate legislation.
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Human and animal spectators await the
governor's arrival
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Rescued greyhounds from Jones County's
Greyhounds Galore attended the ceremony
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Officers from the Macon Police Department
K-9 Unit introduce children visiting from Bibb County DFACS
to police dogs
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