Memorial and Mega Adoption Event will Mark National Homeless Animals’ Day Observance in San Antonio
‘Chain’ of collars to be unveiled Friday will illustrate need for action

One-hundred and fourteen pet collars linked together as a memorial along with a mega adoption event will both serve as a call to action for the local observance of National Homeless Animals’ Day. District 5 Councilwoman Patti Radle will join Animal Care Services (ACS) staff and volunteers and ACS community partners for the memorial on Friday, August 18, at 2:00 p.m. at the ACS facility, 210 Tuleta.

The ‘chain’ of pet collars, measuring approximately 60 feet long, will be unraveled from the front of the ACS door and up the sidewalk of Tuleta Drive. It will serve as a memorial to the number of animals killed during an average day at ACS, largely as a direct result of irresponsible pet ownership.

Councilwoman Radle will read a proclamation from Mayor Phil Hardberger urging San Antonians to change the way we treat companion animals by getting them spayed or neutered and properly sheltering them so they will not stray and become homeless. The memorial also will include the reading of poems by ACS staff.

National Homeless Animals’ Day will be observed on Saturday, August 19, this year. Dozens of homeless dogs and cats currently being sheltered at ACS will be part of a mega adoption event on this day. The on-the-spot adoptions will take place from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in Brackenridge Park on the lawn of the Tuesday Musical Club building, 3800 block of North St. Mary’s.

“Anyone adopting an animal will have a chance to make a life-saving difference for a homeless animal,” said Interim ACS Director Craig Brestrup. “However, adoption is just one facet that will turn the tide on our pet overpopulation crisis. We must start practicing responsible pet ownership in order to put an end to killing thousands of dogs and cats who are not wanted and don’t deserve to spend their lives in a cage or kennel.”

Mayor Phil Hardberger, City Manager Sheryl Sculley, boxing champion Jesse James Leija, and Grammy-award winning artist Augie Meyers call for pet owners to spay and neuter their pets and take other measures to reduce our pet overpopulation in a series of public service announcements. The four 30-second spots are now available to the media and will be distributed during the memorial.

For more information about the memorial or adoption event, call Brestrup at 207-8155. To receive a copy of the PSAs, call the Communications and Public Affairs Department at 207-2098.