Today is Spay Day!!

This Tuesday, February 22, is Spay Day! Hundreds of organizations around the world are participating -- spaying and neutering tens of thousands of animals.

It’s an impressive global campaign, and you and your own pet can help, too -- without even leaving your computer. Simply enter your pet in the Spay Day Pet Photo Contest, presented by Zazzle (you can even upload a photo from Facebook)!

Here's how it works:

Once you enter your pet's photo, you're automatically entered into the Judged Category-- and could win a studio session for your pet with premier pet photographer Amanda Jones, among other great prizes.

But you can also help make next Tuesday an even bigger success by participating in the Fundraisers Category. It's easy, here's how: When you enter your pet’s photo, you get to select one of hundreds of participating charities. Then you forward your pet’s picture to your friends and family via email or Facebook and ask them to vote for your pet. To vote, your friends donate just $1 per vote -- a donation that goes directly to the charity you selected.

Every dollar your pet raises will help save animals -- and get your pet one vote closer to winning the grand prize! More than 600 pets with the most votes will win prizes.

The Grand Prize Winner in the Fundraisers Category will receive:

• A four-night trip for two to Hollywood for the 2012 Genesis Awards
• A custom painting of their pet by artist Janie Coleman
• A $500 electronic gift card to Humane Domain

And don't worry, even if you don't have enough votes to take top honors, the next 10 top vote-getters in the Fundraisers Category will each win a custom painting of their pet by artist Janie Coleman -- and have a 1 in 10 chance at winning another four-night trip for two to Hollywood for the 2012 Genesis Awards!

The February 25 deadline to enter is next week -- enter your pet's photo today -- and help end the euthanasia of millions of pets each year.

To learn more about Spay Day 2011 and the benefits of spaying and neutering pets, click here.

--written by The Humane Society of the United States

Use your taxes to help pets?

From the Humane Society of the United States

Help Animals in New Jersey

Dear Friend,

Did you know that you could help animals on your New Jersey resident tax forms? New Jersey's 2010 tax forms provide an opportunity to make a donation to the state's low-cost spay/neuter program.

The Department of Health and Senior Services' Animal Population Control Program helps provide low cost spay/neuter services for residents on public assistance programs, or for those who have adopted from state animal shelters or rescue groups. Here's how you can help:

1. On line 63 of your tax form, check the "other box."

2. Fill in your dollar amount to contribute to the fund.

3. Fill in "10" for the "Cat and Dog Spay/Neuter Fund" on the "Other Designated Contribution" line of the New Jersey Resident 1040 tax form. That's it! Additional details are provided in the tax info booklet on page 42 »

You can also help animals by purchasing an "Animal Friendly" license plate, which features characters from MUTTS, created by New Jersey's own Patrick McDonnell. Learn more »

Thanks for all you do for animals.

Wayne Pacelle, President & CEO