Auxiliary promotes pet adoption for National Pet Week

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"Save a Life—Adopt a Pet" is the message that the AVMA Auxiliary will be spreading for National Pet Week 2011, May 1-7.

Ginger Morton, Auxiliary president, said the Auxiliary's board members chose the theme because "we wanted to educate everyone—young children included—that they would be saving a life if they chose to adopt a pet. These animals cannot speak for themselves. We thought it was a great theme in a time when so many shelters and rescue teams are trying to rescue pets."

The AVMA and Auxiliary created National Pet Week to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine.Girl holding a dog

The Auxiliary held its annual poster and writing contests in early 2010 to help generate promotional materials for National Pet Week 2011. The winner of each contest received $300.

Morton said the winning poster, which depicts a child holding a cat, stood out from about 100 entries because of "the child's expression while caring for a pet." Mariah Walker of Kalispell, Mont., submitted the poster early last year as a sixth-grader.

The Auxiliary received about 50 entries in the writing contest. Katara Ryan of Sunburst, Mont., submitted her winning poem as a fifth-grader.

Save a Life, Adopt a Pet.
Trust me on this, you won't regret.

Take me home, give me a name,
anything you choose—Bob, Jack, or Jane.

Being caring, active, friendly, and lovable
are the characteristics that come with a pet.
Small, furry, hairless, or tall—at an animal shelter
you might just fall in love with them all.

Dogs, cats, rabbits, and fish
Pet me, love me, keep food in my dish.
I can be your very best friend
Playing and loving 'til the end.

So save a life, adopt a pet.
Trust me on this, you won't regret.

This year, because of organizational changes, the Auxiliary will not be selling promotional materials for National Pet Week.