Auxiliary promotes pet adoption for National Pet Week

"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.

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.