ESCANABA - This is National Pet week and the U.S. Post Office has issued a commemorative stamp encouraging the adoption of pets from animal shelters.
In its continuing efforts to raise awareness of social issues one stamp at a time, the U.S. Post Office in Escanaba Wednesday held a special event dealing with animal rescue.
As part of its social awareness stamp program, Animal Rescue; Adopt a Shelter Pet commemorative stamps went on sale April 30.
Delta County Animal Shelter personnel, along with a few dogs and cats eligible for adoption, were at the Escanaba office Wednesday as part of the promotion.
"I believe we have had an excellent turnout in our efforts to raise awareness for people to adopt a shelter pet," said Don Chenail, Escanaba postmaster.
The sheet of commemorative stamps available from any U.S. Post Office was issued to raise awareness of the importance of adopting companion animals from shelters to help prevent euthanasia of millions of animals every year.
Katie LeDuc, of Escanaba, said she stopped by the post office to check out some of the cats available for adoption.
"I just wish I could adopt them all," said LeDuc.
Linda Anderson, also of Escanaba, said she just couldn't stop and mail out letters and packages for a client without stopping to see the cats available for adoption.
"I'm a cat lover, and every cat I have had came from the shelter," said Anderson. "I can't just walk by and not pet these adorable and loving animals."
She said she is looking to adopt another cat in the near future.
According to statistics, between 6 million and 8 million dogs and cats are placed in a shelter, with nearly half being euthanized.
Rescuing a dog or cat also helps deplete the high population of animals in shelters, and reduces the number of good, faithful, and loving dogs and cats which would be euthanized.
The costs associated with adopting a shelter pet are inexpensive, and in some cases cover a portion of the costs associated with spaying or neutering.
The costs can also cover an animal's first year rabies vaccine, license, first booster shot, first deworming and a bag of treats and goodies for the newly adopted pet.
For cats, the costs can also cover FeLV and FIV tests administered by either shelter staff or veterinarian.
The Delta County Animal Shelter,t 6685 N 75 Drive, Wells, (behind 41 Lumber) is open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
The U.S. Post Office's commemorative stamp sale is also linked to HALO, an organization co-founded by entertainer Ellen DeGeneres.
Halo has linked the sale of the commemorative stamps to its effort to provide food to one million shelter pets.
