Expressing support for designation of the first Saturday in October as "National Animal Rescue Day" to create awareness of the importance of adoption and to educate on the importance of spaying and neutering animals and the encouragement of animal adoptions throughout the United States.

IV 116TH CONGRESS 1ST SESSION H. RES. 34 Expressing support for designation of the first Saturday in October as ‘‘Na- tional Animal Rescue Day’’ to create awareness of the importance of adoption and to educate on the importance of spaying and neutering animals and the encouragement of animal adoptions throughout the United States. IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES JANUARY 9, 2019 Mr. NORCROSS submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Reform RESOLUTION Expressing support for designation of the first Saturday in October as ‘‘National Animal Rescue Day’’ to create awareness of the importance of adoption and to educate on the importance of spaying and neutering animals and the encouragement of animal adoptions throughout the United States. Whereas up to 6,000,000 cats and dogs are placed into shel- ters every year and between 3,000,000 and 4,000,000 cats and dogs are euthanized; Whereas there are between 3,000 to 4,000 animal shelters throughout the United States in need of medical supplies, blankets, towels, cleaning supplies, food, and educational materials about owning a pet; VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:05 Jan 10, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6300 E:\BILLS\HR34.IH HR34 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS 2 •HRES 34 IH Whereas increased knowledge and awareness of animal rescue programs throughout the United States will significantly reduce the number of cats and dogs euthanized and re- duce the number of animals returned to a shelter who have been rescued; Whereas loving families welcome pets to their new ‘‘forever home’’ every day, but more adoption is needed; Whereas lowering the number of animals in need of rescue, by spaying and neutering, can help alleviate the over- crowding of our Nation’s shelters; Whereas years of animal abandonment has left thousands of homeless pets in overpopulated shelters and rescues; Whereas a ‘‘National Animal Rescue Day’’ would encourage the rescue of animals like Winslow, a basset hound who spent his first 8 months of life starved and confined in a cage so small that his rear legs were unable to fully de- velop and then was placed in multiple shelters before being adopted into a loving home; and Whereas the first Saturday in October would be an appro- priate day to designate as ‘‘National Animal Rescue Day’’ to be celebrated through adoption events, festivals, and charitable giving which will increase revenues for shelters and pet adoptions: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives supports 1 the designation of a ‘‘National Animal Rescue Day’’ to 2 create awareness for animal rescue programs throughout 3 the year and address the challenge of overpopulation 4 through continued spaying and neutering. 5 Æ VerDate Sep 11 2014 03:05 Jan 10, 2019 Jkt 089200 PO 00000 Frm 00002 Fmt 6652 Sfmt 6301 E:\BILLS\HR34.IH HR34 kjohnson on DSK79L0C42 with BILLS