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NATIONAL PET WEEK PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, National Pet Week was jointly founded in 1981 by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) and the AVMA Auxiliary to foster responsible pet ownership, recognize the human-animal bond, and increase public awareness of veterinary medicine; and WHEREAS, The theme for National Pet Week in 2012 is "Healthy Pets Make Happy Homes"; and WHEREAS, Shelter employees, volunteers, and donors are committed to working together to rescue abandoned animals, and to improve pets’ lives by finding them homes; and WHEREAS, In 2011, the Humane Society of the Palouse cared for 345 cats, of which 16 were returned to their owners, and 419 dogs, of which 258 were returned to their owners, and found new homes for 286 of those cats and 163 of those dogs, and for 6 rabbits, one rat, one chinchilla, a ferret, and a guinea pig that could not be reunited with their owners; and WHEREAS, The Humane Society of the Palouse encourages pet owner to have their animals spayed or neutered and to have annual veterinary check-ups to help ensure that their pets enjoy long and happy lives: and WHEREAS, Moscow’s neighbor, Washington State University, is home to a world class veterinary teaching hospital, one of 29 such facilities in North America and among only 45 such facilities accredited worldwide; and WHEREAS, the WSU College of Veterinary Medicine is integral to the Paul G. Allen School for Global Animal Health, and home to the famed People-Pet Partnership Program, which oversees the Pet Education Partnership, Companion Animal Partnership, and Palouse Area Therapeutic Horsemanship Programs; and WHEREAS, One enterprising student from the University of Idaho, Mickinzie Johnson, has established the Human Society Kennel Project, to raise $10,000 for new kennels at our local animal shelter; and WHEREAS, the City of Moscow recognizes the physical, social, and emotional health benefits that companion animals and their owners provide each other every day; NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nancy Chaney, Mayor for the City of Moscow, do hereby proclaim May 6- 12, 2012 NATIONAL PET WEEK in the City of Moscow, and I call upon community members to consider that tender interaction with other creatures enhances physical, emotional, and social well-being, and that adopting pets improves lives, in addition to saving them. DATED this 4th day of May, 2012