Group Pressures Talk-Show Host to Dedicate Now Empty Advertising Spots to Spay-and-Neuter Promotions
For Immediate Release:
March 6, 2012
Contact:
Shakira Croce 202-483-7382
Norfolk, Va. -- Rush Limbaugh may be hemorrhaging advertisers after his attack on Sandra Fluke over women's access to birth control, but there's one organization still anxious to run its ads during his radio program: PETA. That is, if Limbaugh will promote the type of birth control everyone should be able to agree on—spaying and neutering dogs and cats. In a letter sent to Limbaugh this morning, PETA suggests that he turn the controversy into positive change for animals by running the group's 30-second "Spay Today!" public service announcement—which urges all animal guardians to get their dogs and cats fixed—during one of the show's now empty advertising spots.
"Dogs and cats can't use pills, patches, or condoms, let alone pay for them," says PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk. "Rush Limbaugh has a unique opportunity to use his platform to help PETA promote lifesaving spay-and-neuter surgeries—the only way to end the animal overpopulation crisis."
For more information, please visit PETA.org.
PETA's letter to Rush Limbaugh follows.
March 6, 2012
Rush Limbaugh
The Rush Limbaugh Show
1270 Avenue of the Americas, Ninth Floor
New York, NY 10020
Dear Mr. Limbaugh,
I am writing on behalf of PETA with a proposal to turn the past week's bitter arguments about contraceptives into a positive matter.
Please help us promote the one kind of birth control that all Americans can agree on: spaying and neutering dogs and cats in order to abate the tragic overpopulation crisis. Would you consider running our 30-second public service announcement, which you can hear at http://www.peta.org/mediacenter/ads/radio-ads/Spay-Today.aspx, during any advertising slot on your show that may now be available?
Three to 4 million dogs and cats must be euthanized in animal shelters every year for lack of homes. Others are abandoned and left to fend for themselves on the streets, where they are often subjected to cruelty and suffer from starvation, diseases, or injuries. Many are not given veterinary care because of the economy and/or human callousness. Sterilized animals usually live longer, happier lives. Spaying females greatly reduces the risk of mammary and uterine cancer. Neutering makes males far less likely to roam or fight, prevents testicular cancer, and reduces the risk of prostate cancer.
At the moment, taxpayers shoulder most of the burden of unchecked dog and cat reproduction since municipal animal shelters are largely responsible for the significant costs of capturing, feeding, housing, and, sadly, euthanizing animals.
Cats and dogs can't write a check for their own surgery or get an HMO to cover it. It's up to all guardians to be responsible and get their animals spayed or neutered. Will you help us promote this essential form of birth control? Thank you for your time.
Very truly yours,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President