Sayreville NJ — Local officials held a special stamp dedication ceremony on Friday, May 14, for the new Animal Rescue: Adopt a Shelter Pet postage stamps at the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center. The ceremony included the unveiling of a 2ft X 2ft enlargement of the 44–cent stamps featuring five cats and five dogs. Ceremony participants included: Parlin Postmaster Ed Lopez, Sayreville Pet Adoption Director Barbara Keegan, Sayreville Veterinarian Dr. Joseph Chiosi, USPS Communications Specialist Connie Chirichello, and Officer Mike Azzarello from the NJ SPCA Police.
The Adopt a Shelter Pet stamps is part of the Postal Service’s long term commitment to raising awareness of important social issues. The Sayreville Pet Adoption Center is a nonprofit, no–kill animal shelter that seeks loving homes for stray or unwanted cats and dogs. More than 700 pets are adopted annually at the Sayreville Pet Adoption Center.
Every year, six to eight million cats and dogs enter animal shelters. Although Sayreville is a no–kill center; nearly half of the dogs and cats entering other shelters across the country are euthanized. Experts agree that the key to the solution is adopting a shelter pet when seeking a new companion animal and ensuring that the animal is spayed or neutered.
“With the issuance of these stamps, the Postal Service is continuing its long, proud history of raising awareness of important social issues …one letter at a time,” said Parlin Postmaster Ed Lopez. “Our goal is to increase public awareness of the problem and to promote humane and responsible pet care.”
The pets depicted on the stamps were photographed by Sally Andersen–Bruce near her home in New Milford, Connecticut. All had been homeless at one time; all but one had been adopted when they were photographed.
Other social awareness stamps issued over the last decade by the Postal Service include: Diabetes Awareness, Amber Alert, Mentoring a Child, Spay and Neuter, Sickle Cell Awareness, and Alzheimer’s Awareness to name a few.
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