spay neuter section.
Download a printable version of the Ohio Pet Plate flier and display it in your shelter, humane
society, veterinarians office, coffee shop, doggie day care, store window, lobby, bulletin
board, or any place where people can see it. Click on either of the fliers below and print
them.
Flier 1
Flier 2
2. Link to our website
Display a smaller version of the plate on your website and have it link to us. Visit our
artwork request section to learn how.
3. Add our press release to your mailings
Add our press release to your newsletter, business mailings, or e-mails. A copy of our press
release can be found below. Click here for a printable copy.
4. Contact your local radio stations
Ask them to run a Public Service Announcement (send them the press release found below)
on the air, on their website, or ask them to tag their traffic and weather reports with the
following:
"This traffic report brought to you by PetsOhio.com :sound effects: (woof woof,meow meow) Show how Pet
friendly you are by getting the pet plate for your car. Visit PetsOhio.com"
"It's raining cats and dogs! Help prevent Ohio's pet overpopulation by buying the Ohio Pet License Plate for
your car. Visit PetsOhio.com"
5. Write a letter to the editor
Write a letter to the editor of your local paper telling them how the pet friendly plate can
help your community. Click here for a sample letter.
6. Volunteer at a festival or parade
Download copies of the fliers and pass them out at your local festivals or parades.
Flier 1
Flier 2
7. Pass out coloring pages
Download a printable copy of a coloring page for kids.
Coloring Page 1
Coloring Page 2
*8. Order a banner
Rescue Groups, Shelters, Humane Societies, or any other groups interested in supporting the
Ohio Pet Fund can help us get the word out about the pet plate by purchasing a banner for
$89 from Minuteman Press. Just call (614) 792-3399 and ask for Marina or Ken or e-mail
dublin@minutemanpress.com and tell them you'd like a 3' x 6' banner (order #30259). You
can also have the words on the plate customized to the name or phone number of your
organization. Click here to see a picture of the banner
Grant-Meet the Artist-Special Thanks-Promote the Plate
www.petsohio.com
It took more than 4 years, but today, the Pet plate, Ohio's newest specialty license plate, passed the Ohio
Legislature by much more than a wet nose.
Senator Robert L. Schuler, R-Cincinnati sponsored the Bill
The Pet plates will cost motorists $25 in addition to standard license fees. By state law $10 of the fee goes to the
bureau of motor vehicles. $15 will go to the Ohio Pet Fund. Proceeds from the sale of the plate will be used for
the spaying and neutering of dogs and cats to curb Ohio's pet overpopulation. Funds will also be used to educate
the public about the proper veterinary care of those pets.
Nationally syndicated cartoonist Jenny Campbell of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, designed the artwork for the plate. While
the plate displays a cartoon image of a comical dog and a cat looking out a car window, Senator Schuler explains
there is a very serious side to the plate.
“It is estimated that 4-6 million dogs and cats are destroyed each year in animal shelters across the country.
According to a survey by Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine, two-thirds of the homeless dogs
and cats taken in by animal shelters are euthanized; only one-fourth are adopted.”
Representative Patricia Clancy R-Cincinnati says it’s a tragic cycle.
“We can't adopt our way out of the homeless animal problem. We'd each have to adopt 45 cats and 15 dogs to
deal with the crisis, and that's just not going to happen. We need to focus on the root of the problem. Spay/neuter
stops the breeding cycle."
“One simple solution to the problem is just not letting our family dogs and cats breed,” says Peggy Kaplan with The
Ohio Pet Fund, the nonprofit corporation that will benefit from the sale of the plates. "Spay/neuter not only reduces
overpopulation, but also has health benefits for the animals and reduces annoying behaviors like spraying,
fighting, and going into heat. But some people can't afford the cost of the spay/neuter surgery. The funds from
the sale of the plate will help shelters neuter their animals before adoption, help fix stray cats, and assist limited
income families with the cost of surgery."
And there are plenty of adoptable puppies, kittens, dogs and cats to go around. There has been wide spread
support for the Bill by reputable breeders who will help in determining how the funds are distributed. They too
agree that something has to be done to curb the amount of “backyard breeders” whose puppies end up in our
shelters.
"Currently over 4 million dogs and cats live in Ohio households. While those numbers may reflect our affection for
pets, the pet overpopulation problem is ongoing, not just in shelters but in humane societies, foster and breed
rescue groups and on our own streets,” Kaplan says.
The Ohio Pet Fund does not anticipate funding until late 2005 or early 2006. Once enough money is raised, The
Fund will offer a grant application to municipal shelters, nonprofit humane societies, rescue organizations and
veterinary associations. Through these organizations, funding will also be able to help individuals who meet the
qualifying guidelines for having their pets spayed or neutered.
“The more plates we sell, the more dogs and cats we can help. Who knows, maybe one day Ohio may become
known as a state where there are no more homeless pets,” Kaplan says.
To learn how more about the “Pet” plate or to be notified of the plate's release date, visit the website at http://www.
petsohio.com/.
