T-L Photo/SHELLEY HANSON
Webark Estates animal shelter will offer a gift certificate for a free Domino’s pizza for each cat spayed or neutered through their discounted program at the Elm Grove Animal Shelter in Wheeling on Tuesday.

WHEELING — Each year, the Humane Society of the United States sponsors “World Spay Day,” a campaign that provides an opportunity for local animal shelters to promote their spay/neuter programs, highlight the need for such programs, and draw community support in the form of donations and volunteers.

Originally created by the Doris Day animal League in 1995 as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day has been recognized by nearly 70 countries to help control the population of companion animals, as well as community (feral and stray) cats and street dogs who might otherwise be euthanized in a shelter, or put down on the street.

World Spay Day falls on Tuesday, Feb. 28, this year, and Webark Estates of Moundsville is partnering with the Elm Grove Animal Hospital in Wheeling that day to offer a special initiative to spay and neuter your pet.

Webark is offering a gift certificate for a free medium pizza at Domino’s for every cat spayed or neutered at the cat clinic on Tuesday. Appointments can be made by calling the veterinaria’s office directly to schedule at 304-242-6720. Surgeries are performed at a discounted rate of $50 for a female cat and $35 for a male cat. All cats receive a free rabies shot when surgeries are performed.

Feral, or stray community cats, are welcome and can receive a free ear tip, which involves clipping the left ear while the cat is under anesthesia. An ear tip is a “universal sign of an altered, free-roaming cat,” according to Webark.

Known as a “no-kill recommended organization,” Webark helps dogs and cats through many different programs and services, and all employees work on a volunteer basis. Programs include: Webark Delma Schank Guardian Angel For Stray Cats Fund, which helps injured stray cats; Webark Safe Kitty Program, which saves cats and kittens from euthanasia or other hopeless situations; Joan’s Webark Fund, which saves dogs from being euthanized at county pounds; Webark Ringo & Steinway Feed Fido Fund, which helps feed shelter dogs; Feline Spay/Neuter Clinics, which are held every week and lead to 1,500 spay/neuters annually; Low-Cost Rabies Shot Clinics, which are available in Ohio, Marshall and Brooke counties in W.Va.; and God’s Helping Paws, which is a grant program that “helps pet owners in need, saves senior dogs from pounds, provides good samaritan funding, shows compassion for God’s creatures, and spreads the message that Jesus loves us, man or beast.”

Contributions to help Webark’s programs and services can be mailed to: Webark Estates, P.O. Box 918, Moundsville, WV 26041. One does not need to be a W.Va. resident to take advantage of Webark’s programs.