The Kentucky Commissioner of Agriculture is putting out the call to interested artists—its time to redesign the Kentucky spay and neuter special license plate.
According to a news release, Kentucky’s Spay and Neuter specialty license plate and depicted the same kitten and puppy nuzzled up together for the past 20-years, and it was adopted to raise awareness for the need to reduce pet over-population in the state. Since its inception, sales of the specialty plate have equated to more than $600,000 in grants being awarded to organizations, resulting in more than 17,200 cats and dogs being spayed or neutered.
Proceeds from the sales of the license plates go to the Animal Control and Care Fund, which is administered by the Animal Control Advisory Board.
Ag. Commissioner Jonathan Shell says it’s time for a new design, and since February is Spay and Neuter Awareness Month, this was the perfect time to launch the initiative.
Artists are asked to consider the message of spaying and neutering and how it helps cut down on pet overpopulation, how it can reduce the risks of disease and fighting amongst the pet population and how it results in more animals getting adopted.
The contest deadline is April 20 and Commissioner Shell says, “Practicing responsible pet ownerships and the need to reduce the stray and homeless pet population are the messages surrounding this plate design. With 411 animal shelters and animal welfare organizations in Kentucky, it’s obvious we, as a society, need to do more to control the population.