Printer Friendly
Philatelic News
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 14, 2002
Stamp Release #02-031
'NEUTER OR SPAY' POSTAGE STAMPS TO
BE ISSUED BY U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Puppy and Kitten Featured on Social Awareness Stamps
BE ISSUED BY U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
Puppy and Kitten Featured on Social Awareness Stamps
WASHINGTON - A charming puppy and kitten will be featured on new 37-cent First-Class Neuter or Spay postage stamps to be issued by the U.S. Postal Service on Sept. 20, 2002.
The Neuter or Spay stamp first day of issue ceremony will take place at 12:30 p.m. (MDT) on Friday, Sept. 20 during a luncheon at The National Humane Conference. This 125th annual conference is a celebration of the American Humane Association and is in the Adam's Mark Hotel, Denver, Colo. These stamps will officially go on sale nationwide at all post offices on September 20.
The Neuter or Spay stamps portray a male puppy and a female kitten that were photographed in a Connecticut animal shelter while awaiting adoption. Each was subsequently neutered or spayed and adopted into a loving home. Additionally, the selvage of the pane of 20 stamps features a toll-free telephone number, 1-888-pets911, and a website address www.pets911.com., for customers to obtain additional neuter and spay information.
This release will mark the first issuance of stamps featuring a pet cat and dog since the popular 13-cent stamp of a kitten and puppy issued in 1982 and the Bright Eyes stamps issued in 1998. These are also the first U.S. postage stamps to call attention to the pressing issue of pet overpopulation. The issuance of the stamps is the culmination of a grassroots campaign by thousands of citizens, community leaders, animal health and welfare organizations, veterinarians and celebrities.
The photographs of the puppy and kitten were taken by Sally Andersen-Bruce. Derry Noyes of Washington, D.C., was the designer and art director for the stamps.
The Postal Service has the support of the American Partnership for Pets (APP), the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and other animal health and welfare groups to promote the issuance of the Neuter or Spay stamps.
To see the stamps, go to www.usps.com/shop. Under "Collector's Corner," click on Release Schedule, or click on Stamp Issues to see images of many past and future stamps.
All current stamps and other philatelic products, as well as a free comprehensive catalog, are available by calling toll free 1 800 STAMP-24. In addition, a selection of current stamps and gift items are available online at the Postal Store.
# # #
Since 1775, the U.S. Postal Service has connected friends, families, neighbors and businesses by mail. It is an independent federal agency that visits 137 million homes and businesses every day and is the only service provider to deliver to every address in the nation. The Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars for routine operations, but derives its operating revenues solely from the sale of postage, products and services. With annual revenues of more than $65 billion, it is the world's leading provider of postal services, offering some of the most affordable postage rates in the world. The Postal Service delivers more than 46 percent of the world's mail volume-some 207 billion letters, advertisements, periodicals and packages a year-and serves 7 million customers each day at its 40,000 retail locations nationwide.
# # #