Every day would be World Spay Day if Doris Day had her way. The 92-year-old actress has been a long-time crusader for animal welfare and the ongoing campaign to reduce animal suffering through spay and neuter programs.
Created by the Doris Day Animal League in 1995 as Spay Day USA, World Spay Day falls on the last Tuesday of February, and has been recognized by nearly 70 countries. It is actively supported by the Humane Society of the United States.
World Spay Day shines a spotlight on the power of affordable, accessible spay and neuter to save the lives of companion animals, stray cats and street dogs who might otherwise be put down in shelters.
And yes, Ms. Day is still going strong at 92, and lives with her “many rescue pets” at her home in Carmel-by-the-Sea, California. “Ms. Day’s eyesight is remarkable. She doesn’t even wear reading glasses when reading the newspaper,” an anonymous source told Radar.
Doris founded the Doris Day Animal Foundation in 1978. In 2004 she was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush for both her achievements in the entertainment industry, and for her work on behalf of animals, such as these kittens rescued by the dedicated staff of the Doris Day Foundation.
She also received a Grammy Award for Lifetime Achievement in 2008, and has three Grammy Hall of Fame Awards.