Pet lovers will soon be able to -show they care, on their car.
You can now purchase a special pet license plate for your vehicle and help reduce pet overpopulation at the same time.
News Specialist Shelley Osterloh has the story.
The No More Homeless Pets in Utah License Plate Program was started by three women who say they had no idea what they were getting into when they started..
But they managed get the Legislature to approve their idea for the special plates.... And they are hopeful it will go along way to reducing unwanted pets.
Vanessa Hamiliton-Highfield... and Teresa Wilhelmsen have visited nearly every Division of Motor Vehicle office in the State... spreading the word about a new license plate program that raises money for Pet Spay and Neuter programs.
Vanessa Hamilton-Highfield/Pet License Plate: SINCE WE ARE NOT ON THE FORMS, WE COULD COME AROUND TO EACH DMV AND MAKE SURE YOU GUYS... THERE IS ACTUALLY A FORM ON THE BACK, THEY CAN FILL IT OUT, THEY CAN GO HOME WITH IT, THEY DON'T EVEN HAVE TO WAIT IN LINE.
The Specialty Plates cost 25 dollars a year. .. and 22.50 of that goes to spay and neuter programs.
Teresa Wilhelmsen: IT HELPS PREVENT THAT MANY MORE ANIMALS BEING PUT OUT THERE AND WHEN THEY ADOPT THEM OUT, IF THEY CAN BE SPAY AND NEUTERED BEFORE THEY GO, IT HELPS, IT REALLY DOES, EVERY SURGERY WOULD HELP.
The Program was started by Vanessa Hamilton Highfield who was looking for a way to honor the memory of her own pet, named Lovey.--- She is pictured on the Pet Plates. Along with Melvin.. a tabby cat who's also died. Vanessa teamed up with two friends to push the measure through the legislature.
Vanessa Hamilton-Highfield/Pet License Plate: WE ARE THREE ARDENT ANIMAL LOVERS.. AND FINDING OUT THAT 48-THOUSAND ANIMALS ARE KILLED YEARLY IN UTAH IS JUST A STATISTIC THAT WE CANNOT ACCEPT.
They hope the plate and the cause appeal to other people who love pets.
Vanessa Hamilton-Highfield/Pet License Plate: IT BENEFITS ANIMALS. AND THE PET OVERPOPULATION PROBLEM.
David Montoya: I HAVE A NEW FOUNDLAND, THREE CHIHUAHUAS AND TWO CATS.
Hamiliton-Highfield: WELL YOU DOING YOUR RESCUE PART, THAT'S FOR SURE.
This man purchased a plate on the spot.
Shelley : AND DO YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF THE PICTURE ON YOUR PLATE OR DO YOU LIKE THE IDEA OF HELPING SPAY AND NEUTERING OR WHAT?
Montoya: ANYTHING THAT HELPS THE WELL BEING OF ANIMALS.
The program is just barely underway... and already about 400 people have purhased the plates... thats about 9-thousand dollars for No More Homeless Pets.
