About Neuter Your Ex Month

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The "Neuter Your Ex" fundraiser by Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center is a unique and humorous Valentine's Day campaign in which, for a $50 donation, a feral cat named after an ex-partner is neutered or spayed. The popular fundraiser is increasingly picked up by other animal charities in the United States and worldwide.

This initiative supports efforts to control the feral cat population humanely through their trap-neuter-return (TNR) program while engaging the community in a fun way. The idea quickly gained popularity and received a positive response from the public. Like other inventive fundraisers like "Line the Litter Box with Your Ex" and "Cry me a Cockroach," this campaign creatively combines fundraising with community engagement, albeit it's not a widespread trend among animal rescue charities.​ If you're a dog fan with a nasty ex, check out Finding Shelter's "Crappiest Valentine Fundraiser Ever." They'll put your ex's name on a doo bag and happily fill it on a rescue dog's next walk.

Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center's mission focuses on ending companion animal homelessness in Camden County through community awareness and responsible ownership. In collaboration with other animal welfare groups, they are working towards helping New Jersey become a "no-kill" state by 2025​​.

In the United States, approximately 6.5 million companion animals are estimated to enter US animal shelters annually. This number includes dogs and cats, with a relatively even split​​. However, these numbers can vary from year to year and depend on various factors, including efforts in spaying/neutering, adoption campaigns, and public awareness programs to reduce the number of homeless pets.

Creative fundraising efforts are popular among zoos, aquariums, and animal charities, leveraging a mix of humor and the universal experience of dealing with past relationships to generate funds for a good cause. It's a testament to the innovative ways in which non-profits seek to engage the community and support their missions.