An estimated 70,000 cats and dogs are born each day in the United States. Animal shelters and veterinarians urge pet owners to spay or neuter their pets in order to combat the problem of animal overpopulation. Spaying and neutering pets can lead to better health and longer lives. The puppy Kirby and kitten Samantha featured on the stamp pane were adopted from no-kill animal shelters, and both are enjoying life in Connecticut. With the issuance of these stamps, the Postal Service continued its tradition of raising public awareness of social issues.