This here is a contest to see who can most effectively portray, in a way that will get the attention of others, the suffering of animals in shelters.

Due date: May 30th

I would like the focus to be on one or more of the following:
Domestic animal overpopulation
Shelter euthanasia rates
The importance of spay/neuter
Going to shelters to search for lost pets
Adopting rather than buying pets

Visual art is preferred, as it's generally more effective, but written pieces are allowed.

PRIZE (so far):
- $15
- A free commission from
- A journal feature in 's and my journals

I'm hoping someone else will toss in some more cash or offer commissions or something else as a prize ((hint hint nudge nudge)) to give as much incentive as possible!

Some statistics for inspiration or to use in your artwork:

From One at a Time:
30,000 dogs and cats were handled in shelters in the Silicon Valley of California in one year's time. Well over half were euthanized.

6 to 8 million animals go through American shelters each year.

3 to 4 million are euthanized in American shelters each year.

250,000 animals die in shelters every month

405 animals die in shelters every hour

One animal dies in a shelter every nine seconds

From American Humane, a study of 1997:

Of the 1,000 shelters that replied to the National Council's survey, 4.3 million animals were handled.

In 1997 roughly 64% of the total number of animals that entered shelters were euthanized -- approximately 2.7 million animals in just these 1,000 shelters.These animals may have been put down due to overcrowding, but may have been sick, aggressive, injured, or suffered something else.

56% of dogs and 71% of cats that enter animal shelters are euthanized. More cats are euthanized than dogs because they are more likely to enter a shelter without any owner identification.

Only 15% of dogs and 2% of cats that enter animal shelters are reunited with their owners.

25% of dogs and 24% of cats that enter animal shelters are adopted.