How can I order a pet-friendly plate?

This license plate is available through the Motor Vehicle Division of the Arizona Department of Transportation. The easiest way to order the plate is on line at www.servicearizona.com , and click on personalized / specialized plate, or call the MVD office nearest you. To locate an office or for information, call:

How much does the pet-friendly license plate cost?

The annual fee is $25, and the renewal fee each year is $25.00.

What does the fee pay for?

Of the $25, $17 is transferred to a “spay/neuter fund” that funds surgical sterilization of dogs and cats throughout Arizona. The remaining $8 is collected by ADOT for administrative purposes. Then each year thereafter, when you renew the plate for $25.00, an additional $17.00 is deposited in the the spay neuter fund.

What if I want my plate personalized?

The pet-friendly plate is a "specialized" plate. Letter / number characters will be assigned randomly unless you indicate you wish to also have a" personalized" plate. Personalized plates cost an additional $25.00 per year. You are limited to a maximum of five characters to personalize a pet-friendly plate. Note: No portion of the fee for personalization will be allocated to the spay neuter fund.

Who oversees the spay/neuter fund?

The governor-appointed Companion Animal Spay and Neuter Committee oversees the fund.

Chair:
Rodrigo Silva, MVZ, MPH; Director – Maricopa County Animal Care & Control

Commitee Members:
Guy Collison – AHS Executive Director
Amy Eades, President/CEO – Humane Society of Southern Arizona
Victoria Cowper, Executive Director – Western Arizona Humane Society (Lake Havasu City)
Emily Kane, Executive Director – Arizona Veterinary Medicine Association
Teri White, Volunteer
Tammie Pineda - Sierra Vista Animal Control

How are the funds allocated and who can receive them?

Funds will be allocated as grants to qualified agencies that apply. Under state law, a qualified applicant must be a municipal animal-control agency or a non-profit 501-c-3 agency (such as a humane society or other animal-welfare shelter) that provides spay or neuter services for dogs and cats in Arizona.

 When will distribution of the funds begin?

Applications are due by August 31, 2012.  Awards will be announced and distributed before the end of the year.  The proceeds from the Pet Friendly License Plate sales accumulated from 7/1/11 to 6/30/12 will fund spay/neuter efforts throughout the state.

Why do we need to spay and neuter dogs and cats in Arizona?

Sadly, Arizona has one of the most serious pet-overpopulation problems in the United States, with tens of thousands of homeless and unwanted animals. Arizona’s problem is serious for many reasons, but two primary reasons stand out:

What is the effect of spaying or neutering a dog or cat and why is it so important?

Spaying and neutering dogs and cats -- surgically sterilizing them so they cannot reproduce -- is one of the key ways to reduce the number of unwanted and homeless puppies and kittens that are born – and thereby reduce pet overpopulation. Simply put, there are not enough loving homes for all the dogs and cats that are born every day, every month, every year!

More than 150,000 unwanted, abused, sick, injured and stray dogs and cats end up in shelters and animal-control agencies in our state annually. Fewer than 50 percent are placed with new families. Many of these companion animals suffer from health or temperament/behavioral problems which render them “un-adoptable.” Thousands more pets are humanely euthanized simply because the shelters run out of space as they wait for adoption. Countless other dogs and cats roam the streets of our communities as strays – and most strays suffer and die needlessly from hunger, dehydration, exposure and disease or as the result of an accident, injury or abuse. No one is certain how many “stray” dogs and cats live in Arizona, but the number is surely in the tens of thousands.

Who designed the artwork for the pet-friendly license plate?

The artwork was created for free by renowned animal artist Ron Burns. Ron, a Scottsdale resident, is well known for using his amazing talent to support a variety of animal-related causes; and, he is the artist in residence for the Humane Society of the United States. To learn more about Ron Burns, visit www.ronburns.com.

In addition to buying a pet-friendly license plate, are there other ways to help animals in need?

YES! When you are ready for the many responsibilities of having a pet, adopt one from a shelter; become a shelter volunteer; and/or make a donation to a shelter in your community. If you already have a dog or cat, be sure he or she is spayed or neutered so he or she is not part of the pet overpopulation problem. And, make a lifetime commitment to your dog or cat – that means keeping him or her for the duration of his or her natural life. Pets rely on their human companions for long and happy lives.

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