National Homeless Animals' Day 132 Art Project

The 132 Art Project, entitled "Homeless No More" was inspired by the recent work of Cyrus Mejia, artist and one of the founders of Best Friends Animal Sanctuary. His collection, called the 575 Art Project, used the number of animals euthanized in animal shelters each hour across the United States. In an attempt to raise local awareness, we have chosen 132: the number of dogs and cats euthanized every week in 2003 at the Valley Oak SPCA. These needless deaths were caused by pet-overpopulation. The 132 collars you see on our dog house were once worn by just 2% of the 6881 animals in our community who were euthanized at the SPCA last year.

The 132 Art Project dog house was the main focus of a performance art candlelighting ceremony. Nine SPCA volunteers and employees lit 132 tealight candles in cat-food cans. The flames were then extinguished by everyone present at the Vigil in a symbolic act honoring the lives and mourning the deaths of these innocent cats and dogs.