PaLC: Stamp Out! How Does a Spay-Neuter Stamp Fit the USPS Criteria?

Dear Mr. Postmaster

NOT ONLY STAMPS!
BUT ALSO, AN AMERICAN PARTNERSHIP!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE STAMPS, SPAY/NEUTER AND THE PARTNESHIP AT

The American Partnership
for Pets Website

STAMP OUT
Campaign History
(1996-2001)

Frequently Asked Questions
An Interview with Hope Tarr
Campaign Milestones
Why a stamp?
Why NOT a Semi-Postal?
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USPS Criteria
Please Mr. Postmaster!

"Destiny is no matter of chance. It is a matter of choice: It is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

-- William Jennings Bryan

Please, Mr. Postmaster…

The following criteria for approval of a U.S. commemorative postage stamp are taken verbatim from "Criteria, Stamp Subject Selection," by the United States Postal Service, 475 L'Enfant Plaza SW, Washington, DC 20260.

Disclaimer: The text appearing in plain type (PaLC Response) represent the position of the Prevent a Litter Coalition, and thus is **not** necessarily attributable to the U.S. Postal Service.

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The U.S. Postal Service and the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee (CSAC) have set certain basic criteria used in determining the eligibility of subjects for commemoration on U.S. stamps and stationery. These criteria first were formulated about the time of Postal Reorganization in the early 1970s, and have been refined and expanded gradually since then.

Following are the twelve major areas now guiding subject selection:

1. It is a general policy that U.S. postage stamps and stationery primarily will feature American or American-related subjects.

PaLC Response: Sadly, pet overpopulation is an American fact of life; the crisis cuts across regional, state and even local boundaries. The Humane Society of the United States estimates that as many as seven million homeless dogs and cats are euthanized in U.S. shelters each year. This estimate does not take into account the millions of feral cats roaming our streets, parking lots, and alleyways (60 million, according to Alley Cat Allies) or those companion animals fortunate enough to find their way into a shelter or rescue group.

2. No living person shall be honored by portrayal on U.S. postage.

3. Commemorative stamps or postal stationery items honoring individuals usually will be issued on, or in conjunction with, significant anniversaries of their birth, but no postal item will be issued sooner than ten years after the individual's death. The only exception to the ten-year rule is the issuance of stamps honoring deceased U.S. presidents. They may be honored with a memorial stamp on the first anniversary following the death.

PaLC Response to Criterion #2 and #3: The U.S. Postal Service has a long and proud tradition of using its commemorative stamp program to foster greater public awareness of a variety of social and health issues. Examples of issues portrayed on U.S. commemorative stamps in recent years include adoption, the importance of giving & sharing, and prostate and breast cancers, so why not pet overpopulation?

4. Events of historical significance shall be considered for commemoration only on anniversaries in multiples of 50 years.

PaLC Response: Criterion #4 doesn't apply to a Pet Overpopulation Awareness stamp, but we can't resist providing a wee bit of trivia.

Question: What five-cent orange, brown and black commemorative stamp depicting a "mongrel" dog was issued on April 9, 1966?

Answer: The Humane Treatment of Animals Stamp (Scott Catalog #1307). Animal loving philatelists can order the stamp through any number of stamp brokerage firms and dealers.

See there IS a precedent. As to the issue of anniversaries, we think that after thirty-some years, the Postal Service is LONG overdue to issue another humane educational stamp that addresses companion animals and their wellbeing. And, in case any of you Postal folks have elected to pay us a little visit, we're talking about REAL animals, not Daffy or Bugs Bunny.

5. Only events and themes of widespread national appeal and significance will be considered for commemoration. Events or themes of local or regional significance may be recognized by a philatelic or special postal cancellation, which may be arranged through the local postmaster.

PaLC Response: Lest we forget, pet overpopulation is a NATIONAL problem. That's right, NA-TION-AL. Okay, now that we're all on the same page, consider the following. Approximately 60 percent of U.S. households include at least one dog or cat. A recent national survey conducted by the American Animal Hospital Association found that 69 percent of dog owners and 60 percent of cat owners give their pets as much attention as they would their children.

6. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor fraternal, political, sectarian, or service/charitable organizations that exist primarily to solicit and/or distribute funds. Nor shall stamps be issued to honor commercial enterprises or products.

PaLC Response: At present, Criterion #6 doesn't affect the Pet Overpopulation Awareness Stamp. Unlike the breast cancer folks, we're not asking to collect money, in our case for neutering dogs and cats… yet. As for "commercial enterprises or products," the last time we checked Daffy and Bugs and Porky all are owned by Warner Brothers. That's right, Warner Brothers. Just goes to show that there's a bit of shall we say "wiggle" in the rules.

7. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor cities, towns, municipalities, counties, primary or secondary schools, hospitals, libraries, or similar institutions placed on annual postal programs and the vast number of such locales, organizations and institutions in existence; it would be difficult to single out any one for commemoration.

PaLC Response: Ahem. Too bad we can't add "corporate fiefdoms" to the list. [Note. This is where the STAMP OUT project coordinator holds out her front paw to receive sound slap]. Seriously, just so we're all clear on this, the Pet Overpopulation Awareness Stamp is for the animals, **not** PaLC, **not** any organization or group however worthy. The stamp's purpose is to increase the public's awareness of the responsibility that all of us, as owners/guardians, have not only toward our animal companions but also our community at large. Given that the average print run of a commemorative stamp is 80 MILLION, we think the stamp is a wonderful medium for getting the message out there, especially to kids and adolescents. After all, they're the next generation of pet owners/guardians, so we might as well raise 'em right, so to speak.

8. Requests for observance of statehood anniversaries will be considered for commemorative postage stamps only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the state's first entry into the Union. Requests for observance of other state-related or regional anniversaries will be considered only as subjects for postal stationery, and again only at intervals of 50 years from the date of the event.

PaLC's Response: Doesn't apply to us, but just for practice's sake, repeat the mantra: "Pet overpopulation is a NATIONAL problem."

9. Stamps or stationery items shall not be issued to honor religious institutions or individuals whose principal achievements are associated with religious undertakings or beliefs.

PaLC Response: Doesn't apply to us, as the proposed Pet Overpopulation Awareness Stamp is a secular endeavor, though we're not above doing a little praying when it comes to this whole issuance thing.

10. Stamps or postal stationery items with added values referred to as "semi-postals"shall not be issued. Due to the vast number of worthy fund-raising organizations in existence, it would be difficult to single out specific ones to receive such revenue…

PaLC Response: Obviously the Breast Cancer Semipostal has obviated Criterion #10. The BC Stamp has done such a fabulous job of garnering funds for breast cancer research that the Postal Service commandeered a second print run. That said, all we're asking for at present is a regular little ole U.S. commemorative stamp with a Pet Overpopulation Awareness theme. We're **not** asking that the stamp be issued as a semi-postal to raise money for companion animal neutering, though on second thought it ain't a bad idea …

11. Requests for commemoration of significant anniversaries of universities and other institutions of higher education shall be considered only in regard to Historic Preservation Series postal cards featuring an appropriate building on the campus.

PaLC Response: Again, this one doesn't apply to us, but we can't resist the chance to brag. Did you know that the veterinary medical colleges of both Tufts and Cornell Universities are among the STAMP OUT's more than 210 endorsing organizations? Pretty nifty, huh?

12. No stamp shall be considered for issuance if one treating the same subject has been issued in the past ten years. The only exception to this rule will be those stamps issued in recognition of traditional themes such as Christmas, U.S. Flag, Express Mail, Love etc.

PaLC's Response: Again, we pass this one with flying colors. To reiterate, the last time the Postal Service issued a stamp concerning the wellbeing of companion animals was 1966. Oh sure, there have been some furry faces gracing U.S. stamps from time to time, notably the cartoonish "Bright Eyes" series celebrating household pets back in 1998, but there was NO message there, humane or otherwise. In fact, neither the dog nor cat was shown wearing a collar, let alone an ID tag! Okay Postal dudes, now it's your turn to hold out your respective paws. Bad, bad, bad …