HARTFORD – On November 1, the Department of Agriculture, unveiled a new billboard at the Hartford Regional Market that highlights the agency’s Caring For Pets commemorative license plates.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of each plate benefits the Animal Population Control Program (APCP), which provides vaccination/sterilization benefits to any Connecticut resident who adopts a cat or dog from a municipal impound facility.

“More than 3,000 plates have been sold since 1999, taking in more than $100,000 for the APCP,” reported Deputy Commissioner Bruce Gresczyk. “We hope the billboard will help to generate additional plate activity from the thousands of daily Hartford commuters.”

The Connecticut Market Authority made the billboard space available. The Humane Society of the United States provided funds for the vinyl cover development and the original plate artwork was donated by Mark Maglio of Plainville and Kathy Goff of Avon.

The billboard will be at the Regional Market location of Route 91 for the remainder of the month and then will be relocated to various locations throughout the state during 2001.

According to the APCP, from October 15, 1997 through December 31, 1999, more than 16,800 stray cats and dogs were adopted from municipal pounds and the public took advantage of program benefits by sterilizing 10,630 pets. In addition, 20,806 pre-surgical vaccinations were issued – of which half were rabies vaccinations.

The APCP was created by state law in 1992 and issued its first spay/neuter certificate to a Preston man and his male boxer mix on May 26, 1995. The average benefit to adopters is about $96 in veterinarian services.

More than $1 million was paid to Connecticut veterinary practices for benefits during this time period.