Mystics guard launches full court press to improve health care

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation's largest
animal protection organization, is teaming up with Washington Mystics
star Stacey Dales-Schuman on a new public service effort that urges
pet owners to have their pets spayed and neutered.

Dales-Schuman is featured in a 30 second television public service
announcement – "Don't Take a Chance With Your Pet's Health." The spot
notes that spaying or neutering has health benefits for pets. Some of
those benefits include:

Spaying pets reduces the risk of breast cancer in dogs and cats and
eliminates the possibility of uterine or ovarian cancer.
Neutering eliminates the risk of testicular cancer and greatly
reduces the chances that your pet will develop prostate cancer.
Spaying and neutering can help improve pet behavior and reduces the
chances your dog will bite.

"Most people know that spaying and neutering can help in the fight
against pet overpopulation," said Dales-Schuman. "But they may not
understand how important it is for their own pet's well-being. I'm
sure my pets are happier and healthier as a result of being spayed.
This is a really important message, and I'm so pleased to be able to
share it."

"We're very excited to have Stacey Dales-Schuman lend her support to
the effort to encourage people to spay and neuter their pets," said
Stephanie Shain, outreach director for The HSUS' companion animals
program. "She's such a positive influence and a role model for the
fans of professional basketball, and she's also committed to helping
animals."

Dales-Schuman plays forward for the Mystics, Washington's WNBA team.
She represented the team in the 2002 WNBA All Star Game. A native of
Ontario, Canada, Dales-Schuman attended Oklahoma where she led her
team to the 2001-2002 NCAA Championship Game. She's an on-air analyst
for ESPN during their coverage of women's college basketball games.
She has two dogs, Gracie and Allie.

The HSUS has more than seven million members and constituents. The
HSUS is a mainstream voice for animals, with active programs in
companion animals and equine protection, wildlife and habitat
protection, animals in research and farm animals and sustainable
agriculture. The HSUS has protected all animals through legislation,
litigation, investigation, education, advocacy and field work. The
non-profit organization, which celebrates its 50th anniversary in
2004, is based in Washington, DC and has 10 regional offices across
the country. For more information, visit The HSUS' Web site –
www.hsus.org.