Animal shelter offers to 'neuter your ex' for Valentine's Day

Jan. 30 (UPI) -- A New Jersey animal shelter's Valentine's Day-themed fundraiser is drawing a lot of attention thanks to the facility's promise to "neuter your ex."

Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center in Blackwood announced on social media that members of the public can make a $50 donation, and in exchange they will receive naming rights for one of the feral cats the shelter captures to spay or neuter.

The shelter branded the program "neuter your ex for Valentine's Day."

"A board member mentioned that an idea had come through a volunteer about 'neuter your ex,'" Eric Schwartz, director of development for Homeward Bound Pet Adoption Center, told CBS Philadelphia.

"As we start talking about a tagline, 'Some things shouldn't breed,' I think it becomes so relatable to people," Schwartz said. "Because whether they want to talk about it openly or not, I think an image or a name comes into their mind. So it's just kind of taken off and we're certainly appreciative of the attention that it can bring to these animals."

Schwartz said the fundraiser has already proven to be a big hit, with 40 to 50 people already making donations to name feral cats after their exes.

He said money raised by the program will allow the shelter to continue spaying and neutering feral cats.

"Our spay and neuter and release program allows us to get some of these stray cats off the streets," Schwartz said. "Obviously, it's a cycle that needs to be broken or at least limited. And to keep these strays off the street is a big help."