Marlane Barnes is enjoying life. Taking on juicy roles in the popular AMC hit Mad Men and the upcoming Showtime series Masters of Sex, the Twilight actress is having a blast. But she does have a serious side, and it comes out when she talks about her role as spokesperson for Spay FIRST!.
The 23-year-old actress recalls the time when she was a ***, and used her birthday money to fix one of her cats. In Arkansas and Texas, where she grew up, “most people didn’t spay or neuter their pets,” she says. “My parents were indifferent, but when I got interested, they were supportive.”
“My parents and I noticed that our cat became healthier after he was neutered,” she explains. “He became a better pet because he stopped spraying and fighting with the other cats, was more cuddly, and took better care of himself.”
“For me, spaying and neutering cats and dogs is a health issue for the animals and for us. We have to remember that animal control started as a public safety issue, as a way to protect the public from stray dogs and feral cats. Instead of focusing on giving more dollars to animal shelters to collect, house, and then euthanize the cats and dogs in their care, we need to shift those tax dollars and use those dollars for spay and neuter programs. And we have to make spaying and neutering pets affordable. Almost half of the households in America make less than $35,000 a year. They are living paycheck to paycheck. The pets are the hidden victims. When it comes down to spending money to feed your family or to spay or neuter your pet, parents will opt for feeding their families.”
A Common Sense Approach
Marlane learned about Spay FIRST! while she was volunteering at her local animal shelter. She was drawn to Spay FIRST!’s educational programs, which teach people about the benefits of spaying and neutering their pets. “There is a lot of misinformation out there,” she says. “People think that they have to wait until a pet has its first litter or its first heat before that pet gets spayed or neutered. It’s just not true. Spay FIRST! does an excellent job of educating people about the necessity of spaying and neutering our pets.”
She is a proponent of TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) programs for feral cats “because trapping, neutering, and then returning cats to their communities has been proven to reduce the number of stray cats,” she says.
Cats and Dogs
Marlane and her boyfriend live with three cats and a foster dog. She always makes sure to foster dogs that get along with her cats. She also volunteers with a few local rescue groups and with Best Friends Animal Society. She is proud of her role as National Spokesperson for Spay FIRST!.
“We are very grateful to Marlane,” says Ruth Steinberger, founder of Spay FIRST!. “As a national spokesperson for Spay FIRST!, she has helped educate the public about the tragedy of pet overpopulation. Marlane has reached out to her huge following of fans and has educated millions across the globe via numerous media interviews. She’s very dedicated to the cause and we are delighted to have her support.”