According to Agriculture Commissioner Jonathan Shell, Kentucky’s long-running Spay or Neuter special license plate is getting a fresh look more than two decades after it was first introduced.
Shell says the redesigned plate highlights the importance of responsible pet ownership and the ongoing need to reduce the number of stray and homeless animals across the Commonwealth. Kentucky is home to more than 400 animal shelters and welfare organizations, underscoring the scope of the issue and the need for continued action.
The new design was created by Lexington graphic artist Hayli Strickland and features playful, peek-a-boo images of a kitten and a dog set against a green background. Along the bottom, the message “Spay or neuter your pets” appears alongside a red, heart-shaped pawprint.
Strickland says her goal was to create something lighthearted and engaging that would make drivers smile, even while sitting in traffic. By having the animals appear to interact directly with the driver, she hoped to bring a sense of joy while still delivering an important message.
Strickland, who teaches graphic design and photography at the University of Kentucky, has worked extensively as an illustrator and designer. She is also a dog owner herself, sharing her home with a Pembroke Welsh Corgi.
Beyond its updated appearance, the plate continues to play a significant role in supporting animal welfare efforts statewide. Over the lifetime of the program, sales of the Spay or Neuter license plate have generated more than $600,000 in grants, helping fund the spaying and neutering of over 17,200 cats and dogs across Kentucky.
Proceeds from the plate benefit the Animal Control and Care Fund, which is overseen by the Animal Control Advisory Board. Created by the Kentucky General Assembly in 1998, the board advises the Commissioner of Agriculture on animal control issues and reviews grant applications from counties and cities seeking funding for spay and neuter programs.
The newly redesigned plate is now available statewide and can be purchased or personalized through county clerk offices or online via the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet.
