According to today’s announcement by U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter, pretty soon we’ll be able to not only seal our letters with a kiss, but stamp them with a dog or cat. OK, he didn’t say anything about kisses but the other part is true. The United States Postal Service (USPS) has created a series of stamps featuring the adorable mugs of five cats and five dogs, all of whom were rescued from a shelter in New Milford, Conn.
 
“These stamps continue a Postal Service tradition of bringing attention to serious social issues of the day … one letter at a time,” Potter said. “This campaign will increase public awareness about sheltered pets and our hope is that it will encourage pet adoption and promote humane and responsible pet care.”
 
For you stamp collectors and trivia lovers, cats and dogs have been featured on other U.S. postage stamps, according to USPS public relations folks. A 13-cent stamp of a kitten and puppy playing in the snow was issued in 1982 for use on holiday postcards, in 1998, images of a cat and a dog were included in the “Bright Eyes” set of five pets, and most recently, in 2002, photographs of a kitten and puppy were featured on the “Neuter or Spay” stamps.
 
Animal Rescue stamps go on sale at post offices nationwide on April 30, but they can be pre-ordered beginning today at usps.com/shop, stampstotherescue.com, or by calling 1.800.STAMP.24 (1.800.782.6724).