News

IndyHumane offers cat adoption special

2013-06-17T20:37:01+00:00

All cats 7 months and older $19.99 this week to increase adoptions

Kittens 2-for-1 adoption fee

IndyHumane is running a special on cat adoptions. All cats 7 months and older have a $19.99 adoption fee for one week only – Monday, June 17 through Sunday, June 23 (the shelter is closed to the public on Thursday). IndyHumane adoption fees for cats are typically $75.00. IndyHumane is also running a special on kittens, and all kittens under 7 months are 2-for-1 adoption fee.

“Indianapolis Animal Care and Control is overflowing and requesting us to pull some cats, and we’re headed there as soon as we have space available,” Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says. “By adopting from IndyHumane, you’ll actually save two lives, because we’re going to head to the city shelter as soon as possible and help them.”

Potential adopters will need to plan to place a hold on an available cat and return the following day to complete the adoption process. Adopters will also need to plan to go through IndyHumane’s typical adoption process, which includes filling out an application and discussing the animal’s history and behavior with an adoption counselor in order to ensure that each animal adopted will be matched with the most compatible family.

“We have such a great variety of cats and kittens right now,” Lisa Howell, Cat Advocate at IndyHumane, says. “Since the majority of our cats at IndyHumane live in free-roaming spaces, they’ve had a chance to relax and let their true personalities shine through. Our staff knows these cats well, and we’re happy to help patrons find a cat who is a perfect match for their family.”

2-for-1 adoption fee for kittens 6 months and younger

2013-06-05T01:49:19+00:00

We celebrate cats and kittens year-round at IndyHumane, but June is an extra special time to celebrate our cats. June is "Adopt a Shelter Cat Month," and we hope you'll consider adding a feline friend to your home to help celebrate!

IndyHumane is running a special on kitten adoptions. All kittens 6 months and younger currently have a 2-for-1 adoption fee.

"We have several kittens available right now and approximately 30 more coming back from foster care over the next week or so," Lisa Howell, Cat Advocate, says. "All of these kittens are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, dewormed, and microchipped. And, of course, they're extremely adorable, too!"

Adopters will need to plan to go through IndyHumane’s typical adoption process, which includes filling out an application and discussing the animal’s history and behavior with an adoption counselor in order to ensure that each animal adopted will be matched with the most compatible family. Additionally, patrons do not have to adopt two kittens, but there is no discount for adopting one kitten.

“With ‘kitten season’ in full swing, an influx of kittens have been surrendered to several local shelters and rescue groups lately. IndyHumane wants to help as many as we can,” Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says. “We’re hoping this special will help to get these kittens adopted quickly so we can assist other animals in need.”

New Saturday Vaccine Clinic Hours

2013-05-31T19:38:55+00:00

Through a generous donation from Tom Wood Subaru, IndyHumane extended the reach of the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic, located at 7929 N. Michigan Road.

The northwest clinic location is now open 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Saturdays. The goal is to provide a more convenient option for patrons and help keep more animals healthy and happy.

“Saturday is the day with the greatest number of adoptions, and it makes it very convenient for the new owners to just walk over and get any needed vaccinations or pet protection products from the clinic at the shelter,” says IndyHumane’s Animal Welfare Center Director, Kirsten VantWoud. “Even though our weekday hours are geared around the common work hours of clients, there are still those out there who need to run their errands on Saturday.”

View full hours of operation and more information regarding both of IndyHumane’s Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics.

Cat Adoption Special

2013-05-20T20:56:58+00:00

Shelter is at capacity – IndyHumane offers cat adoption special
Select cats $19.99 this week to increase adoptions

IndyHumane will be running a Memorial Day week special on cat adoptions. Select cats will have a $19.99 adoption fee for one week only – Monday, May 20 through Sunday, May 26 (the shelter is closed to the public on Thursday). IndyHumane adoption fees for cats are typically $75.00.

“Space is very limited right now, specifically for our cats, and we’re having to turn people away who are seeking to surrender cats,” Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says. “Increasing cat adoptions would allow us to help more cats in need. We also want to assist some long-time shelter residents. We have several cats who have been on the adoption floor for over a month. We aren’t sure why they keep getting overlooked – they’re all wonderful, unique cats who would be excellent companions for potential adopters.”

There are over 30 cats who will have this special, $19.99 adoption fee this week. Ages range, but the cats featured in the special are 8 months and over. Potential adopters will need to plan to place a hold on an available cat and return the following day to complete the adoption process. Adopters will also need to plan to go through IndyHumane’s typical adoption process, which includes filling out an application and discussing the animal’s history and behavior with an adoption counselor in order to ensure that each animal adopted will be matched with the most compatible family.

“With ‘kitten season’ in full swing, an influx of kittens have been surrendered to several local shelters and rescue groups lately. IndyHumane would like to provide assistance to other shelters and rescue organizations in need, but we first need to find homes for the cats who are currently available in our shelter,” Jeschke says. “We’re hoping this special will help to get these cats adopted quickly so we can assist other animals in need.”

2012 Annual Report

2013-05-13T20:32:00+00:00

The IndyHumane 2012 Annual Report is now available. Check it out to see what we've done thanks to donor support!

View the online version (small file size) or view as a digital "flip" book.

Before You Declaw

2013-05-13T15:12:15+00:00

Before you declaw, please research the procedure and potential effects on your cat’s health and behavior. IndyHumane receives questions every week regarding behavior problems in declawed cats. There have been several cats adopted from our shelter, declawed by the owner, and then returned due to behavior issues. Sadly, we also learned that one of our adopted cats passed away as a complication from being declawed.

Please use IndyHumane as a resource! There are inexpensive alternatives to declawing, and we are more than happy to help you protect your cat’s paws AND protect your furniture! IndyHumane’s Cat Advocate is available for FREE consultation regarding cat scratching behavior and how to safely trim your cat’s nails. For less than $15, you can purchase nail trimmers, catnip, and a scratching post at IndyHumane.

Cats use their claws to stretch, communicate, and mark territory. Declawing typically involves metal bone cutters amputating part of the cat’s toes. This brutal method may crush nerve endings, leaving your cat at risk for life-long pain. Other side effects may include infection, lameness, and chronic sensitivity. By nature, cats are masters at hiding their pain; their silence is a survival instinct.

A declawed cat may not yowl and writhe in pain; rather discomfort often manifests behaviorally. Potential consequences include change in personality, stress grooming, and LITTER BOX PROBLEMS. Declawed cats are notorious for having litter box issues. IndyHumane receives multiple calls a week from people wanting to surrender declawed cats due to not using the litter box consistently. Unfortunately, there are not many options for these cats. We often cannot take them because no one else will want to adopt them, and without claws, they are not ideal candidates for a barn placement. Owners are sometimes left to either keep the cat or discuss humane euthanasia with their private veterinarian.

We encourage you not to declaw your cat and to seek help with alternatives. However, if you decide to declaw, please consider these three things:

Choose a veterinarian who performs the LASER method. Laser declawing is more expensive, but it is much more humane than the bone-cutter method. Laser declawing cauterizes the nerve endings, greatly reduces blood loss, and reduces the risk of pain-associated behavior issues.
Consider your cat’s age. Kittens adapt much better to declawing than adult cats. The procedure is physically and emotionally harder on adult cats.
Make a commitment to your cat. If you choose to declaw, understand the risks of the procedure. Even if declawing changes your cat’s behavior, she will still depend on you for a forever home.

Mutt Strut Photos and Video Coverage

2013-04-30T20:54:52+00:00

Mutt Strut 2013 may be over, but we have plenty of photos and video for those who can't wait for Mutt Strut 2014!

The yard of bricks photos by Megan Lindsey Photography are up and ready to view! You can browse this year's photos, and, if you decide to purchase your photo, a portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Happy browsing!

For video coverage of the event, check out Humane Society of Indianapolis' YouTube Channel for over 30 videos from the event! And, watch for more to be posted in the coming days - including a video overview of the entire event! Thank you to Hansen Multimedia for producing these videos.

Thank you for attending Mutt Strut 2013!

A Mutt Strut Conversation with Kalen Irsay

2013-04-08T20:24:29+00:00

Kalen Irsay, Vice Chair/Owner of our hometown Indianapolis Colts, is an Honorary Chair for Mutt Strut 2013. This will be Kalen's third year involved in the largest fundraising event for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Check out this video to hear Kalen talk about the event and to learn how you can help the Humane Society of Indianapolis:

Join Kalen April 27th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the Greatest Spectacle in Dog Walking! Learn more, and register at www.indymuttstrut.org.

IndyCar Driver Graham Rahal Talks Mutt Strut

2013-04-08T19:16:59+00:00

Watch Mutt Strut 2013 Honorary Co-Chair and record-setting IndyCar driver Graham Rahal talk about what makes Mutt Strut and the Humane Society of Indianapolis special to him, and about volunteering at the event!

Join him April 27th at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for Mutt Strut - the Greatest Spectacle in Dog Walking!

Mutt Strut is only a couple weeks away, and your last day to get early registration pricing is Sunday, April 14! If you've been on the fence about registering for Mutt Strut, don't miss your opportunity to get in at the best rates and save the time registering at the gate. Learn more, and register at www.indymuttstrut.org.

Thank you to our 2013 Mutt Strut Sponsors!

2013-03-28T22:01:52+00:00

We applaud and appreciate our sponsors and partners for Mutt Strut 2013, coming up on April 27!

Here are just a couple ways sponsorship dollars truly make a difference to IndyHumane:

The care of each homeless animal's average stay costs us between $600 and $800.
We cared for more than 6,000 animals in 2012.
At any one time, we may care for up to 250 animals; not including those in foster care outside the shelter.
We work closely with other local animal welfare organizations, including Indianapolis Animal Care and Control (the city shelter), FIDO, Indy Pit Crew, etc., to care for and adopt out as many animals as possible.
IndyHumane is independent and local. We receive no ASPCA, Humane Society of the United States, or government funding.
Approximately 200 volunteers a week help us care for the animals by providing attention, exercise, training and love, saving us thousands of dollars.

Thank you to our Winner's Circle Partners, Hall of Fame Partners, Yard of Bricks Partners, and Pagoda Partners for all you do! We couldn't do all we do for the animals without the help of the following sponsors:

FIV+ Cats Go Home with $50 in Free Retail Items in March

2013-03-01T20:40:37+00:00

During the month of March, adopters who adopt an FIV+ cat will receive $50 in free retail items from our IndyHumane Re-Tail store. Cats with Feline Immunodeficiency Virus live long, normal lives with proper veterinary care, and we have several wonderful FIV+ kitties looking for their forever homes. Samantha (pictured left) is one of our beautiful FIV+ residents.

The normal adoption fee for FIV+ cats still applies, and this fee is $35. But, for this month only, adopters can go home with $50 in free retail items as well - so your cat will be ready to go with food and water bowls, a collar, and toys!

We find that our FIV+ cats often get overlooked, but these cats can live long, full, normal lives with proper veterinary care. So please consider adopting an FIV+ cat today! Here are some facts about FIV from Best Friends Animal Society:

What is FIV?

FIV stands for feline immunodeficiency virus. It is a lentivirus, the same class of virus as HIV. FIV, which can live in many different tissues in cats, typically causes a weakening of the cat's immune system.

How do cats get FIV?

One of the tissues in which FIV lives is the salivary glands, so the most common route of infection is a deep bite wound from an FIV-positive cat to another cat. It can also be transmitted via blood, in utero and from milk from an infected mother cat. It is very rare for cats to get FIV from just being around infected cats, from sharing food bowls, or from a person touching an FIV-positive cat and then touching an FIV-negative cat.

What are the signs of FIV infection?

There are no specific signs of FIV infection. FIV-positive cats have a weaker immune system so they are more prone to getting infections such as upper respiratory infections, ringworm and dental disease. Other than that, FIV-positive cats tend to live normal lives and have a normal length of life.

How do I know if my cat has FIV?

There are no obvious signs of FIV so the only way to know is to do a blood test. The most common screening test is an ELISA test (often called a SNAP test) done by your veterinarian, which looks for antibodies to FIV. An antibody is a protein made by the cat in response to FIV infection. A cat can test positive as soon as two to four weeks after exposure, but it can take up to eight weeks.

Kittens under six months of age may test positive after having received antibodies from their mothers, either in utero or via milk. It can take up to six months for these antibodies to go away. Thus, it is a good idea to retest a kitten who tests positive after he or she has reached six months of age.

Can FIV be treated?

There are no proven treatments to rid a cat of FIV. Most FIV-positive cats handle the disease well, but it is important to concentrate on treating the secondary illnesses.

What can be done to prevent the spread of FIV?

Cats should be kept indoors so they do not fight with an FIV-positive cat. Depending on where one lives, the rate of FIV-positive cats ranges from 4 to 24 percent. An FIV-positive cat can live with an FIV-negative cat as long as neither cat is a fighter, or the FIV-positive cat has no teeth. (FIV-positive cats commonly have severe dental disease, which often means it is necessary to remove all their teeth.)

There is a vaccine for FIV, but it is not often recommended because the vaccine does not have the best efficacy and, after a cat is vaccinated for FIV, the cat will test positive for the virus. At this point, no test can differentiate whether a cat tests positive for FIV from the vaccine or from having the infection.

Can FIV-negative and FIV-positive cats live together?

Yes, as long as the cats get along and do not fight. The risk that an FIV-positive cat could spread the virus to an FIV-negative cat can be minimized by having them live in separate rooms until you are confident that they will not fight with each other.

Can FIV-positive cats have a good and long life?

FIV-positive cats can live normal lives both in quality and duration. They do take special care in terms of monitoring them for signs of infection, and they do have a tendency to have dental disease.

View all of IndyHumane's adoptable cats, and consider adopting an FIV+ cat this month. They deserve loving, forever homes!

Special Announcement

2013-01-08T21:38:15+00:00

Too many stray cats and dogs in Indianapolis; $2 million-plus investment from three local grantmakers aims to help “fix” the problem

Today, three local funders, led by the Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust, announced that they are investing more than $2 million into a collaborative effort to enhance animal welfare services, educate pet owners and dramatically increase spay/neuter rates in central Indiana.

With the Humane Society of Indianapolis acting as lead agency, the Indianapolis Animal Welfare Alliance will use the funds in three ways:

• Increased access to spay/neuter services in underserved areas

• Community outreach and education

• A region-wide PR campaign called “Love me. Fix me.” focused on spay/neuter services, adoptions and responsible pet ownership.

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust has awarded the Alliance initiative a $1.25 million grant; Lilly Endowment Inc. has awarded a $500,000 grant; and the Tony Stewart Foundation has awarded a $30,000 grant.

The Pulliam Trust also announced that it has awarded three other grants to FACE (Foundation Against Companion-Animal Euthanasia), The Southside Animal Shelter, and Cat's Haven.

“All of us in the animal welfare community are overwhelmed by the generosity and foresight of these grantmakers,” said Humane Society of Indianapolis CEO John Aleshire. "This investment of more than $2 million represents the largest consolidated investment we’ve ever seen for this cause in this community. We’ll truly be able to put this issue on the public agenda, enhance the services we’re able to provide, and make a far more concerted effort to increase the number of adoptions and decrease the number of strays on our streets and in our neighborhoods.”

Read full news release.

IndyHumane Closed December 26

2012-12-25T22:50:35+00:00

The National Weather Service has issued a blizzard warning for Wednesday, December 26. IndyHumane will be closed to the public Wednesday due to the impending weather conditions. Volunteers are welcome in the morning, if they are able to travel safely to the shelter.

Holiday Shopping and IndyHumane Holiday Hours

2012-12-17T23:01:00+00:00

This holiday season, the Humane Society of Indianapolis is offering a free cat or dog toy and a holiday ornament in our ready-to-go gift bags to anyone who purchases a gift certificate with a value of $50 or more from our Re-Tail store. There's still time to purchase a gift certificate for the pet lover on your shopping list! You can purchase gift certificates online or on site at 7929 N. Michigan Rd., Indianapolis.

Our gift certificates are good toward dog and cat adoption fees* and all of our products and services, such as pet microchipping, canine training school classes, and dog park memberships.

Located in the David Horth Adoption Lobby of our Michigan road facility, the Re-Tail store is a great place to buy holiday gifts for your dog and cat while supporting IndyHumane. We have pet supplies such as leashes, toys and treats. All proceeds from your IndyHumane purchases support the mission and the welfare of the thousands of animals we serve each year. Go ahead, buy something–it's for you AND for them!

If you'd like to do something extra to help our animals this holiday season, consider a gift from our wish list or a medical sponsorship to help those in need of additional care.

We hope to see you leaving IndyHumane with a gift bag that your furry friends at home will really appreciate!

Re-Tail Store Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 1-7pm

Saturday 11am-6pm

Sunday 11am-4pm

Closed Thursday and Major Holidays

IndyHumane will be closed to the public on December 24, December 25, December 31 and January 1. But don't worry - we will have staff and volunteers reporting to make sure our animals are well taken care of over the holidays!

*Please note: All dog and cat adoptions, including those paid for with gift certificates, proceed through our normal adoption process, including a brief application and a family meet and greet.

2010-2011 Annual Report

2012-11-26T22:29:54+00:00

The IndyHumane 2010-2011 Annual Report is now available. Check it out to see what we've done thanks to donor support!

View the online version (small file size) or view as a digital "flip" book.

Thanks to Matchbook Creative and Brown Ink Communications for their help in producing the annual report. All photos were provided by Lise Greil Photography.

Black Friday at IndyHumane

2012-11-20T16:58:08+00:00

IndyHumane didn't want to miss out on the Black Friday fun so we're having a Black Friday special on November 23rd! For one day only, we'll be offering 25% off all merchandise in our Re-Tail Store and $5 microchips! 24 PetWatch brand microchips will be $5, and Home Again microchips will be lowered to half price as well and will be available for $10. This special offer will only be available this Friday from 1pm - 7pm at our Michigan Road location.

"This sale is a great way to wind down your early morning shopping and purchase something fun for your pet! Or, you can sleep in and then head out to IndyHumane in the afternoon," Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says. "We know everyone will be holiday shopping for family, and pets are a big part of the family as well so we certainly didn't want to leave them out!"

IndyHumane's Re-Tail Store is stocked with everything from toys to treats for dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes. The IndyHumane Re-Tail Store's prices are very competitive and in some cases even less expensive than the big box stores! And the best part? Proceeds from the Re-Tail Store go to support the work we do at IndyHumane to save the lives of Indianapolis' unwanted dogs and cats. We hope to see you this Black Friday at IndyHumane! Come see us this holiday season!

*This offer does not apply to gift certificates, flea prevention, starter kits, clearance or logo items. This offer is only available at our Michigan Road location. No rain checks on out of stock merchandise. ALL SALES FINAL.

Kramer Suite Opening November 19

2012-11-15T18:14:57+00:00

The Humane Society of Indianapolis will officially open the new Kramer Suite, a free-roaming cat room with access to a safe, enclosed outdoor environment, at noon on Monday, November 19, 2012.

This space is made possible thanks to the generosity of Mrs. Kramer. After taking a tour of IndyHumane, Mrs. Kramer decided she wanted to help further. She particularly enjoyed the McFadden Free-Roaming Cat Room and thought it would be great if more cats could be housed in such a free-roaming room with access to a safe, enclosed outside space.

On Monday, when the room addition officially opens for use, half of IndyHumane’s cats in the main cat room will become free-roaming. The remaining group-housing cat corrals have had picture windows added so that sunshine will flow freely through the room.

“When cared for properly, cats in free-roaming rooms benefit from reduced stress and illness,” Chief Operations Officer Christine Jeschke says. “Starting on Monday, fewer than 10 of IndyHumane’s adoptable cats will spend time in cages during their stay at the shelter. We’re thrilled we can provide so many free-roaming spaces for our animals. Allowing cats to wander safely outside to enjoy fresh air makes IndyHumane one of the most unique shelters in the region.”

Cats housed in this type of nose-to-nose environment also get used to one another, an important point if one considers adopting multiple cats, as Mrs. Kramer did last fall.

“After visiting IndyHumane, I wanted to do more,” Mrs. Kramer says. “When I toured the facility, it was evident to me that free-roaming cat rooms provide a relaxing environment for shelter cats, allowing them to de-stress and enjoy the comforts every animal deserves. My hope is that the new suite will be a place closer to home for them while they are on their way to forever homes.”

Change the Face of Animal Welfare in Indianapolis

2012-11-13T23:20:28+00:00

Our vision at IndyHumane is that all Central Indiana animals are treated with dignity and respect and live free from cruelty, harm and neglect. We work every day to help end animal homelessness, neglect and abandonment.

To help us accomplish these goals, we hold an annual fundraising breakfast called Face of Love. This event raises as much as 5% of our annual operating budget. We wanted to thank those who attended this year as well as the generous sponsors who helped make this event possible.

Since the room at the Westin this morning could not hold all of IndyHumane’s friends and volunteers, we wanted to make sure you were not left out. So we’re sending you the video from this morning’s event.   Please take a moment to watch it. You'll see why we work so hard every day to make a difference for animals in Central Indiana. And you’ll see why your support is so desperately needed to help us achieve our - and we hope your - vision.

Your IndyHumane is NOW a model of life, innovation, wellness, and loving care. But, we can do so much more with your help. We want nothing less than to have our facility at capacity and be seen as the standard nationally in companion animal care, collaboration and innovation. I need YOU to help me make every part of our vision a reality and change the face of animal welfare, forever! We can do all of this. I need your help.

If you like what you see here, please share it with your friends and family. If you would like to make a donation, the animals would appreciate it, too. You make the difference here. You can help us change the face of animal welfare forever.

Thank you,

John Aleshire 

Chief Executive Officer 

Humane Society of Indianapolis

Dogs 7 months and older half off this weekend

2012-11-01T11:57:00+00:00

We've heard a lot about paw-litics lately, and voting is a freedom we should all enjoy. We have many dogs at the shelter who need to enjoy some freedom of their own. Please come to the Humane Society of Indianapolis, and liberate your next family member! It's the paw-litically correct thing to do. This weekend only, November 2, 3 and 4, there is a special 50 percent adoption fee discount for dogs 7 months and older, plus additional gifts for select dogs!

IndyHumane adoption fees for dogs typically range from $125 - $195 depending on the size of the dog. Potential adopters will need to plan to place a hold on an available dog and return the following day to complete the adoption process.
“We are currently very limited on space, especially for dogs, and we’re having to turn people away who are seeking to surrender additional dogs,” John Aleshire, Chief Executive Officer, says. “We’ve also received requests from other animal rescue organizations who are short on space as well. We’d like to be able to provide assistance to these organizations, but we first need to move our current dog residents to new homes.”

In addition to the half off adoption special, select dogs who have been residents at IndyHumane for longer periods of time will be sent home with additional gifts. These dogs, who are often larger, will be going home with a free Easy Walk Harness™ (so pulling on walks will not be an issue) and a coupon for a free Rabies Vaccine at either of IndyHumane’s Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic Locations (7929 N. Michigan Rd., 46268 or 456 N. Holmes Ave., 46222). Dogs who receive these additional gifts will have signage indicating this on their kennels on site at IndyHumane.

“While we’re happy to provide shelter for our dogs for as long as they need, we’d much rather see them in loving homes,” Aleshire says. “Our hope is that this special offer will help our canine residents find their forever families and also allow us the opportunity to create some space to help other dogs in need at Indianapolis Animal Care and Control and other animal welfare organizations.”

Half off special for dogs two and older

2012-10-23T18:27:09+00:00

Just announced! All dogs age two and older will be discounted to half off of their adoption fees.

"We are quite cramped on space and have several other organizations requesting help so we wanted to bring some attention to our very special dogs and get them adopted quickly," Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says.

This special is a limited time offer and runs through close on Saturday, October 27. IndyHumane is open Saturday from 11 am to 6 pm (applications must be in by 5 pm). This special offer cannot be combined with other discounts.

"We hope the public will take advantage of this special offer," Jeschke says. "It's a great deal, and we have so many wonderful, unique dogs looking for homes."

Cats 7 months and older $9.99 October 12 through 14

2012-10-09T18:16:40+00:00

Due to construction on the new Kramer Suite, a free-roaming cat room with access to an outdoor environment, IndyHumane will be running a special on cat adoptions in order to aid cats relocated temporarily due to construction. All cats 7 months and older will have a $9.99 adoption fee for one weekend only – Friday, October 12 through Sunday, October 14. IndyHumane adoption fees for cats are typically $75.00. Potential adopters will need to plan to place a hold on an available cat and return the following day to complete the adoption process.

“Space is very limited right now, specifically for our cats, and we’re having to turn people away who are seeking to surrender additional cats,” Christine Jeschke, Chief Operations Officer, says. “Increasing cat adoptions would allow us to help more cats in need. We also want to showcase the cats we currently have at IndyHumane – we have a lot of wonderful, unique cats who would make great companions.”

A number of cats at IndyHumane are temporarily housed in cages near the adoption lobby during the construction process, and this will be resolved once construction is completed. The new Kramer Suite will allow cat residents an additional, free-roaming room with access to an outdoor environment. Once this room is completed, half of IndyHumane’s cats in the main cat room will become free-roaming. The remaining group-housing cat corrals will have picture windows added so that sunshine will flow freely through the room.

“When cared for properly, cats in free-roaming rooms benefit from reduced stress and illness,” Jeschke says. “Once construction is complete, fewer than 10 of IndyHumane’s adoptable cats will spend time in cages during their stay at the shelter. We’re thrilled that we can provide so many free-roaming spaces for our animals, but we also want to ensure the current cat residents are as comfortable as possible during this transitional construction phase. We’d much rather move them from cages to homes as quickly as possible, which is why we’re hoping to get them adopted sooner rather than later through this extraordinary offer.”

Important notice about your gift to IndyHumane

2012-10-01T05:00:26+00:00

Dear Donor,

As you consider your gift to IndyHumane for this year, I wanted you to be aware of some possible changes being proposed to the federal income tax law. Deductions for charitable giving may not be as generous in future years, so you may want to consider accelerating some of your giving into 2012. For example, in an effort to raise revenue to reduce the federal deficit, various groups have proposed limiting the charitable deduction. One group has proposed limiting the deductibility to a percentage of the gift while another group proposes limiting the dollar amount of the deductions. The IRA Charitable Roll-over provision has expired for 2012 and efforts to extend it will be part of the tax law discussions, which may or may not be successful. While it is still possible that the IRA Charitable Roll-over and charitable deductions may survive changes to the tax law, it is clear that they will not be greater than prior law and most likely will be less. This year may be the last opportunity to receive a full tax deduction for your donation to IndyHumane.

We wanted to point this out to you as we know many use the tax deductibility of donations to maximize their gift. By accelerating your future gifts into 2012, it may allow you to save additional tax dollars. These are dollars you might consider for additional giving to IndyHumane. Even if you choose to keep these dollars, we believe you will be further pleased with your gift to Indy Humane knowing that we have helped you make it in the most tax efficient manner of giving.

Yours Truly,

IndyHumane

Cats Displaced During Construction

2012-09-28T21:29:14+00:00

Some of our cats are displaced at the moment and hanging out in our adoption lobby due to construction happening currently on the Kramer Suite, a new free-roaming room with access to an outdoor environment. We’re running a special to help these cats: half off their adoption fees! This special does not apply to kittens currently residing in our adoption lobby.

Special Hours on Friday, September 7

2012-09-03T21:03:45+00:00

IndyHumane will be open Friday, September 7, however, we will have special hours of operation that differ from our usual hours. We will be open on September 7 from noon to 5 pm. Adoption/hold applications will need to be submitted no later than 4 pm on this particular day.

IndyHumane closed Monday in observance of Labor Day

2012-09-02T15:33:41+00:00

The Humane Society of Indianapolis will be closed Monday, September 3 in observance of Labor Day. The adoption lobby and both low-cost vaccination clinic locations will be closed. We will reopen Tuesday, September 4, and we hope to see you then. Enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

Animal Welfare Center: Now Open for Business

2012-08-27T14:00:55+00:00

The long-awaited Animal Welfare Center opened for business today, Monday, August 27. The Center will now be open weekly from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday. The phone number is 317-602-3423. The Animal Welfare Center is located at 456 N. Holmes Ave. in the Haughville neighborhood, and it is one of the first of its kind in the nation to provide animal welfare partner groups with a physical address and presence in the city’s target neighborhoods.

About the Center: The IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center houses the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Vaccination Clinic and offers low-cost cat and dog vaccines. The center also provides pet-care resources and assistance with community animal concerns via the efforts of the IndyHumane Outreach/Education Coordinator and our partner groups: Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana, Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO), Indy Pit Crew, and Casa Del Toro.

“This Center is the result of unprecedented collaboration in the animal welfare community. Opening today is the first phase, the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Vaccination Clinic, which will provide basic vaccination services to an area vastly underserved." Animal Welfare Center Director Kirsten VantWoud says. “The second phase, open as soon as funding is complete, will be a low-cost, high-volume, spay and neuter clinic that will target lower income areas and the zip codes that bring in the most animals to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control.”

According to VantWoud, “Today represents a bold, new step in addressing animal overpopulation in our city. Without the Center, Indianapolis would remain mired in the same cycles of existing animal welfare programs that are largely inadequate, terribly expensive and substantially inhumane. We’re hoping to begin fixing this problem, and our first step is offering basic services so people can keep their pets protected, healthy, and in the house.”

All animals are safe after lightning strikes near IndyHumane

2012-08-05T03:48:22+00:00

Lightning struck near IndyHumane on Saturday, August 4 during an afternoon storm, and it was very close to our building. All the animals are safe, and the building was not damaged.

We are open for adoptions as usual, and you can find our adoption lobby hours here. However, some computers and phones are damaged in other areas of the building, including our phone lines in our low-cost vaccination clinic. If you are trying to reach the vaccination clinic, you can email vaccineclinic@indyhumane.org. You can also view the Contact page of our website in order to find email addresses for the appropriate staff members you're trying to reach. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause, and we hope to have everything repaired by Wednesday.

Animal Welfare Center Update: Construction Continues

2012-07-26T14:11:25+00:00

Construction continues, and we're in the final push to open the Center's Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Vaccination Clinic.

More about the Center: In November of 2011, IndyHumane announced that the Humane Society of Indianapolis Animal Welfare Center will open at 456 Holmes Ave, Indianapolis. The new facility is scheduled to open in August of 2012 and will be home to a second low-cost vaccine clinic.

The long-awaited Animal Welfare Center will be located in the Haughville neighborhood, which was identified as one of the areas most in need of animal welfare services. The center will house the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Vaccination Clinic, offering low cost cat and dog vaccines.

The center will also provide pet-care resources and assistance with feral cats, pit bulls and chained dogs via the efforts of the IndyHumane Outreach/Education Coordinator and our partner groups: Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana and Indy Pit Crew. The center will be one of the first of its kind in the nation to provide animal welfare partner groups with phone lines, a physical address, and a presence in the city’s target neighborhoods.

“In our community, 10,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year,” said Kirsten VantWoud, who is currently director of shelter operations at the North Michigan Road location and who will lead operations at the IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center. “That number is substantially down from previous years thanks to the diligence of many dedicated groups. What is unchanged is the18,000 animals brought in each year to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. Nearly 75% of these animals come from only 10 zip codes. Our Center is in the heart of one of those zip codes.”

Interested in helping? Learn more about our critical needs for the center, and learn how you can help.

IndyHumane is overflowing with cats and kittens

2012-06-12T03:34:54+00:00

June is a peak time of year to see cats and kittens surrendered to shelters. IndyHumane is over-flowing to the point where we have had to turn countless numbers of families away. We have a limited amount of financial resources and we don't put animals down for space or time, so we can't euthanize one cat to make room for another. Instead, we are doing our best to work with families to keep their pets or find ways to re-home them outside of the shelter system. Our partners at the city shelter, Indianapolis Animal Care & Control, are also over-run at the moment and sadly do have to euthanize for space since they are open admission. They don't need any additional cats at their facility either so please consider every way possible to keep your pet in your home. IndyHumane will schedule appointments for surrenders, but space is very limited and the wait is long.

Since June is Adopt-A-Cat month, we are offering $25 worth of FREE retail merchandise to adopters of adult cats. The families can select the items they wish on the day of adoption. Kittens are Adopt-1-Get-1-Free currently as well.

Please visit www.SpayIndiana.org for options if your cat isn't spayed or neutered so you don't have an accidental litter.

Indianapolis animal shelter: Changes help reduce euthanasia rate

2012-05-07T14:13:48+00:00

Zeus barely hesitated before lunging at another dog in a fit of playful roughhousing.

A few years ago, the well-mannered pit bull mix, still adjusting to life inside the Indianapolis Animal Care and Control shelter, likely would have faced a death sentence because of his breed.

But not so now. Dropped off in early March by owners who were moving, he would leave less than two months later for a new home.

• PHOTO GALLERY: Animal Care and Control

These days, more dogs and cats are leaving the shelter alive, though many -- too many, animal-welfare advocates say -- still aren't as lucky as Zeus.

Thousands of animals that the city's shelter would have euthanized a decade ago now routinely find new homes. The live-release rate has increased from 39 percent in 2008 to nearly 49 percent last year; in recent months, it has shot even higher.

In addition to a 2009 decision abandoning a policy of euthanizing unclaimed pit bulls and pit bull mixes -- dogs sometimes mistreated by their owners or used in fighting -- the shelter and animal advocacy groups have promoted adoptions more aggressively in the community.

There is other evidence of progress for the shelter, a division of the Department of Public Safety that has weathered a series of leadership changes over a decade and still grapples with bare-bones funding from the city.

With City-County Council members and the mayor paying attention, advocates are implementing parts of a plan they drafted in 2009. Its aim: to cut the volume of unwanted and stray cats and dogs in Indianapolis.

Strays drive the steady intake at the shelter on the city's Southside. Even today, the sheer load of animals coming in requires putting many down when space runs out.

There were 8,147 animals euthanized last year because of space or other reasons, including sickness or age.

Efforts to lower that number are developing in three areas:

In coming weeks, the shelter will begin charging residents of other counties $40 to drop off unwanted animals. The money will help promote spay and neuter programs. But the main goal is to end the free abandonment option for those who live outside Marion County and have bypassed their own county shelters to avoid paying fees there.

The council recently passed an ordinance creating the outside-resident fee, and Mayor Greg Ballard signed off on it.

The Humane Society of Indianapolis is aiming for July to open a low-cost vaccinations clinic inside the new Animal Welfare Center, 460 N. Holmes Ave. on the Westside, expanding access to basic shots that keep pets healthy.

If fundraising efforts succeed, the same center later could add low-cost spay and neutering services. The Humane Society's goal is to perform 10,000 such sterilization surgeries a year within the first three years if it can raise $750,000 in start-up costs.

That last item is the one that advocates say offers the most meaningful opportunity to reduce pet overpopulation and lessen the city shelter's load.

John Aleshire, the Humane Society's chief executive officer, said the new center's spay/neuter program would be targeted to residents of the 10 ZIP codes -- mostly east, southeast and west of Downtown -- who contribute more than half of the unwanted or stray animals taken in by the shelter, as well as a large share of nuisance and stray reports.

The cost will be based on an owner's income. Advocates have high hopes that such a program could put a dent in overpopulation.

"The biggest challenge is to get people to be responsible for their animals and spay and neuter them," said Susan Hobbs, an Animal Care and Control advisory board member. She is also vice president of the Indianapolis Animal Welfare Alliance, which brings together several advocacy groups, and she volunteers at Cat's Haven, a no-kill feline shelter on the Northside.

Shelter stability

Amid such challenges outside its walls, the shelter has had a decade of administrative churn, low morale and high staff turnover.

Amber Myers, who was promoted to chief of Animal Care and Control late last year, says turnover is improving as more stable leadership takes hold. She is working to fill five positions that remain vacant.

Among the most recent employees is Jessica Swickard, an animal control officer for nine months who changed careers from accounting. She is working on a master's degree so she can work in public safety management.

For now, though, she calls herself "an animal cop" -- one of 16 -- and she says she loves the animals as well as interacting with the public. She often comes back from the field with bags of dog or cat food that were handed to her.

"The hardest part of my job is trying to stay closed off," said Swickard, 30, who has a pit bull at home.

"My husband told me I could take the job as long as I don't bring my work home," she added.

Hobbs, Aleshire and other advocates agree that stability is taking hold at the shelter after so many short-lived directors have come and gone.

The most recent high-profile exit came in 2009, when Ballard fired then-Director Douglas Rae after nine months. He had been criticized for diverting animal control officers from the street and failing to focus enough on protecting the public from aggressive strays.

But Rae also reversed the policy of routinely euthanizing unclaimed pit bulls, though many still are euthanized if they aren't adopted because of space constraints.

Then-City Prosecutor Teri Kendrick took his place. She stepped down without controversy late last year after two years, making way for Myers, her former deputy chief, who had followed Kendrick from the city's legal office.

The city this spring released figures showing a large improvement on the enforcement side over the past two years, with a 12.3 percent decrease in total animal complaints to the Mayor's Action Center.

Decade of gains

The shelter and its drab kennel rooms, lined with rows of cages, sit in a low-profile industrial part of the city, off Harding Street on the Southside.

Intake figures have decreased slightly, to about 17,100 animals last year, but the shelter has made marked progress from a decade ago, when it was considered a killing factory.

In 2003, the city shelter euthanized 13,110 animals, 61 percent more than it put down last year.

Since then, efforts to spay and neuter cats and dogs have ramped up. The FACE clinic on the Near Eastside for more than a decade has performed thousands of low-cost surgeries each year, and advocates see the service as playing a role in the falling figures.

The shelter's live-release rate reached 71 percent in February and 65 percent in March, though Zach Adamson, a Democratic at-large council member who has become an advocate for the shelter, cautions against reading too much into those hopeful numbers.

"I think they're still in dire straits," Adamson said. "They've still got more animals than they can deal with. We're in the middle of spring right now, when the population begins to spike," so he'll be optimistic if the live-release rate stays high during summer.

The shelter's progress has come despite big challenges. Four years ago, the Humane Society, which operates its own shelter on the Northwestside, stopped taking in more animals than money and space allowed. That has diverted more unwanted and more difficult-to-adopt animals to the larger city shelter.

And Animal Care and Control's $3.8 million budget this year isn't even covering all the basics.

It leaves out money to repair damaged ceiling tiles and expand the heating and cooling system.

The shelter relies heavily on volunteers and completely on donated food. Its dogs consume food filling two 55-gallon trash cans per day. The cats eat more than 100 pounds a day.

A charitable arm augments the supplies and veterinary care budgets. Lately, a $61,000 gift is paying for several part-time employees who are helping to speed up veterinary evaluations and adoptions.

"They don't have enough staff to provide the level of care that one would like," said Kendrick, the former chief. "Yes, the euthanasia rate has decreased, but it's still too high. I'm very happy at the progress that's been made, but there's still too much to be done.

"This isn't a time for any complacency."

Budget pressures

Still unclear is how the shelter and the agency that runs it will fare in next year's budget, which will be tighter than ever for the city and Marion County.

"As a bare minimum, I think we need to preserve what ACC has right now," said John Barth, an at-large Democratic council member. He is planning to devote upcoming Community Affairs Committee meetings to animal welfare issues.

Marc Lotter, Ballard's spokesman, said the mayor "obviously wants to continue to see the trends going in the right direction with Animal Care and Control" and supports partnerships with the Humane Society and other nonprofit groups on spay/neuter efforts.

Advocates' 2009 report -- called "Saving Money, Saving Lives" -- was produced at the request of then-Public Safety Director Scott Newman.

Besides increasing the spay/neuter options in the city, its recommendations included revising ordinances and exploring a revival of pet licensing, potentially charging a lower fee for owners of spayed or neutered animals.

But that could prove politically trickier to achieve.

The city abandoned licensing in 1995, in part because so few owners complied. Advocates know politicians are wary of creating a new fee applying to so many people.

For now, licensing is not high on the agenda, though Lotter said Ballard is open to a discussion.

Aleshire and other advocates are focusing instead on increasing the availability of cheap spay/neuter services, if the fundraising campaign for the new Animal Welfare Center succeeds.

They point to Kansas City, Mo., where an eight-year effort has similarly targeted areas where the most shelter animals originate. Spay & Neuter Kansas City says it has provided more than 30,000 surgeries over that time; in the past three years, there has been a 35 percent reduction in intake at the Kansas City shelter.

In Indianapolis, advocates first are opening the new center's vaccinations clinic, similar to a low-cost service offered at the Humane Society's shelter.

That will produce profit that they hope to use later partly to underwrite the more costly spay/neuter service.

Follow Star reporter Jon Murray at twitter.com/ IndyJonMurray. Call him at (317) 444-2752.

Mutt Strut 2012 a Huge Success No Matter the Weather

2012-05-07T13:30:27+00:00

Mother nature was keeping all of the humans and their pups on their toes last Saturday, but the rain did nothing to dampen the spirits of the over 6,000 IndyHumane supporters and their best canine friends.

The Plaza opened at the same time the clouds did but once the front moved through the weather cleared and the Track filled with every imaginable breed and mixed breed. "It was amazing!", said first-time Mutt Strutter Amanda Jones. "Every shape, size and color of dog was on the track. My poodle, Binkley, was in heaven with the smells!"

This year's Mutt Strut was a success thanks to sponsors like title sponsor Harrison College but also thanks in large part to the increased individual fundraising efforts of Mutt Strut registrants. Everyone's efforts combined to raise (drum roll please) $398,561.94 just shy of our $400,000 goal! If you raised money for Mutt Strut but haven't had a chance to send it in (online or in person) we're accepting these donations till June 1st. And, if you would like to donate to get us closer to, or over our goal, that would be great, too! We'll see you in 2013 for the 10th Annual Mutt Strut!

Check out the photos of Mutt Strut 2012

Watch this short video.. it's almost like being there!

Pet Food Recall

2012-05-05T15:55:34+00:00

IndyHumane has learned that late last night, Friday, May 4th, voluntary recalls have been announced by Natural Balance and Wellness. Not all products under these two manufacturers are affected by this voluntary recall. Please check the FDA letter for information on specifics and keep your pets safe!

IndyHumane Closed Saturday April 28th for Mutt Strut 2012!

2012-04-25T01:08:19+00:00

IndyHumane will be closed on April 28th for the celebration of Mutt Strut 2012, IndyHumane's largest, annual fundraiser.

The shelter, normally open on Saturday from 11am - 6pm, and the Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic, normally open on Saturday from 8:30am to 1pm will remain closed on the 28th while the staff spends the day at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway for the "Greatest Specticle in Dog Walking."

Online registration ends Wednesday April 25 ($35.00) and day of registration ($40.00) begins at 9:30am on April 28th at the Track.

Half Price Heatworm Tests

2012-03-21T14:56:39+00:00

IndyHumane feels that preventing heartworm disease is the best gift you can give your pet this spring. Heartworm treatment is expensive, difficult to obtain due to medication shortages, and hard on your dog physically. Instead, let our vet test your dog and purchase preventative and keep your dog happy, healthy and heartworm free!

On Tuesday’s ONLY, come to IndyHumane and receive a heartworm test at half price—that’s only $10! IndyHumane also offers heartworm preventative at reasonable prices so you can give your pet everything he or she needs to be protected from those pesky parasites once you get the test results.

This offer runs each Tuesday until 4/24 from 1-7 pm at our Michigan Road location!

33 Dogs, Puppies and Cats Travel From Clark County to IndyHumane

2012-03-12T14:02:51+00:00

Staff members of IndyHumane traveled to Clark County on Saturday and returned with 33 dogs, puppies and cats in order to help make room for strays and surrendered animals in the wake of the tornados that tore through the county and the surrounding area.

IndyHumane had planned to bring back just 20 animals but, when they arrived, the flood of incoming animals to the JB Ogle in Clark County was growing and more room was needed. The decision was made then to bring back as many animals as possible to help clear room and relieve some of the pressure on the over-run shelter.

All of the animals in IndyHumane's care will be given medical care, spay or neuter surgeries and temperament tested prior to being put up for adoption and placed in loving homes. They should begin being seen on the IndyHumane website in one to two weeks.

Donations are being accepted to help support the 33 animals now in IndyHumane's custody.

Humane Society of Indianapolis to Assist Animal Victims of Recent Tornados

2012-03-09T20:16:35+00:00

IndyHumane Staff to Bring Back Approximately 20 Animals on Saturday March 10th.

INDIANAPOLIS (March 9, 2012) –Staff members of the Humane Society of Indianapolis will travel to the county animal shelter in Clark County, Indiana on Saturday March 10th to bring back approximately 20 animals to make room for animal victims of the tornados that tore through the county and surrounding areas last Friday.
“Some of the animals they are seeing at the Clark County shelter are those that have been surrendered by families that no longer have homes,” said John Aleshire, CEO of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. “Others are strays that were at the shelter before the storms. But, all of them need to be safe and cared for and Clark County is simply running out of room.”

IndyHumane will pack up rescue vans and supplies on Friday afternoon and depart the Michigan Road shelter Saturday at 8AM. Staff will pull large dogs and cats from the Clark County Shelter and return home at approximately 3PM Saturday afternoon (contact Christine – 317.523.9295 for updates and more exact timing of return on Saturday).

With two vets on staff, IndyHumane is more prepared for medical challenges than most shelters, but financial issues remain. “We really have no idea what condition these animals will be in when we get down there,” said Christine Jeschke, chief operations officer for the Humane Society of Indianapolis. “Clark County has made it clear they don’t need supplies, thanks to an influx of donations. So, we’re asking that if Indianapolis residents want to help, they make a donation to help fund the medical care of the animals we’re bringing back.”

Donations can be made through a donation form set up for the animal tornado victims

IndyHumane Offers a Special You’ll Fall in Love With

2012-02-06T19:48:10+00:00

IndyHumane is offering a special that you can't help but fall in love with. From February 10th through February 15, select animals adoption fees have been slashed to just $14.You can identify the dogs and cats available on special by the special IndyHumane Paw Prints on their photos. See available Dogs and Cats .

IndyHumane New Shelter Hours

2012-02-01T18:10:18+00:00

Beginning February 1st, IndyHumane's new adoption hours are 1PM - 7PM Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Saturday 11AM - 6PM and Sunday 11AM - 4PM. They shelter remains closed on Thursdays.

Staff Sleep-a-Thon to Promote 24 Hour Pet Care

2011-12-07T16:05:46+00:00

"I really really REALLY want that puppy!"

"AWWW that kitten is SO cute!"

We know. We hear it all the time and we completely agree that the puppy and kitten are very cute. But, we also know how much work they are! That's why we're staying over night on December 7th to raise awareness that responsible pet ownership is a 24 hour a day job. The last thing we like to see is an animal go home only to return to the shelter because their people just were not prepared for all the time and patience a pet requires.

Dogs need walks, cats need litter boxes cleaned and everyone needs love and attention that sometimes can't just happen on a human's time frame.

Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/indyhumane on December 7th from 8 PM til' the wee hours of the morning (or until we just can't stay awake any longer) as we talk about what's going on in the shelter and give YOU tips about responsible ownership.

We look forward to hearing from you and if you would like to make a donation to the puppies and kitties tonight, we'll make sure they get it in the form of a special after-dinner treat!

Humane Society of Indianapolis to Open Animal Welfare Center

2011-11-30T13:49:32+00:00

IndyHumane to offer vaccine services and other resources through collaborative partnership in underserved area of Indianapolis

IndyHumane announced today that it will open its long awaited Animal Welfare Center on the near Westside at Holmes and West Michigan Streets in the Haughville neighborhood. The organization will be one of the first of its kind in the nation to provide animal welfare partner groups with phone lines, a physical address, and a presence in the city’s target neighborhoods.

The IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center, which will open in the spring of 2012, will house the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Vaccination Clinic, and will offer low cost cat and dog vaccines. The center will also provide pet-care resources and assistance with feral cats, pit bulls, and chained dogs via the efforts of the IndyHumane Outreach/Education Coordinator and our partner groups: Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana, Friends of Indianapolis Dogs Outside (FIDO) and Indy Pit Crew.

Additionally the IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center will be the home of the Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Spay- Neuter Initiative. While the center will not immediately be able to offer high volume spay/neuter services, it will be the call center for SpayIN(diana), a referral hotline offering spay/neuter referral assistance on a statewide level. Once the additional funds are raised, a spay/neuter clinic will be added and will provide these much needed services.

“In our community, 10,000 dogs and cats are euthanized each year,” said Kirsten VantWoud, who is currently director of shelter operations at the North Michigan Road location and who will lead operations at the IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center. “That number is substantially down from previous years thanks to the diligence of many dedicated groups. What is unchanged is the18,000 animals brought in each year to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. Nearly 75% of these animals come from only 10 zip codes. Our Center is in the heart of one of those zip codes.”

About IndyHumane: The Humane Society of Indianapolis is the leading voice for the welfare of animals and improving their quality of life. IndyHumane is the first choice in providing direct services for shelter cats and dogs, including adoption, foster home placement, behavior training, appropriate medical care, and low-cost vaccine services. As the voice for the animals, IndyHumane brings together like-minded animal-focused individuals and groups to educate the public about animal welfare issues and concerns. For over 100 years, it’s all about the animals.

A private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that receives no public or private government funding, the Humane Society of Indianapolis is Indy-based and independent, and is supported solely by contributions, grants, bequests, investments, and adoption and service fees. For more information and current adoptable animals, visit http://IndyHumane.org.

Changing the Face of Animal Welfare in Indianapolis

2011-11-15T19:59:41+00:00

It’s our vision here at IndyHumane: to end animal homelessness, neglect, and abandonment. To help us accomplish that, we hold an annual fundraising breakfast called Face of Love. This event raises as much as 5% of our annual operating budget. We wanted to thank those that attended this year as well as the generous sponsors that helped make this event so special.

Because the room at the Westin this morning could not hold all of IndyHumane’s friends and volunteers, we wanted to make sure you were not left out. So, we’ve sent you the video from this morning’s event.
Please take a moment to watch it. You'll see why we work so hard every day to make a difference for animals in Central Indiana. And you’ll see why your support is so deperately needed to help us achieve our - and we hope your - vision.

Thank you,
John Aleshire
Chief Executive Officer
Humane Society of Indianapolis

Shop the IndyHumane Re-Tail Store

2011-11-02T20:15:58+00:00

If you're looking for supplies for your fur friends, or, a special holiday gift for an animal loving friend, look no farther than the IndyHumane David Horth Adoption Lobby!

IndyHumane's Re-Tail Store is stocked with everything from toys to treats for dogs and cats of all shapes and sizes. And, if you're worried about the pricetag, fear not! The IndyHumane Re-Tail Store's prices are very competitive and in some cases even less expensive than the big box stores! And the best part? Proceeds from the Re-Tail Store go to support the work we do at IndyHumane to save the lives of Indianapolis' unwanted dogs and cats.

Come see us this holiday season and shop and save (a life)!

Re-Tail Store Hours:

Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 3-8pm

Saturday 11am-6pm

Sunday 11am-4pm

Closed Thursday and Major Holidays

Trick or Treat and Your Pets

2011-10-31T16:52:49+00:00

Halloween is a time of fun and excitement for children, adults and even pets. However, for many family pets it is also a time filled with stress, fear and anxiety. While dressing up is fun for people, sometimes dogs and cats can become scared by face make-up and costumes, causing them to react in a frightened manner. To ensure a safe and fun Halloween for your pets, family, and your trick-or-treaters, considers the following options for Halloween pet safety:

Prior to the arrival of trick-o-treaters:
Take Your Dog for a Walk: By doing so, your dog will burn off some extra energy and feel slightly more relaxed before the evening begins.

During and After Halloween events:
Contain your dog and cat inside the house in a room where you can close the door. Crates are recommended for dogs who are comfortable in them. Dogs need to feel secure while also protecting their domain. To ensure a safe evening for your family and trick-or-treaters, consider crating your dog with his favorite blanket and soft chew toys. Place your cat in a separate room, with the door closed. With the front door opening and closing frequently to trick or treaters, a cat and/or small dog can easily run out the front door. Be sure to leave plenty of food, water and toys to keep your dog or cat occupied and re-assure them often by visiting the room.

Backyard/Outside: We strongly recommend your dog not be permitted to roam through the backyard as this may disturb or frighten trick-o-treaters approaching your home. Additionally, the dog may become highly frustrated and anxious as the number of individuals entering your premises and, unfortunately, in rare cases, the dog may suffer injury or harm as they may try to dig under or jump the fence. Outside, cats may become disoriented with all of the hustle, bustle and noise and are more likely to run away and become lost.

Place All Candy Out of Reach: Because chocolate can be fatal to dogs and cats, remove all candy out of their reach. Additionally, be sure all candy wrappers and foil are discarded properly as wrappers and foil can result in intestinal blockage or suffocation if your pet consumes it. If you suspect your pet ate any amount of candy or digested wrappers, contact your veterinarian immediately.

Decorations: Because dogs can be overly excitable during the Halloween events, it is highly recommended that all Halloween decorations be removed from any area in which the dog may come in contact. Of particular concern are items which the dog may hit with a wagging tail or candles which may have been lit through the night.

As always, please make certain that your pets are always wearing identification tags!

Halloween Factors to Consider:

People in costumes. Even familiar friends and beloved family members can be frightening to a pet when in costume. Or, your pet may mistake a costume for a toy and tug a young child right off his or her feet!
Costumes for pets. Nothing is cuter than a pup or kitty in costume, but be sure the costumes are safe! Tight fitting costumes (with or without elastic) can be a choking hazard. Loose pieces can be chewed off or swallowed, causing an intestinal obstruction that needs expensive surgery to correct.
Open doors. Don't open the door if your pet is nearby and can escape. Even the best behaved pet can become confused or agitated with a lot of children coming and going on Halloween. Make sure your pets are wearing collars with ID tags and current rabies tags -- just in case they make a break for it through an open door.
Unusual noises. Laughing trick-or-treaters, people screaming when they get scared -- these can make your pet anxious and unsettled. A frightened dog can snarl or snap at strangers or friends.
Candles. Keep an eye on lit candles, especially when your pets are around. A curious cat can burn a paw or tail on a lit candle.
Mischief makers. Local troublemakers may be out in full force smashing pumpkins, wrapping houses in toilet paper, yelling and/or tossing eggs at cars. If your pets are left outside unattended, this could be especially frightening to them.

Hey Joe!

2011-10-11T14:36:16+00:00

Days at IndyHumane are never dull and often excitement comes in wagging. That was the case last week when a good samaritan brought us Joe. She found Joe in her driveway last Wednesday morning, packed him into her car and brought him to IndyHumane to have us scan him for a microchip. Here's what we found: Joe was big, Joe was handsome and Joe was somewhere in the neighborhood of 600 miles from home.

It turns out that Joe had been missing from his home in Georgia since July. Now, where Joe has been and what Joe has seen is anyone's guess. But we do know that his family is ecstatic and thanks to their preparedness (and the $16.99 a year HomeAgain microchip plan that covers return travel expenses) Joe is heading back to Georgia and his family's waiting arms.

We understand that Joe is currently entertaining the idea of selling movie rights.

IndyHumane Programs Closed Thursday October 6, 2011

2011-10-06T14:02:12+00:00

IndyHumane is cancelling programs Thursday October 6 due to maintenance work being preformed on the facility's parking lot. The shelter and vaccine clinic are normally closed on Thursdays. This change should only affect pet park patrons. Canine training patrons will have class tonight but access to the drive will be limited. Please use caution. We apologize for any inconvenience and will open for regular operating hours on Friday, October 7.

Octopurr Special! Want a cat but can’t adopt?

2011-09-30T20:12:35+00:00

Octopurr is a special time at IndyHumane. Pay-it-forward by sponsoring an adult cat (age 3 and up) by paying its $75 adoption fee. Help out your fellow cat lover and help our older cats find a forever home.

If you really wish you could adopt them all but your home situation keeps you from adopting, then Octopurr is your month! Here's all you do:

Select at cat (3 year old or older) that you wish you could take home by looking at our available cats online or in the shelter.
Pay his or her $75 adoption fee
Get your name on your cat's pumpkin in the shelter
Spread the word! Tell your friends and family about the cat you sponsored- share on Facebook and tweet about them
Check back on Indyhumane.org to see when your sponsored cat gets a forever home.

Low-Cost Vaccine Clinic Closed Friday 9/23

2011-09-19T20:40:00+00:00

The IndyHumane low-cost vaccine cline will be closed on Friday, September 23rd so our veterinarians can take advantage of a specialized training opportunity. The clinic is open our regular hours, Monday and Tuesday September 19th and 20th from 1 to 7 PM and will return to our regular hours of operation the week of September 26th - Monday, Tuesday and Friday from 1-7 PM.

Cat Adoption Special

2011-09-10T14:26:48+00:00

For a limited time, take advantage of a great package of welcome home gifts when you adopt a cat 3-years-old and older.

Bring home a mature kitty and get :

FREE food

FREE litter

FREE litter box/scoop

and even FREE toys

Over $40 value!

Heartworm Prevention More Critical Than Ever

2011-09-08T17:55:00+00:00

Heartworm disease is a serious problem for dogs in the U.S. and education and promotion of heartworm prevention has always been the preferred method of addressing this devastating condition. But now, prevention isn’t just strongly recommended, it’s absolutely critical.

On Aug. 4, a letter was sent from drug manufacturer Merial to veterinarians across the country stating that the only approved heartworm treatment, Immiticide, is completely unavailable and there is no indication when it will become available again. "We've been through a shortage before," said Dr. Towns, IndyHumane Staff Veterinarian. "But even though the drug was hard to find, and we had to jump through some hoops to get it, we could. Now, however. it's completely unavailable."

"Right now, we're treating the animals we have according to the American Heartworm Society's suggestions." said IndyHumane Veterinarian Dr. Herr. "We have them on heartworm preventative and doxycycline."

Treating heartworm-positive dogs with Immiticide (even when it is available) is extremely difficult on the dog’s body. Plus, the process requires dogs to be kept calm which means no playing, running or jumping for as long as 6 weeks.

Prevention however, is simple and abundant. All your dog needs is a yearly heartworm test and year-round heartworm prevention in the form of a monthly pill or monthly topical that often includes the added bonus of flea control.

Heartworm infection is a deadly condition. A mature infection with adult heartworm can cause significant heart and lung disease and is often fatal if left untreated. Symptoms in dogs include coughing, fatigue and breathing difficulties.

If your dog is not current on their monthly heartworm preventative we urge you to make an appointment today with your vet or visit us at our vaccine clinic for a heartworm test and preventative. As the old saying goes, “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure”.

Humane Society of Indianapolis temporarily suspending medium-to-large canine intake

2011-08-17T19:47:40+00:00

Cracked, chipped, and peeling paint prevalent throughout the two main public dog adoption kennels is causing the Humane Society of Indianapolis (IndyHumane) to temporarily suspend intake of adult, medium-to-large dogs so that the kennels may be painted. Christine Jeschke, director of operations for IndyHumane, is asking the public to be patient – and consider fostering a dog while the painting is in process.

“The kennel painting is a lengthy, detailed undertaking, but necessary for the overall health and well being of our dogs” said Jeschke. “There’s never a good time to do this, and we hope the general public will be patient while we find alternative placements for the dogs we do have. Adoptions will continue, but selection will be limited.”

The painting of the kennels will happen in two phases of three weeks each. Phase one is the medium-to-large dog kennel, beginning August 29th and lasting through September 21st. Phase two is the small dog kennel and will begin the first week of October. Because IndyHumane is a limited admissions shelter, intake appointments must be suspended to reduce the current inventory of larger dogs. Previously scheduled appointments will be honored. Placement of dogs currently residing at IndyHumane will be a challenge, but one for which Jeschke and her staff are prepared.

“We’ll get creative inside the shelter to find additional spaces,” said Jeschke. “We’re also contacting private boarding facilities to see what space may be available. We could really use additional foster families who can commit to housing a larger dog for three weeks. Fostering is really our first choice for placement.”

An IndyHumane donor provided the necessary funds to paint the kennels. This project has been on the organization’s radar for some time, but not in its current budget. The freshly painted kennels will not only provide healthier living space for the dogs, but also a much needed “freshen up” for the shelter.

“We are so grateful to the donor footing the bill for this painting project,” said John Aleshire, CEO of IndyHumane. “It has been at least a decade since it was done last.”

Any person interested in fostering medium-to-large adult dogs should contact Connie Swaim at IndyHumane, cswaim@indyhumane.org or 317.872-5650 x135. Any boarding facilities wishing to help house dogs should contact Christine Jeschke at cjeschke@indhumane.org or call 317.872.5650 x160.

The shelter relies on donations from the public, and receives no tax dollars or funding from national animal-welfare groups. Monetary donations can be made to help the shelter and the animals it cares for at www.IndyHumane.org, by mail, or by phone at 317-872-5650 ext.125.