Holiday Greetings!

Holidays can be a lot of fun for you and your pets... but it can be a stressful time too, and there can be new hazards around your home. Be aware of what your pets can "get into", and be extra vigilant for their safety so everyone can have a very happy holiday season!

For more holiday fun, check out our website and see more special pictures of our pets during the month of December!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Wishing you a restful Thanksgiving holiday, from our adoptable pets at the shelter! And to all of our volunteers and supporters... we are thankful for YOU!

Riley Days!

If you're visiting the Riley Festival in Greenfield, October 7-10, be sure to stop by our booth! It's on U.S. 40, right in front of our shelter at 214 E. Main St. We'll have pet items and homemade dog treats for sale, and much more!

And check out our new expanded website (link at right)!

Pet Tips for a Safe July 4th Holiday

The 4th of July is a time for celebration but it can also be very stressful for pets. Every year we receive dozens of calls about pets lost during this holiday. Fourth of July can be a frightening time for our animals, and the loud sounds of firecrackers and fireworks can cause pets to flee looking for security or shelter. To keep your pets safe and healthy on the July 4th holiday and all summer long, the Hancock County Humane Society recommends keeping the following tips in mind:

 Make sure your pet wears a collar with an identification tag at all times, even if he only lives indoors. The ID tag should include your current address and phone number, so you easily can be contacted should your missing pet be found. Have your pet microchipped in case his collar or tag becomes lost.
 Keep your pet indoors in a cool, quiet room. Close all the windows and curtains to muddle the sounds of the fireworks. Turn on the TV or radio for them.
 Do not leave your pets in your backyard or outside during fireworks displays that are audible or visible from where you live. Do not leave them outside unattended if they are within hearing range of fireworks.
 Leave your pet at home during firework displays. Animals have a heightened sense of hearing so the loud “booming” noise can be deafening causing your pet to panic and want to hide.
 Never leave your pet unattended in a car during firework displays. He can become extremely frightened, overheated, agitated and/or destructive and even find a way to escape from the vehicle.
 If your dog or cat still experiences severe anxiety, consult your veterinarian about prescribing a mild sedative to ease your pet’s stress. Consider boarding your pet if you will be out of town.
 Never use fireworks around pets. Do not leave matches or candles around them either. Your pet could easily knock them over and start a fire.
 Take any lost animal to a local animal shelter right away, so you can help reunite owners with missing pets.
 Clean up firework debris before letting your pet outside. If your pet eats the debris, it may cause digestive problems or serious injuries.

Volunteer Open House - July 17th

Have you ever wondered what you could do to help the shelter pets at the Hancock County Humane Society? We need volunteers to help with all aspects of caring for animals and running our shelter. We are having a Volunteer Open House on Saturday, July 17th, at the Humane Society (214 E. Main Street, Greenfield) from 10am-3pm. There will be face painting, a dog wash, door prizes, and an opportunity to get more information about volunteering while you're having fun! If you'd like more details, please call 462-5404 or email hancohumane@yahoo.com . Or just drop by, and bring a friend!

Best Buy Car Show - July 24th

Love cars? Have a car, truck, or motorcycle people would like to see? The first annual Best Buy Car Show is being held at the Eastside Best Buy (9977 E. Washington Street, Indianapolis) from 11am-2pm on July 24th. Proceeds will benefit the Hancock County Humane Society. Free hot dogs, chips, and drinks will be provided for anyone enjoying the show, and raffles will be held every 15 minutes for participants to win Best Buy gift cards! Trophies will be given for best car, best truck, best motorcycle, best import, best audio system, and Participants' Choice. Pre-register (before July 1st) for $10 and get a free T-shirt! Registration on show day is $15, from 8-11am. Pick up an entry form at the Washington Street Best Buy, at Hancock County Humane Society, or email HCHS at hancohumane@yahoo.com. Questions? Call Roy or Amanda at 317/897-3941. See you there!

Some Great Tips for Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month

Hancock County Humane Society is celebrating the national Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month this June. It’s an ideal time to adopt a feline, since the spring and summer months typically bring a surge of kittens and cats to the nation’s shelters. Whether you’re looking for a fun, frisky kitten or a mellow, mature cat, you’ll find the perfect feline at our shelter. We have cats of all breeds, ages and personalities, and they’re all looking for loving, permanent homes.

Hancock County Humane Society encourages people to enrich their lives by adopting a cat and offers these tips to consider when adopting:

• Age: While kittens are hard to resist, adult cats are often better suited to families with young children. Mature cats respond better to being handled by inquisitive toddlers.
• Number: It can be beneficial to adopt more than one cat or kitten, especially if the pets will be left alone for long periods while you are gone. Not all cats enjoy companionship, but many are very social with members of their own species.
• Personality: Many cats are under a great deal of stress in a shelter environment. A cat’s true personality may not emerge until he has been in his new home for several weeks. Hancock County Humane Society encourages you to visit the cat you’re interested in several times and to talk to the shelter staff.
• Coat: The longer the cat’s fur, the more brushing will be needed to prevent painful matting.
• Nutrition and health: Good nutrition and twice-a-year vet visits will help your cat stay healthy and happy. Keep your cat indoors to prevent her from contracting diseases, being hit by a car or getting hurt by other animals.
• Tags and microchips: Millions of cats are taken to animal shelters as strays each year -- but only about 2 percent of cats without an ID tag or microchip are reunited with their owners. Make sure your cat wears a collar and tag with the cat’s name and your name, address and phone number. Microchips provide permanent identification that can never come off or get lost.

See our homepage (link at right) for our shelter address, hours, and photos of our current pets!

June is Adopt-A-Cat Month!

The month of June has been Congressionally recognized as Adopt-A-Cat Month! For more information, visit http://www.americanhumane.org/protecting-animals/special-events/adopt-a-cat-month/aacm-congressional-record.html . Come visit our great adoptable cats and kittens... our pet list can be viewed at our homepage (link to the right).

Vaccination time!

We're offering our low-cost vaccination clinics for dogs and cats in May, June, and July! See our homepage (link at right) for dates, times, and costs!

And it's kitten season... we've got lots of cute ones! Come in and see them!

Your old cell phone can help!

Got an old cell phone you no longer need? Donating it to our shelter for recycling will help us raise funds. (No accessories or chargers, please.) Bring your old phone to our shelter (see our homepage link to the right for our address, a map link, and open hours), and say hi to our volunteers and pets!

Spring Fever!

Spring is here, and everyone is ready for fun! Come on in and visit!

Finding a Great Pet

Kitten season won't be here for awhile yet, but this month several families have discovered loving pets for their home among our young adult residents. Older kittens and adult cats have plenty of love to give. Come on in and see them!

Spay or Neuter Your Pet Now

Now is a great time to have your pet spayed or neutered. Don't wait until the weather starts to get warmer and the heat season for pets begins... by that time you could be responsible for an unwanted litter of puppies or kittens. If you need information about spay/neuter availability in our area, contact your local veterinarian (our shelter has a list of vets in our area). Or for more information, check out Spay Neuter Services of Indiana for some low-cost programs. Our shelter pets thank you!