June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month!

Charlie

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat month, and this is a great time to encourage anyone you know who might be thinking about adding a new pet to their family, to adopt from a shelter.  So many deserving pets are waiting in shelters for their forever families, and shelters can provide you with advice on choosing a pet with the temperament that will work for you, support for bringing your new family member home, and a pet who's current on vaccinations.  There are all kinds of sweet animals, some looking for a second chance to please.  Consider Charlie, a 10-year-old male kitty who came to us with a previously undiagnosed, but easily treatable, ear infection. Now that he's feeling better, Charlie is quiet and friendly, always looking for someone to pat his head.  He is a senior cat and will do best in a home without small children, but he has a lot of love and companionship yet to provide in his lifetime.  See more about him by clicking here , and thanks for supporting the work of our shelter by encouraging pet adoption!

Kitten Season... How Can I Help?

It's the time of year when litters of kittens will soon be popping up everywhere.  Do you know what to do if you come across a litter of kittens outdoors?  Scoop them up immediately and take them home with you, right?  Not necessarily.  Alley Cat Allies has some very helpful information to help you determine how old they are, and what to do next.  See their article by clicking here . 

Many shelters will be overwhelmed with requests to take in kittens, and we all try to help with whatever we can.  Shelters who are caring for kittens will especially need supplies like Kitten Milk Replacement powder, canned or dry kitten food formulated for just-weaned kittens, and baby blankets.  Our shelter donation "wish list" can be found at http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/donations.html .

Before kittens are completely weaned and eating solid food regularly, caring for them can be very time-intensive, and we sometimes use the help of foster volunteers who can care for the kittens (and the mama cat if available) in their own homes.  Volunteers keep them until they are weaned and there is room to take them into the shelter.  If you have a spare bathroom or bedroom and some extra TLC to give, maybe you'd like to be one of those volunteers - just contact us!

World Spay Day - February 26th

February 26th, 2013 is World Spay Day! Some great organizations and individuals are working together on this day to promote spay/neuter as a way to save lives.  They have set a goal of spaying or neutering 55,000 pets worldwide through this project. 

Find a local event near you, or check on their progress to see how close they are to achieving their goal, at https://spaydayportal.humanesociety.org/ .  You can also find more spay/neuter information and resources on our shelter's website at http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/spay.html .

One unaltered pet can be the source of literally hundreds of puppies or kittens over the course of its lifetime.  Please help spread the word, encourage all pet owners to be responsible, and help eliminate the problem of unwanted pets through spay/neuter!

Special Discounted January Adoption Fees!

During the month of January this year, the Hancock County Humane Society will be offering an adoption fee discount for our adult cats!  (Well, we have a few that aren't quite a year old that for purposes of this special we'll consider adults.)  Right now you can adopt any adult cat for just $25.  We have some wonderful young adult kitties, and we'd love for them to find homes. So please share this information with anyone who might be considering the addition of a cat to their family!  You can see our adoption procedure and policies here: http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/policies.html ,
 and a list (with photos) of all our available pets here: http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=IN34 .
Please come and visit!
 

Happy Holidays from Our Shelter Pets

Chai

On behalf of the pets in our shelter, and the pets who will be celebrating the New Year in a new forever home, we wish you a wonderful holiday filled with love and good cheer.

 

If you'd like to help support the work of our shelter, we can now accept donations online via Paypal.  Donations of supplies are always welcome too.  More information can be found at this link . 

 

Best wishes, from Chai and all our furry friends!

Why did you eat that???

Whaaaaaat?

Food for thought... here is a list from the ASPCA of the 10 strangest things people have documented that their pet has eaten:

1. TV Remote
2. Corn Dog Stick
3. Tank Top
4. Whiffle Ball
5. Dish Rag
6. Bar of Soap
7. Quarters
8. Rocks
9. Peach Pit
10. A Welcome Mat

Crazy, huh?  Pet-proof your home... you never know what might look appealing to your pet!

Celebrate Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week, Sept. 17-23

There are great pets at our shelter (and others) who have been patiently waiting for their chance at adoption... maybe they don't stand out, are a little shy, or have something "different" about them.  This week celebrates those sweethearts, and maybe someone out there will be encouraged to take a chance on one of them.  See this Petfinder.com page for more information, and for a photo gallery of lots of special pets including our own Wylie.
Adopt-A-Less-Adoptable-Pet Week

Riley Festival 2012 - Volunteer help needed

October 4-7, 2012 means Riley Festival in Greenfield, and we will again have a booth directly in front of our shelter on Main Street.  Right now we are scheduling volunteers to work a short shift at the booth, selling fun items for dogs and cats, and providing information about our shelter and services. We also need volunteers to make homemade dog treats, which are easy to make - we can provide recipes, and you can even make them ahead of time and freeze them.  If you might be able to help, please email or call our shelter.  All proceeds from our booth directly benefit our shelter pets, so even if you can't volunteer, please stop by our booth and shop!

Please help us find a home for Amber and Autumn!

Amber and Autumn are two sweet female short-haired tortoiseshell cats who are in need of a good home together. They were adopted from our shelter as young kittens in November 2009. When their owner could no longer care for them, they were returned to us in April 2012. They are spayed, current on shots, in good health, and have a sweet disposition and good litterbox habits. However, they seem to be frightened of other adult cats, and being in our community room of adult cats is terrifying to them. So we have attempted to keep them housed in a different area by themselves. Unfortunately, this limits their visibility to our shelter visitors, and limits the frequency of the contact and interaction from people that they want and deserve. They are playful, but would be perfect for someone looking for quiet, loving companions. We are anxious to get them adopted to a good home, and will consider a reduced adoption fee to place them with someone who will love them. If you, or someone you know, might be able to provide that home, please contact us for more information!

Take Your Cat to the Vet Week



August 18-25, 2012 is "Take Your Cat to the Vet Week".  A recent survey showed that fewer than half of cat owners take their cats to the vet unless they seem sick.  Why?  Is it because of that struggle to get your cat into the carrier?  Do you keep your cat indoors (good for you!), and don't think they need a vet's care? ALL cats benefit from preventative health care.  See some tips on making that visit easier on you and your cat, and more information, here: http://www.petfinder.com/pet-health/take-your-cat-to-the-vet.html?v=1 . And then make that appointment!

Buy a car, and support our shelter!

Thinking about buying a car?  The Dellen Automotive Family in Greenfield is hosting a special event on two Saturdays in July... purchase a vehicle on July 14th or July 21st and Dellen will donate $100 to the Hancock County Humane Society!  Sale hours are 8am to 5pm on those dates.  If you're attending between the hours of 12pm-2pm, there will be live radio broadcasts from Dellen - on July 14th, WFMS, and on July 21st, HANK-FM, and special radio station giveaways.  See http://www.dellen.com/ for more information on their dealership.  Stop by for fun and shopping, and tell them you appreciate their support of the Hancock County Humane Society!

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month!

Max

June is Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, and we have lots of great pets looking for a good home.  To observe this month, the Hancock County Humane Society is continuing our special adoption fees through June for adult cats - $50 to adopt one adult cat, or $80 to adopt two adults.  But even if you can't adopt a cat, you can still help our shelter pets.  See this article on Petfinder.com for some easy things that anyone who loves animals can do, to help our shelter and others reach their goals!

Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics for 2012

Get your dogs and cats vaccinated by local veterinarians at our specially hosted clinics... starting in mid-May until September.  Proceeds will benefit the Hancock County Humane Society.  No appointment is necessary, but your pet must be on a leash or in a carrier.
See http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/vaccination_clinics_2012.html for clinic dates and times, locations, costs, and specific services offered at each clinic.  Keep your pets current on their shots, and help our shelter!

National Volunteer Week - April 15-21, 2012

Since 1974, the third week in April has been designated as National Volunteer Week. It's a time to celebrate the great work done by volunteers, and the Hancock County Humane Society would like to thank the volunteers who give so much time to our organization. Our shelter has no paid staff - all the work is done by volunteers who make a huge difference for the animals we all love.

Would you, or would someone you know, like an opportunity to help? See our website at http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/volunteer.html for more information. Or stop by the 6th Annual Hancock County Volunteer Fair, today (April 18th), from 3-7 p.m. at the Hancock County Public Library, and talk with one of our volunteers. Share your time and talents for a great cause!

Special Spring Adoption Fees for Adult Cats!

The Hancock County Humane Society has lots of great adult cats like Dudley, patiently waiting for someone to take them home. During April and May, we will be discounting our regular adoption fees for adult cats to $50 for one adult cat or $80 for two adults adopted. Check our website for pictures of all our adoptable cats, or come in and visit. Our adult cats are fully vaccinated, tested for FIV/FeLV, and spayed or neutered... ready to move in with their new best friend, YOU!

The Return of the Paper Recycling Bin!

Our paper recycling bin has returned, but in a new location! The bin has been relocated at Carol's Cornerstone Cafe, 301 E. Main Street (basically, across Main Street from our shelter), in the parking lot behind the restaurant. Look for the green and yellow Abitibi recycling bin. All types of paper (newspapers, junk mail, magaines, catalogs, etc.) can be recycled here (no cardboard or plastic), and proceeds will benefit our shelter. A big thank you to Carol for her generosity in hosting the bin!

I'm Ready to Go Home Now!

Wylie is ready to go home with you. And so are some wonderful older kittens and young adult cats in our shelter. Kitten season is coming soon, but these loving pets would be a great addition to your family... and we've already done the training for you. Take a look online at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelterid=IN34 or come visit us. Your new best friend may be waiting patiently for you!

February Spay/Neuter Certificates

The Hancock County Humane Society encourages all pet owners to spay or neuter their pets, and help us decrease the number of unwanted animals that end up in shelters. In February, central Indiana residents have a great opportunity to obtain this service at a special rate through Spay-Neuter Services of Indiana. Please visit http://www.spayneuterservices.org/feboct.htm for a special certificate program, and instructions for how to make your appointment. Wondering how this will affect your pet, or have concerns? Answers to some common questions can be found in this great article at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-health/why-spay-or-neuter.html .

Availability of appointments through this program may fill up fast, so take advantage of it now, and do your part to control the pet population this spring!

The Start of Another Busy Year

Happy New Year! 2011 was a very productive year at our shelter, thanks to our great volunteers and supporters. A lot was accomplished to benefit the pets and pet owners in our area. Take a look at our year-end newsletter, at http://members.petfinder.com/~IN34/2011_Newsletter.pdf to see some of the many things that happened in 2011. A big thank you to everyone who made all this possible!

Come in and see our newest residents... a litter of polydactyl (extra-toed) cats, sometimes known as Hemingway cats. Some of them are bobtails, too!

Sponsor a Shelter Pet for the Holidays!

Need a last-minute gift idea? Or trying to decide how to help others in the spirit of the holidays?

Consider sponsoring one of the pets at our shelter. It's easy to do online. Just click on any of the pets on our Adoptable Pet List at http://www.petfinder.com/pet-search?shelter_id=IN34 , then click the button that says "Sponsor Me for the Holidays." You'll get a receipt from the Petfinder.com Foundation for your taxes, and the funds will be donated directly to our shelter. You can donate in honor or in memory of someone, or even donate anonymously.

Sponsorship is available year-round, and it's a great way to help our pets even if adopting isn't an option for you. Thanks in advance for your support of our shelter!