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!

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!

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!

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!

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!

Thanksgiving

On behalf of all the pets at our shelter, we'd like to say how thankful we are for the great volunteers who give so much of their time to care for us while we're looking for our permanent homes. And on behalf of the pets who've been adopted from our shelter and others, thank you to the people who have made a shelter pet part of their own families, and to those who support our shelter in so many ways.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Welcome to our new Blog!

Welcome to the blog site for the Hancock County Humane Society, in Greenfield, Indiana! On this site we'll post informal photos of our pets, keep you up to date on their activities and on the activities of our shelter and volunteers, and discuss current topics of interest to animal lovers and our shelter supporters. We welcome any suggestions, comments, or questions... and thanks for your support!