hope for our animals. hope for our community.

hope for our animals. hope for our community.

While wandering a deserted beach at dawn, stagnant in my work, I saw a man in the distance bending and throwing as he walked the endless stretch toward me. As he came near, I could see that he was throwing starfish, abandoned on the sand by the tide, back into the sea. When he was close enough, I asked him why he was working so hard at this strange task. He said that the sun would dry the starfish, and they would die. I said to him that I thought he was foolish. There were thousands of starfish on miles and miles of beach. One man alone could never make a difference. He smiled as he picked up the next starfish. Hurling it far into the sea, he said, it makes a difference for this one. Loren Eiseley 2

If indyhumane were to close its doors tomorrow, what would happen? Where would homeless animals seek refuge? What would happen to the animals already in our shelter? Medical services would be lost. There would be more euthanasia in our city. These logical, matter-of-fact answers immediately spring to mind. However, it s much bigger than this. The hope for our city, when it comes to solving the animal overpopulation problem, would disappear because more animals would be born than could possibly ever be placed in homes. Fewer families would be guided to pet care and educational resources. Thousands of families would never know the joy of loving and saving a rescued pet. hope. A simple word, but a word that is so very important. The Humane Society of Indianapolis provides hope for our animals and hope for our community, as you will see in the stories to follow. hope for our animals. Hope for our community. 4

Who we are Serving Indianapolis and the surrounding counties since 1905, the Humane Society of Indianapolis provides vital services to both animals and people. A private, nonprofit organization that receives no government funding, the Humane Society of Indianapolis is supported solely by contributions, grants, bequests, investments, adoption fees and other fees for service. We receive no tax money, United Way funds, or regular contributions from other animal-welfare organizations such as the ASPCA or Humane Society of the United States. At IndyHumane, our animals don t have an expiration date - there is no predetermined time limit for how long an animal can remain on the adoption floor. We don't ever put animals down because of space or length of stay. OUR MISSION 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, behavior training, appropriate medical care, and affordable spay/neuter 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 more than 100 years, it's all about the animals. OUR HISTORY Since 1905, the Humane Society of Indianapolis has provided shelter and care to animals in need on their way to loving homes. Originally started to help both animals and families in need, the Humane Society eventually switched to focus solely on animal care. In its current location at 79th and Michigan Road since the 1960s, IndyHumane s facility is now more than 32,000 square feet on 16 acres. In a caring and nurturing environment, the work of IndyHumane deepens the bond between people and their companion animals. Whether you are ready to adopt a new pet, participate in dog training, give your dog a run in our Pet Park, or volunteer your time to help our animals, you can celebrate your love of animals at IndyHumane. WE RE MORE THAN JUST ADOPTIONS IndyHumane offers several programs that serve residents in Central Indiana: Volunteer programs The Nonie Krauss Foster Care Program Adoption services The Albert G. and Sara I. Reuben Low-Cost Vaccination Clinics Dog training Education and outreach Central Indiana s first off-leash dog park Low-cost spay/neuter services Behavior helpline: 317-876-2173 6

camila dignity and respect Camila, a tiny cat with tremendous heart, arrived at IndyHumane covered in foam insulation, with trash and fast food wrappings stuck to her fur. At IndyHumane, our vision is that all Central Indiana animals are treated with dignity and respect and live free from cruelty, harm and neglect. Camila was treated with the utmost care and respect, and this poor cat soon began to travel the road to recovery. From the start, there was no guarantee we could save Camila, and our staff was well aware of that. But, our medical team got to work right away, carefully removing the expanding foam and trash from Camila s fur, which they soon discovered was a striking, silvery gray color. Camila s story has a happy ending. She was placed in a loving home quickly after she recovered. We don t always know what the outcome will be in difficult cases such as Camila s. We cannot save every animal who comes through our doors. But, we can provide hope for each individual animal and the quiet dignity that comes with knowing he or she will be treated with respect. Starla hope Starla may now look the part of the happy, energetic, adolescent dog, but she has an emotional story. She first came to IndyHumane as a transfer from Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. They originally confiscated her as a cruelty case, and we discovered that she had been tied up outside in the middle of winter in approximately a foot of snow. With her charming personality and knack for being truly adorable, we initially thought Starla would be quickly adopted. However, after her initial examination, it was discovered Starla was in need of major surgery to remove a cancerous portion of her jaw. This was quite shocking to see in such a young dog, and our veterinarians worried she may not make it through this difficult, painful procedure. found homes for 14,400 medical procedures were performed at indyhumane in 2012 in 2012 indyhumane found homes for triton 2,776 homeless pets Triton arrived to IndyHumane with severe wounds and swollen legs. After sedating Triton, IndyHumane medical staff found there to be hundreds of puncture wounds both old, new, and in various stages of healing which is a key indicator that a dog has been used as a bait dog for dog fighting practice. Love is part of everything we do at IndyHumane. From our dedicated staff and board members to our committed volunteers, there s a reason we all continue this work day-in and day-out. It s for dogs like Triton. Dogs who have never known love. Triton had never seen a peanut butter-filled Kong until he arrived at IndyHumane. Skeptical at first, he eyed the mysterious object and wasn t quite sure what to do with it. But, then he took that first lick, and from that point on Triton began a strict prescription diet of one Peanut Butter Kong per day! To see a dog like Triton emerge victorious from a brutal, cruel situation like dog fighting gives hope that we can make a change and make a difference. We made all the difference to Triton. Our vets wouldn t give up on Starla, and they were ready and able to tackle this challenging situation. Through the kindness of donors, Starla s medical costs were covered after a plea went out via social media. And, Starla received the medical care she so desperately needed. She received the surgery, recovered in record time, and a few weeks later was adopted and found her loving, caring forever home. Without IndyHumane, Starla would not have been taken in, sheltered, cared for, and healed. You may think, That s one dog out of so many. But, that s just it she was one dog, and the hardworking staff at IndyHumane wouldn t give up on her. Through their faith in her recovery, she was given hope for a better life. She was just one dog, but her care at IndyHumane made all the difference for her, and her new family. IndyHumane is dedicated to the homeless and unwanted animals who find themselves at our door. We promise these animals they are safe with us. And, that s a promise we make to each individual animal, regardless of their condition when they arrive. We cannot do this important work alone, and this is why we need your help and support for animals like Starla. 8

compassion What would have happened to Starla, Camila, and Triton without IndyHumane? Starla may not have received the life-saving medical care she needed to survive and thrive. Camila could have lived her life on the street, but the expanding foam would have been a continued hindrance to her existence, and, eventually, her survival. Triton would have never known hope, respect, compassion, and love and quite possibly would have died in the cruel dogfighting arena. Starla, Camila, and Triton were lucky and received the care they desperately needed at IndyHumane. But, others are not so lucky. Indianapolis has a pet problem. Animal overpopulation and a lack of available resources lead to thousands of pets surrendered to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control or to IndyHumane. With your compassionate support, you can provide the hope for an even better city and a better future for our animals. Our staff is working to solve this problem, and we ve already taken several steps in the right direction. We opened the IndyHumane Animal Welfare Center in 2012 to directly combat the surrender of companion animals to Indianapolis Animal Care and Control. Through this facility, we provide low-cost pet care services, vaccinations, and spay/ neuter services. The goal is to gradually chip away at city-wide intake rates, and by providing low-cost alternatives, we're beginning to see a change. City-wide intake and euthanasia rates are both gradually coming down. We have the tools. We have the vision. We have the commitment. We have partnerships needed to address such challenges as feral cats, dog fighting, and animal abuse and neglect. We have a solid plan that will make Indianapolis a model for responsible, humane, effective animal welfare initiatives across the nation. All we need is financial support of individuals and organizations that believe in our vision and are ready to help us create lasting change in Central Indiana. Now is the time to help us provide hope for the animals of our community. We have the vision, passion, energy, and enthusiasm to change the face of animal welfare in our city. Now all we need is the financial support of individuals, concerned citizens, corporate sponsors, foundations, and others to continue to save animals like Starla, Camila, and Triton and the many others who so desperately need our help. 10

There are no happy endings. Endings are the saddest part, So just give me a happy middle and a very happy start. -Shel Silverstein Compassion We respect every animal that comes through our door as a valued life and make medically appropriate decisions in the best interest of the animals. respect We recognize the strong bond between humans and animals and are compassionate in the decisions we make and actions we take that impact that relationship. collaboration We work with other animal-focused individuals and groups to ensure that animals have a strong voice to advocate for their welfare. integrity We can be trusted to do what we say we will do. We tell the truth, even when it may be painful. We make decisions based on what we believe is the right thing to do for the animals, their owners and prospective owners. fiscal responsibility We are good stewards of the resources entrusted to us, including financial and human resources. Please help us continue to create happy new beginnings for the animals who arrive on our doorstep, and help us continue to provide hope for our community. We re proud to be your IndyHumane, and we thank you for your support. All photos courtesy of Lise Greil Photography FRIENDS FOR LIFE. 7929 N. Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN 46268-1915 317-872-5650 IndyHumane.org