Purrfect Companions: Shelters are seeking ‘furever’ homes for pets – The Daily Reporter

HANCOCK COUNTY — It is formally “kitten time,” according to regional animal rescue groups — the peak time of calendar year for litters of kittens to be born.

That means several neighborhood shelters and foster residences are overrun with adorable little furballs, hoping that animal lovers will come ahead to supply them as effectively as older animals with loving houses.

“This is a very hectic time of 12 months. These previous two weeks we have taken in 4 unique litters of kittens,” stated Renee Schmidt, board president for the Partners for Animal Welfare Culture in Greenfield.

At the start out of June, the animal rescue was fostering about 30 animals, typically kittens.

From Might 25-30, Greenfield-Hancock Animal Administration waived the adoption cost to relieve overcrowding at the county’s animal shelter, which could have led to animals being euthanized.

“We are pretty smaller here the place we’re at now, so the numbers we begun with are truly a good deal for us with what we can humanely hold. The adoptions and fosters built house sufficient that we did not have to euthanize any animal for place good reasons,” reported the department’s director, Amanda Dehoney.

The shelter begun out with 21 cats and 16 canines at the start of the cost-free adoption event, which reduced the selection of animals in the shelter by 27{95b18eb6fc4f42efd0d92738dfc3fb79fde21da267a711ecdf0381147c27bb86}.

“We want they all would have been adopted, but adoptions are tremendous sluggish and down tremendously, so we were joyful that at least 10 animals still left,” Dehoney mentioned.

1 of the ten is now dwelling his finest lifestyle on a sunny glassed-in patio overlooking a lake in Greenfield, where by his new operator, Pleasure Pope, spoils him rotten with treats and belly rubs.

When her previous furry sidekick — a reclusive but lovable cat named Lilly — died unexpectedly on Might 21, Pope promptly understood that nothing at all would mend her broken coronary heart quite like locating yet another pet to like.

Her relatives recommended she wait at least a month, but she certain her daughter-in-regulation to stop by the county animal shelter with her a week afterwards “just to appear.”

They came up with Pope’s new greatest good friend — a 1-12 months-aged gray striped tabby.

Though she noticed a quantity of cats at the shelter that day, Pope said it was enjoy at to start with sight when she saw the affectionage grey cat she renamed Ash.

“He would just rub up towards the entrance of his cage and want to be cherished on. I took him in the visitation space and I thought, ‘This is it, this is the just one for me,’” she mentioned.

Though she was thrilled to carry Ash residence that working day, Pope was also pleased to enable absolutely free up area at the shelter, which is briefly positioned in a former veterinary office at 2195 W U.S. 40.

Area is especially cramped for the duration of development of the county’s new animal shelter, which Dehoney claimed is slated to open up in August or September.

Pope reported getting Ash has been daily life-shifting, therapeutic her broken coronary heart following her cat Lilly died.

“He is just the sweetest matter,” she said, as her new minimal buddy rolled on to his again and stretched, searching for out a different tummy rub.

An on the internet lookup led her to Ash, as properly as a amount of kittens available as a result of local rescues like PAWS, the Hancock County Humane Culture, Frenzy Rescue, and Canine Castaways.

“It was like at 1st sight when I noticed Ash, and I assume he type of preferred me far too,” Pope said. “I knew I preferred to choose him and and give him a house and spoil him.”

Heather White, a longtime volunteer with the Hancock County Humane Modern society, claimed she’s thankful for people today like Pope who give deserving animals a fantastic dwelling. Shelters and foster houses are specifically whole of adoptable pets this time of year, she stated.

“May by way of August tend to be our busiest time,” claimed White, introducing that the shelter commonly stays at ability in June and July.

“We are at the moment caring for 54 cats and kittens, including 3 nursing mamas and litters,” she reported on June 1. “We have 22 animals that are out there for adoption, and we have 21 kittens that will be obtainable for adoption as quickly as they are previous adequate.”

The Hancock County Humane Modern society — situated in a glass-entrance creating at 214 E. Primary St. in Greenfield, in which cats and kittens can be witnessed snoozing and enjoying inside of — is celebrating its 45th anniversary this yr.

The nonprofit has two events planned this thirty day period to fund-elevate and rejoice — a Feline Entertaining Operate 5K on June 11 and a Paint Your Pet celebration on June 18.

The Feline Enjoyable Operate is staying arranged as an Eagle Scout task by Matthew Hentz, who aims to increase awareness for the humane culture.

The non-competitive, untimed party is for runners, walkers and everything in in between, mentioned Poncar, a humane culture volunteer.

The pet-helpful race starts off and finishes at Depot Street Park in Greenfield, with registration from 7:30-8 a.m. In lieu of an entry rate, a no cost will donations for the humane modern society will be approved at registration.

On June 18, the humane modern society will host a Paint Your Pet party at Scarlet Lane Brewery in McCordsville, wherever artist Zach Lowe can help men and women paint replicas of images of their pets.

“Participants e mail Zach a couple of photographs of their pet prior to the event, and he’ll sketch it out on a canvas. You do not need any portray expertise,” said Poncar. “Zach will deliver all resources desired and will be on hand to assist painters.”

Tickets will have to be obtained in advance for $45, $25 of which is donated to the humane modern society. Sessions start at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.

For extra details, check out HancockCountyHumaneSociety.org.