Hoosier Pets

HoosierPets was established to provide information while helping shelters find permanent loving homes for adoptable animals.

Our goals include helping to reduce the pet overpopulation problem and improving the quality of life for all area animals as well.

From The Fund for Animals
"Animal shelters are doing the public's dirty work. They care for the animals people discard, and must destroy those for whom no homes can be found. But for the public it's still a matter of 'out of sight, out of mind.' No longer can this problem be considered the shelters' responsibility. We must all begin to take responsibility for the animals ending up in shelters. All shelters are overloaded with adoptable animals that need homes. The problem is simple: we have too many dogs and cats; too many for the too few homes available. The solution we have opted for is to kill the extras. This solution has been considered acceptable by default, as though there were no other way to control the crisis. And we spend over $600 million every year destroying 'man's best friend.' Each day, an estimated 70,000 puppies and kittens are born (25.5 million a year). Six to ten million we classify as 'surplus' and kill. The six to ten million figure represents those we 'must' kill because they are unwanted. Most of these animals are young and healthy; in fact, it is estimated that a majority are less than one year of age."

PETS LEFT BEHIND IN FORECLOSED HOMES!!

If you know of a pet owner facing foreclosure, don't assume they will find a good home for their pet. One South Bend realtor contacted by this website reported she was finding pets left behind, (often in a weakened condition or worse), in several of the foreclosed homes she entered.

Contact South Bend Animal Care and Control for help at 235-9303, or your local animal shelter.

Also log onto www.nopawsleftbehind.org

FIX YOUR PET. FIX THE PROBLEM.
IT'S HEALTHY,
IT'S HUMANE,
IT'S THE RESPONSIBLE THING TO DO.
What if I want my child to experience the "miracle of birth?" This is a completely unjustifiable excuse, as there are videotapes available for children to watch if they are interested in seeing animals being born. There is no guarantee that the mother won't give birth in the middle of the night, or while the children are at school. To experience "the real thing," consider doing foster care for your local shelter. Foster homes willing to take pregnant or nursing animals are rare -- they will be delighted to hear from you!

For low cost cat spay/neuter throughout Indiana, visit www.neuterscooter.com.

Don't take your pet to the pound because of your allergies, get help at: www.peta.org

NO MORE COLD, LONELY DOGS
Please visit www.dogsdeservebetter.com and www.unchainyourdog.org. For ways you can help or for free leaflets to give to owners of dogs in need, visit peta.org.

Need help finding a home for a pet you can no longer keep? Please be responsible!
(For tips see Lost & Found.)

A surprising number of people take the easy way out by dropping their pets off at the pound or worse yet the roadside when they are no longer wanted. Others offer them to strangers for FREE, not realizing a free pet is oftentimes viewed as a disposable pet.

WE ARE NOT DISPOSABLE
Most people have good intentions when they advertise a cat or dog as "Free To Good Home". They care what happens to the animal and are not interested in making money. All they want to do is find a nice family that is willing to give the pet a loving, responsible home.

The tragedy occurs when the animal is mistakenly put into a situation where it is neglected, abandoned, abused, or even sold for a profit into a worse life. Sadly, this sort of thing happens thousands of times each day across America.

Giving any pet away is misguided. People tend not to value what they don't pay for. If you charge a nominal fee of $35-$45 or more for an animal, the new owner is more likely to take their commitment to the pet seriously. A free pet is a disposable pet!

Paying a fee for a pet shows good faith on the part of the new owner and demonstrates their willingness to properly care for the animal. The truth is, there is no such thing as a "free" pet anyway. By the time a cat or dog is checked out by a vet, including shots, worming, health testing, and spay/neuter, a "free" pet will easily cost in excess of $100, and that's just for starters. A responsible person who would properly take care of an animal will understand this and will not be opposed to paying a reasonable fee for a healthy pet, especially if some or all of these health items have already been taken care of.

Still not convinced? Then ask yourself these questions, "If a person cannot afford to pay an adoption fee for a pet, how will they be able to afford the normal expenses of proper pet care? And how will they ever afford vet bills when the pet gets sick?"

If you are uncomfortable with asking a fee for the pet, consider including food, toys, supplies, etc. as an added incentive. The idea is not to make a profit, but to ensure the good intentions of the new owner. In any event, the animal should be "fixed" and have its "shots" before it is adopted out and these costs alone can easily equal $45 or more. Use the adoption fee to recoup your expenses.

One final thought on this subject - if you absolutely don't want to take any money yourself,, ask the adopter to make the check out to a local animal shelter instead. These organizations can surely use the help!

What can happen to a pet that is given free to a casual, uncommitted owner?
- Abandoned to the streets: This is the most likely scenario that occurs when an uncommitted owner tires of a pet. Street animals suffer every day of their short lives.
- Handed over to Animal Control or the Humane Society and euthanized because the shelter is overcrowded: People who do not take their responsibilities seriously always take the easy way out!
- Marginally owned: The pet will not be cared for properly and is often allowed to roam the streets.
- Abused: The owner will not make the effort to properly train the animal. Often this leads to inappropriate responses from the owner and abuse of the pet when it "misbehaves."

Or worse . . .

Please don't give pets away! And be sure to "fix" the pet before adoption to prevent more "Free To Good Home" ads! The most important thing you can do to stop animal abuse is to spay or neuter your pets!

Finally, take the time to interview any prospective owner and visit their home. Make sure the pet will be kept inside as part of the family and that there is a pet proof fence and gate. Ask for personal as well as veterinarian references and check them out. Be certain that this loving adoptive family is committed to this animal for life and if it doesn't work out they will return the pet TO YOU.