Humane Society of Elkhart County

We are in need of volunteers for the Elkhart County Fair booth.  If you are interested, please call Debbie Dodge at 875-4230.  Various shifts will be available.  It’s a great way to get involved and learn more about the HSEC.

We also need volunteers at the Red Barn Resale Shop with pricing, moving things, working the shop, etc.  Please call the Shelter if you are interested at 848-4225!

Did you know that after dogs and cats, animal shelters nationally receive more rabbits than any other animal? Each year, thousands of rabbits are abandoned or escape from poorly-secured outdoor cages causing them to end up in shelters. In order to provide loving homes to these affectionate animals and in honor of Adopt a Rescued Rabbit Month, the Humane Society of Elkhart County is offering special deals and discounts on rabbit adoptions during July, including $5.00 off all rabbit adoptions, as well as the chance to adopt a second rabbit companion free.

This white beauty is named Lilly and is available for adoption!

All through the month of July, we will be offering the 2 for 1 special on our rabbits as well as a $5 off discount!  Come rescue our rabbits and give them loving homes!

Did you adopt from us?  Do you have the perfect picture to send to us of your pet?

Send us your photo of a pet you adopted from us and we’ll make a giant collage of all the pictures and display them year round at our shelter!

Click here for more details from WSBT!

During the last storm, we lost a large tree branch in our front yard here at the Shelter.  The branch was about the size of a regular tree if you ask me.  We are planning Pet Fest 2009 in August and it was a bummer that the branch fell where we needed space for booths and activities.  Anne, our Executive Director got in touch with Eager Beaver Tree Service and an amazing thing happened…..

Chad Rinehart, owner of Eager Beaver, donated his service for us and not only cleaned up the tree, but trimed 2 other trees for us that were causing problems.

Then when he was done, he stopped by the Red Barn Resale Shop!  Bought a few items (all proceeds go to the HSEC) and just when you thought he had enough for the day, he cleaned up our parking lot too!  I can’t tell you how impressed, excited and thankful we were for this service.  We always say here at the shelter, it’s the little things that excite us and makes us very thankful for the people we have in our community.

You can contact Chad Rinehart at Eager Beaver Tree Service at 574-848-5845.  Tell him the HSEC sent you and that we are very thankful for his donation!

I was quite impressed today to see that our 2 lovely volunteers, Mark and Kristin, were on the front page of the WNDU.com site!  I usually have a rough time finding our video on their website.  So today I was quite happy!!!

Check out the 2 cats they took with them today and come see us for lots more!  By the way, Millie is the only pet left from the New Hope Farms Rescue.  We’d really like to make her dreams come true by finding her a nice warm home!

WNDU Adopt-a-Pet

The Elkhart Chamber of Commerce and Burston Marketing got together and decided to sell these T-shirts to anyone who is interested in purchasing one.  The idea is to push Elkhart together and let everyone know that we are all in this together and we have the ability to get Elkhart back onto the right path for the economy. 

The neat thing about this event, is that, all the Not-For-Profits in the area are the only ones who can sell the shirts until July.  For every shirt we sell, we get 20% back!  Then the shirt will be available on the Chambers website and you will still be able to pick your charity to support just for buying the shirt.

The shirt will help Elkhart, the economy and us!  So come in today and order a shirt!  They’re only $13.50!!!

Last night, the Guild hosted a Dog Wash fundraiser at Trinity United Methodist Church on E. Jackson St.  They were able to raise a few hundred dollars for the 2 hours they were out there washing dogs.  Here’s some pictures from that event:

Fox 28 came out to help support the event with some great news coverage.  You can check out the video here.  The next Dog Wash will be July 13th!

Humane Society on Verge of Fifth Season…. “Kitten Season”

Bristol, Ind. (June 4, 2009) –As the warmer weather heats up, the Humane Society of Elkhart County gets an influx of cats and kittens creating housing and animal care challenges.   In fact, during the month of April alone, the shelter received 228 cats and kittens.

“Just one cat can birth three to seven kittens at a time, and kittens can give birth as early as six months of age so its very easy for cats to reproduce when they are not spayed or neutered resulting in more kittens showing up at our doors,” said Anne Reel, HSEC Executive Director. “We urge residents to please think of spay and neutering options for both dogs and cats.”

To help raise public awareness of this issue, June marks National Adopt a Cat month. In honor of this national observance, residents adopting a cat from the Humane Society will receive 25 percent off the adoption fee along with the option of the Companion Program that allows residents to adopt one animal and to get a companion animal friend for free.  Additionally, the shelter has extended their hours on Wednesday, June 17, until 7:00 p.m. to allow more individuals to get a chance to find that special cat or kitten.

The Humane Society encourages people to enrich their lives by adopting a cat. Here are some things 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 the clumsy handling of inquisitive toddlers.

• Number: It can be beneficial to adopt more than one cat or kitten, especially if the pet 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. Young kittens need to engage in vigorous play for several hours a day, and another pet can help get the job done. This may be the perfect opportunity to take advantage of the Humane Society’s Companion Program.

• Personality: Many cats are under a great deal of stress in a shelter environment. A cat’s true personality may not emerge until it has been in its new home for several weeks.

• Prepare your home: Both adult cats and kittens love to climb and explore. Keep trash cans closed, toilet-seat covers down and cabinets latched. Don’t let cords or wires dangle, and cover any floor heating and air vents. Some houseplants may be toxic, so check with your vet for information on cat-friendly indoor plants.

• Kids and cats: Children should be taught that a kitten or cat is a companion, not a toy. Rough handling can lead to injuries to both the cat and the child.

• Dogs and cats: Contrary to the expression “fighting like cats and dogs,” cats and dogs often enjoy each other’s company. It is not unusual for them to engage each other in play and snuggle up together for a nap. However, great care must be taken when introducing these two species. If you have a dog, ask the adoption staff  if you can bring him to the shelter to meet the cat in a controlled environment before you adopt. The shelter staff can help assess their interaction. Remember that most cats will be frightened the first time they see a dog and will need time to accept a canine companion. This may take several days or even weeks depending on the cat.

Most people see a sign FREE KITTEN and think owning a pet is just that. However, when you adopt from the Humane Society you are not only saving a life but the adoption fee covers several of the essentials to keep your new pet happy and healthy including:

• Initial Vaccines
• De-Worming
• Feline Leukemia/Heartworm Test
• Flea Treatment
• Microchip
• Remember, you’ll receive 25 percent off the cat adoption fee during June!

We’ve been seeing quite a few bat cases lately.  It’s important for you and your family to understand the dangers of bats and rabies.  Please read the following article below:

Why Should I Learn About Bats and Rabies?

Most of the recent human rabies cases in the United States have been caused by rabies virus from bats. Awareness of the facts about bats and rabies can help people protect themselves, their families, and their pets. This information may also help clear up misunderstandings about bats.

When people think about bats, they often imagine things that are not true. Bats are not blind. They are neither rodents nor birds. They will not suck your blood — and most do not have rabies. Bats play key roles in ecosystems around the globe, from rain forests to deserts, especially by eating insects, including agricultural pests. The best protection we can offer these unique mammals is to learn more about their habits and recognize the value of living safely with them.

A male red bat rests for the day in a maple tree during fall migration south from Canada. Males are more brightly colored than females.

A hoary bat pauses in a hemlock tree. It is one of America’s largest and most strikingly colored bats.

Read more of this article here.