Midwest shelter goes the distance to help animals in nee

Huegel, Kelly

English

Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy

Indiana Inspiration

WBI Studies Repository (WellBeing International)

HOMETOWN HEROES// FACES OF THE ANIMAL PROTECTION MOVEMENT INDIANA INSPIRATION MIDWEST SHELTER GOES T HE DISTANCE TO HELP ANIMALS IN NEED // BY KELLY HUEGEL WHEN DAVID HALL and his staff arrived on the scene, the canine residents of the house were assembled outside. The shades were drawn, and large box fans blew outward from several windows. ''As an animal care person;' Hall says, "you know this is going to be an interesting afternoon:' It was July 2014 and Hall, director of the New Albany/Floyd County Animal Shelter in Indiana, had received a call from Pam Rogers, HSUS Kentucky state director. There was a big hoard­ing case, and concerned advocates needed help. So Hall and his team drove their rescue trailer across the Ohio River to Mayfield, Kentucky, where they picked up 64 dogs who had been living inside the small home. An HSUS emergency placement partner, the shelter has also taken in animals from large-scale seizures in Indiana, Mississippi and other states. With assistance from the Kentucky Humane Society, shelter staff evaluated and placed 54 of the Mayfield dogs with rescue groups throughout the country. Hall and his team adopted out the remaining 1 O; there was plenty of demand for the pups in the local community. Hall says that while he and his staff are always willing to help beyond their borders, their main mission is supporting their community. Thanks to robust adoption and spay/neuter programs and the support of the Floyd County Animal The partnership exemplified how, in addition to serving its community, the New Albany shelter is quick to help animals in need outside county-and state-lines, says Erin Huang, HSUS Indiana state director. "They're just always at the ready.'' Director David Hall and his staff help animals in their hometown and afar. Rescue League and the Floyd County Humane Society, the shelter sometimes finds itself with empty cages. From spon­soring events like the annual Dog Days at the Drive-In to raising money to build a new dog park, Hall and his team are focused on creating the best en­vironment possible for people and their pets. 40 allanimals // SEPT/OCT 2015 NEW ALBANY/ FLOYD COUNTY ANIMAL SHELTER INDIANA Hooray for Spay! In 2007, the shelter began a low-cost spay/neuter program. Every month, staff members transport animals across the Ohio River to a clinic in Louisville, Kentucky. Since the program began, the shelter has seen a 33 percent drop in its annual intakes. Low-Cost Cats Animal care coordinator Theresa Stilger says a low adoption fee for cats 4 years or older reduces time-in­shelter for felines. For only $20, adopters receive a cat who has been vaccinated, spayed or neutered, microchipped and tested for feline immunodeficiency virus and feline leukemia. Says Stilger, "It's a deal you can't beat:' Ready to Roll After a tornado leveled a nearby community, director David Hall realized his shelter was underprepared should disaster strike its town. With help from donors, the shelter purchased a trailer that can serve as a mobile emergency shelter for up to 125 animals. At other times, the trailer functions as a mobile adoption unit. 

https://www.wellbeingintlstudiesrepository.org/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1503&context=allanimals

Indiana Inspiration

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Humane Society Institute for Science and Policy

WBI Studies Repository (WellBeing International)