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NeighborhoodNews
Meridian & Butler March
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When volunteering, I walk dogs, participate in playgroups
(highly monitored groups of adoptable dogs are allowed to
romp freely with each other in a large outdoor run), help at offsite adoption events, manage the adoptable dogs’ online profiles,
and work on fundraising events for the shelter. I spend between
1-10 hours per week lending a hand with various tasks.
I have learned an incredible amount about animals of all breeds.
Even though I’ve owned pets throughout my life, volunteering
at the shelter has allowed me to become more educated about
the animals.
It has been inspiring to see the huge network of animal lovers
from all over the city who participate in making IACC a better place. There are the people who run all volunteer rescues
and pull animals from the shelter to put them up for adoption.
There are the people who foster animals in their homes and the
people who run kennel enrichment programs for the animals
living for many months at a time at the shelter.
One of my most rewarding experiences as a volunteer has been
getting to know so many amazing pit bulls and pit bull mixes. It
is no secret that there are stereotypes affiliated with the breed.
While I never had any animosity towards them, I also had no idea
what incredibly sweet, affectionate, loving, and loyal dogs they are
and it has been my honor to work with so many of them.
Many people do not realize there are adoptable animals at
IACC. There are hundreds of dogs and cats of all ages and
breeds in desperate need of forever homes. And the best part of
it is that IACC’s adoption rates are the lowest in the city!
Because they are subsidized by the city budget, it costs a mere
$60 for any adoptable animal at the shelter. That fee includes
their spay or neuter, microchip, and vaccinations. Occasionally
there are specials when the fees are even lower.
My husband, Ian, serves on the board of Friends of Indianapolis
Animal Care & Control Foundation, Inc. which is a volunteer
based fundraising group that works to raise funds for projects
and services not covered by the city’s budget.
Unfortunately, IACC is desperately underfunded by the city and
the Friends Foundation is crucial to making it a better place.
Most recently the Foundation hosted a fundraiser, which raised
nearly $10,000 to purchase new-elevated dog beds for the hundreds of kennels at the shelter. Until these beds were purchased,
many of the dogs were sleeping on cold and often soiled concrete floors.
We have a wonderful volunteer coordinator, Dawn Contos
([email protected]), who runs volunteer orientations once
a month where she tours people through the facility and goes
over all the different roles volunteers can play to help make the
shelter a better place for the animals who are housed there.
I have met hundreds of absolutely amazing dogs and cats in my
years as a volunteer. I encourage everyone in our neighborhood
to adop Ё