By Melissa Wiley

Woman jails herself to raise funds for shelter

For Rhonda Estes, adoption coordinator for Madison County Humane Society (MCHS), walking the walk on behalf of animals means staying right where she is, at least for 30 days. In an effort to raise $10,000 and garner media attention for MCHS, Estes gave herself a 30-day “jail” sentence at the no-kill shelter beginning April 7.

Estes’ online diary reveals the ups and downs of living with the animals she has worked to save for 13 years at MCHS. As she writes in her April 18 entry: “I’m getting close to the half-way mark. If our situation here at the
Humane Society wasn’t so serious, I don’t know that I could do this…I love these babies too much to quit now, but let me be the first to say it’s not easy. … The lack of sleep is probably the hardest thing. … I miss my Smokey Joe terribly. I wish she could be here with me, but she is just too old and frail to expose her to the environment. I adopted her from here when she was 2 years old, and that was 12 years ago.”

The dramatic step Estes has taken to raise funds for MCHS reflects the seriousness of the shelter’s finances. The facility, which currently houses 105 cats and dogs, is facing the prospect of closure, having already exhausted its working budget for the year and struggling to recover from a former employee’s embezzlement of $65,000 in April 2007. According to Estes, MCHS operating costs vary between $10,000 and $20,000 per month.

Estes’ pluck and perseverance are apparently paying off. By the end of the first week, donations to the shelter had already reached $6,000. The number of volunteers and adoptions has also risen since Estes laid down her air mattress. Estes’ lock-in ended on May 6, and the shelter has several fundraising events in the works to help further her efforts.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Madison County Humane Society at 2219 Crystal Street in Anderson, IN 46012 or by phone at (765) 644-6484. You can read Estes’ blog detailing her feelings and experiences at the shelter at MySpace.com/madcohumane.

Neglected dog and cat dodge euthanasia, become animal ambassadors

Stories of hope and redemption in the animal kingdom often fail to hit home when the animals themselves are out of sight––which is precisely where animal ambassadors come in. Having walked in homeless animals’ shoes, Waylon the Pit Bull and Lexie the cat, animal ambassadors for Indiana Proactive Animal Welfare, Inc. (Indiana-PAW), are now talking the talk, so to speak, on behalf of homeless animals throughout Indiana. As official canine and feline ambassadors, Waylon and Lexie will be in wagging and purring attendance at Indiana-PAW outreach events statewide promoting spay/neuter, rescue and adoption, and resourceful options for keeping pets through difficult times.

Waylon and Lexie are the poster dog and cat, respectively, for the difference an average person can make in the life of an animal, not to mention the other way around. The difference made by Amy Van Ostrand, founder and executive director of Indiana-PAW, when she rescued Waylon and Lexie from the Rushville Animal Shelter was literally one of life and death. Faced with a daily influx of unwanted or homeless animals, the shelter had scheduled Waylon and Lexie for euthanasia just hours before Van Ostrand’s arrival.

Through Indiana-PAW, Waylon received needed medical attention and obedience training and even found his way into a permanent loving home. Waylon’s appointment as canine ambassador was based in part on Indiana-PAW’s desire to portray Pit Bulls, one of the most at-risk animals in the state, in a positive light. Speaking of her hopes for Waylon’s ambassadorship, Van Ostrand says, “We believe Waylon will help us demonstrate how people often fail animals and the tragic results ... but also how we can turn things around to do right by animals and bring about a better day for animals in Indiana.”

Lexie’s story is similarly poignant. Found orphaned on the engine of a junkyard car, she soon nuzzled her way into a loving home, not to mention a prominent career, after narrowly escaping euthanasia. Lexie is one of 17 animals saved through Indiana-PAW that day.

For more information about Waylon, Lexie, and Indiana-PAW, visit Indiana-PAW.com.

Humane Society of Indianapolis awarded $50,000 grant

The Nina Mason Pulliam Charitable Trust recently awarded the Humane Society of Indianapolis (HSI) a grant of $50,000, which HSI will apply toward its public service campaign to bolster donations and adoptions. The two-tiered campaign appeals to potential donors and adopters in print ads and through a series of billboards. The “Love Them All” print campaign features photos of more than 20 local community leaders and celebrities, with the tagline “Love them all like you love your own––support your Humane Society of Indianapolis.” Maxwell Anderson, Kathy Taurel, and Mari Hulman George are among the participants. Four billboards across the city display the words “Love awaits at IndyHumane.org” to passing motorists.

For more information about the Humane Society of Indianapolis, visit IndyHumane.org.

Indiana State Museum hosts third annual Scales & Tails Fest

On Saturday, June 7, the Indiana State Museum is going to the dogs—not to mention the cats, birds, and reptiles––to encourage adoption of animals in the Indianapolis area. Presented by Silly Safaris Shows, the third
annual Scales & Tails Fest: A Celebration of Pets will feature a number of local shelters, rescues, and animal educational and awareness groups.
Pet-centric entertainment will include dogs from Indy Dog & Disc Club catching flying discs on the front lawn, a miniature horse performance by Dove’s Mini Camelot, chicks hatching in incubators, and performances by Silly Safaris Shows for kids inside the museum.

Many animals, feathered, furred, and scaled alike, will be available for adoption at the event. According to Kerry Baugh, visitor programs specialist for the Indiana State Museum, “The event provides an opportunity for visitors who are interested in learning more about particular pets so they can make informed decisions about what pet would be right for them.” Baugh herself adopted a dog at the first Scales & Tails Fest. “The lady who helped me find my dog asked me a lot about where I lived, how active I was, and what kind of dog I thought I’d like, then made a great recommendation.”

Veterinarians and animal educators will be on hand throughout the day for advice on pet care and safety. The event is free with admission to the museum.