Dog Days of Summer
Peeking through the trees just off of a busy Michigan Road on Indianapolis' northwest side, drivers and passengers might be able to catch a flash of fur or hear the excited barks of the residents of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. Don't be fooled by its modest curb appeal. The facility is constantly bustling as it sees, treats or is home to nearly 5,000 animals each year.
As one of the oldest shelters of its kind in the country, the Humane Society of Indianapolis (@IndyHumane) has welcomed cats and dogs in hopes of finding all animals a permanent home since 1905. The Indianapolis Indians have similar tenure in the community, operating continuously since 1902.
On July 19, Tribe pitchers John Kuchno and Frank Duncan, catcher Jacob Stallings and infielder Gift Ngoepe, visited IndyHumane to explore and learn more about its mission and catch a glimpse into a typical day at the shelter. Its primary daily focus is to provide appropriate vaccinations, to make sure the animals are ready to be adopted, and be a strong resource to the public.
"We focus really heavily on making sure we are in the community and find out what the community wants from us," said Humane Society of Indianapolis spokesperson Maryanna Ferris. "Then we try to provide those services to the people who live here."
The players' visit was part of a unique ongoing community partnership with its centerpiece, the wildly popular Bark in the Park promotion at Victory Field where a special ticket packages includes "man's best friend" watching a game from the right field Lawn seating area. The Indians and IndyHumane have hosted this promotion multiple times each season since 2014. Click here to watch a fun Bark in the Park video.
Players met a number of the canine residents and were shown how the dogs are cared for and the proper steps taken in socializing them. Throughout the day nary a player could be seen without a huge grin and a happy dog by their side.
"These Indians players, I think, are animal lovers, but because of their schedule I'm sure a lot of them don't get a chance to own animals," Ferris said. The Triple-A game schedule consists of 144-games between April and early September, and a full slate of training in the off-season.
In addition to a healthy dose of playtime, Tribe players learned about the Clear the Shelter initiative. An annual nationwide event, this year on Saturday, July 23, animal shelters will hold an all-day adoption program, where staff members hope all their residents find a permanent lifetime home.
Players ended their visit with a better understanding and appreciation of the responsibilities associated with owning a pet, and just how many animals are still in need a of a caring home.
"A lot of people don't know what is involved with operating a shelter, and about animal welfare in general," Ferris said. "They may know what it means to care for a single pet, but what does it look like when you have 300 animals in your care; what it takes to ensure they are all healthy and emotionally stable.
"A partnership with organizations like the Indianapolis Indians really helps publicize our mission and educate the public."
"This experience has shown me how relaxing it is to do something as simple as taking a dog for a walk and how beneficial it is for both of us," Duncan said. "You get just as much out of it as the animals do - we both have fun and by helping develop their behavior skills it may help them get adopted sooner."
The next Bark in the Park Night is Tuesday, August 30, when Indianapolis hosts Toledo at 7:05 p.m. Representatives from IndyHumane will be on site to answer questions about pet care and animal adoption. Click here for ticket information and additional details.
ABOUT HUMANE SOCIETY OF INDIANAPOLIS
The Humane Society of Indianapolis is the leading voice for the welfare of animals and improving their quality of life. IndyHumane is the first choice in providing direct services for shelter cats and dogs, including adoption, foster home placement, behavior training, appropriate medical care, and affordable spay/neuter services. As the voice for the animals, IndyHumane brings together like-minded animal-focused individuals and groups to educate the public about animal welfare issues and concerns. For more than 100 years, it's all about the animals. The organizations core values focus on compassion, respect, collaboration, integrity and fiscal responsibility. Visit indyhumane.org for more information.