The Humane Society of St. Joseph County, Indiana (HSSJC) is the largest animal care facility in the area. They have been in operation for over 130 years and provide care for about 4,000 animals every year. This feat has only been achievable with the help of 335 everyday people who volunteer their time at HSSJC. Volunteers assist in feeding, bathing, and walking the animals. Many of these people go unrecognized for their efforts.
The work and beliefs of humane societies are desperately necessary for the many animals in need. The general idea of an animal shelter is to have a sanctuary where care is provided for lost or abandoned domesticated pets. Many animals are lost, neglected, beaten, mistreated, abandoned, tortured, starved, and unloved each year. Animal shelters rescue and care for these pets. Without the Human Society fighting and educating across the United States, these animals continue to suffer.
There are many ways to get involved including: donating, volunteering, fostering, and/or adopting. All of these options help to secure a happy, safe, and healthy life for the vast number of pets that come to the shelter. Many families have or have had foster pets. Not only do fosters bring stability and care to the animals, but the animals bring love and appreciation to the families that foster them. Sometimes shelter pets even find a permanent family through fostering. “All animals deserve a break from whatever bad past they may have come from. I chose to adopt because I don’t support puppy mills and I wanted to give the dogs a better life and a ‘fur-ever’ home.” said adoptive dog owner Lorisa Walker.
In the United States, there are approximately 164.6 million cats and dogs living with families. Nationally, about 6.5 million of these animals enter Humane Societies and animal shelters. The United States Humane Society (USHS) provides hands-on care and service to about 100,000 animals a year.
USHS also provides education and training for pet owners across the United States at all of their sites, which champion rescue efforts, disaster response, and mobile veterinary clinics. Their main goal is to protect and prepare the animals to find their new home. USHS is only one of the many organizations that help furry friends. “We are driving transformational change in the U.S. and around the world by combating large-scale cruelties such as puppy mills, animal fighting, factory farming, seal slaughter, horse cruelty, captive hunts and the wildlife trade,” said USHS.
Animal shelters provide a place of care for beloved furry friends, noble cause from selfless people, all for the love of pets.