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How to find a new forever home for your pet dog or cat.

There are other options besides surrendering your dog or cat to the Hamilton County Humane Society or the Humane Society of Indianapolis

Placing an ad in the newspaper is one of many options we will discuss here.

Dog or cat rehoming or surrendering to the Hamilton County Humane Society shelter is something that most people never anticipate when first bringing home a pet. It may be a decision that you have agonized over for weeks or months. It may be a decision that you find you have to make in just a few hours or a few short days. As fast as life can change, you may suddenly find yourself trying to find a new home for your pet.

Many people will be quick to judge you when you rehome a pet or decide to take them to the Hamilton County Humane Society / Humane Society for Hamilton County or Indianapolis Humane Society. As you are faced with this decision, please keep in mind that you know your situation and your pet the best. Make this tough decision with only the best interest of your pet in mind. Others may judge from a distance, but only you can do what is right for you and your pet.

Even if you can’t keep her any more, your pet still depends on you to do what’s best for her. Now, more than ever, she needs you to make the right choices for her future.

Until she finds a new home, your pet is your responsibility. She has no one else but you to look out for her interests. If you choose to help find her a new home yourself, it’ll take effort, patience and persistence to find her the right home.

HERE ARE SOME BASIC REQUIREMENTS THAT SHOULD BE YOUR RESPOSIBILITY BEFORE EVEN ATTEMPTING TO REHOME OR SURRENDER A PET TO THE HAMILTON COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY OR INDIANAPOLIS HUMANE SOCIETY SHELTERS

  • Make sure the animal is up to date on vet needs if possible. If you can say the pet is up to date on shots and heartworm preventative, the pet will likely be easier to place in a new home. Call our office at 317-721-7387 if you need catching your pet up on needed veterinary care.
  • Spay/neuter pet if not already done. If you don’t do it, the Hamilton County Humane Society or Indianapolis Humane Society shelters will, adding an additional burden to their already strained budgets.
  • Make your pet as presentable as possible—a good grooming, or even just a bath and a nail trim can go a long way in increasing people’s interest in your pet.

CONSIDER REHOMING YOUR PET DOG OR CAT INSTEAD OF TAKING THEM TO THE HAMILTON COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY OR INDIANAPOLIS HUMANE SOCIETY

To “rehome” a pet means you personally find a new home for your pet. Not only is this method the most reliable, it’s also the cheapest for society since funding to pay for a shelter to house your pet until they get adopted isn’t needed.

Here are some great rehoming options:

  • Call the breeder, rescue, or person you originally got your dog from. Responsible breeders will either assist you in finding a new home or take the dog back to rehome themselves. Many rescues have in their contracts that the dog is to be returned no matter how much time has passed.
  • Post a listing on Craigslist
  • Post a listing on your Facebook page, or through other social media outlets (Twitter, etc.)
  • Post a listing on petfinder.com Petfinder will now only publicize listings from registered shelters and rescues!
  • Locate a breed-specific rescue in your area, and work with them to find a new home for your pet
  • Buy a classified ad in the local SUNDAY newspaper (when readership is at its highest)
  • Put up flyers in local stores, laundromats, libraries, veterinary clinics, pet stores, anywhere they will be accepted
  • USE POSITIVE LANGUAGE in your ad. If you think your dog should not be around kids, say “best for an adult household” or “prefers children over 10 (or whatever)” instead of just “no kids”. If your cat doesn’t like other cats, you can say “prefers to be an only pet”, instead of “no other cats”.
  • INCLUDE A GREAT PHOTOGRAPH. Be descriptive in your flyer. What tricks do they know? Are they spayed/neutered, up to date on shots, housebroken, crate trained. You are essential writing a “personals ad” for your pet.

COMMON SENSE WARNINGS ABOUT REHOMING PETS

  • Never post an ad for “free dog” or “free puppy”. These ads are prime targets for dog fighters. They will pose as the perfect home for your dog, but they are really just trying to get a free dog to use as bait to train their fighting dogs.
  • If you do post an ad to find your dog a new home, make sure to tell the good and the bad. Disclosing the dogs true history will help ensure that you get quality responses from people who understand what they are taking on.
  • 3. Always visit the home that your dog is going to. Do NOT hand over the dog to anyone that comes to your home and shows interest. Make sure they are who they say they are and have a home that is the right fit for the dog. Make sure your dog is not ending up in the hands of an animal hoarder.
  • 4. NEVER rehome an unaltered pet (ie: one that has NOT been spayed or neutered). They will probably end up with a backyard breeder.

One more good option to surrendering your pet to the Hamilton County Humane Society or Humane Society of Indianapolis – Breed specific rescue groups

Sometimes, if you’re very lucky, you will find a group of like-minded pet lovers who volunteer their time and money to help rehome a particular breed.

A LIST OF BREED SPECIFIC RESCUE GROUPS IN INDIANA CAN BE FOUND HERE

SURRENDERING YOUR PET TO THE HAMILTON COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY OR INDIANAPOLIS HUMANE SOCIETY OR INDIANAPOLIS ANIMAL CONTROL IF ALL OTHER OPTIONS HAVE BEEN EXHAUSTED

To “surrender” your pet means taking your dog to the Hamilton County Humane Society or other local animal shelter or humane society or rescue group. Not every shelter will accept all pets. Depending on your situation this may or may not be an option for you.

NOTE: If an animal has been in your possession for 30 days or more, by law, they are no longer considered a “stray”. That animal belongs to you and is considered an “Owner Release”.

Shelter Option #1: for certain areas of Hamilton County

The Humane Society for Hamilton County / Hamilton County Humane Society

Humane Society for Hamilton County, 1721 Pleasant St, Noblesville, IN 46060, (317) 773-4974 Open Mon, Fri-Sun 12pm-5pm; Tue, Thu 12pm-7pm

The Humane Society for Hamilton County / Hamilton County Humane Society :

  • Is REQUIRED to accept ALL pets found (ie: strays) or owned by a resident of (ie: surrenders) Fishers, Carmel, Noblesville, Westfield, or the jurisdiction of the Hamilton County Sheriff’s Department, regardless of space availability, and at NO FEE (donations are gladly accepted).
  • Is NOT REQUIRED to accept pets from outside these areas, and will do so only if space allows (rare), and even then, asks a $150 donation to help cover the first 7 days of care.
  • Accepts every dog or cat regardless of illness, injury, breed or temperament. That includes pets that have been hit by a car, pets with Parvo, EVERYBODY
  • Holds stray animals for 7 days (ie: they will NOT adopt out these pets), in the hope than an owner will come forward to claim the stray animal.
  • Receives Hamilton County funding for the first 7 days ONLY.
  • From day eight, assumes all financial responsibility for an animal’s care until the animal is placed in an adoptive home.
  • Does NOT euthanize due to space limitations and does NOT place an arbitrary time limit on the animals in its care.
  • Is a “low-kill” shelter and will only euthanize pets who cannot be rehabilitated, for public safety.
  • Is usually full to overflowing with pets needing new homes.
  • Relies solely on fundraisers, adoption fees, and donations to pay for the care of animals in its care.
  • Is NOT affiliated with The Humane Society of Indianapolis or The Humane Society of the United States.

Further information can be found on the “Surrendering Your Pet to the Humane Society for Hamilton County / Hamilton County Humane Society” page of their website.

Shelter Option #2: The Humane Society of Indianapolis

Humane Society of Indianapolis, 7929 Michigan Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46268 PHONE: 317.872.5650 x0, Open Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday 3pm – 8pm, Thursday CLOSED, Saturday 11am – 6pm, Sunday 11am – 6pm

The Humane Society of Indianapolis:

  • Is under NO OBLIGATION to accept pets they don’t think they can rehome.
  • Is is a private, nonprofit organization that receives NO government funding.
  • Asks people who wish to surrender pets and strays to call for an appointment to bring cats and dogs to the shelter.
  • Does NOT euthanize due to space limitations and does NOT place an arbitrary time limit on the animals in its care.
  • Is a “low-kill” shelter and will only euthanize pets who cannot be rehabilitated, for public safety.
  • Does NOT accept walk-in surrenders.

Further information can be found on the “Surrendering your Pet to the Humane Society of Indianapolis / Indianapolis Humane Society” page of the IndyHumane website.

Shelter Option #3, LAST RESORT: Indianapolis Animal Care and Control

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control, 2600 South Harding St., Indianapolis, IN 46221. Open Weekdays: 10am – 6pm, Wed: 10am – 7pm, Sat: 10am – 6pm, Closed: Sun. & Holidays

No appointment is needed, but there may be a wait time at the receiving door.

To request assistance or report animal abuse, call the Mayor’s Action Center at 317.327.4622. Call Center Hours: Monday – Friday from 7:30am – 5:30pm

Indianapolis Animal Care and Control:

  • Is funded by the City of Indianapolis.
  • Does NOT restrict intake, and will take in ALL strays and surrenders.
  • Is required by Indianapolis city ordinance to maintain animals for a minimum of 4 days for their owners to claim them. After that period, these animals become city property.
  • Employs officers who hold special police powers that grant the authority to pursue at-large animals and impound them even if they return to their homes.
  • Has the power to impound animals found in need of care and treatment by Animal Care & Control Officers, even if owned.
  • Charges a $20 impound fee per animal, plus $5/day kennel fee, for any animal reclaimed by its owner.
  • Is NOT a “no-kill” shelter. Animals that display or have displayed aggression, destruction or fear-biting may be euthanized.
  • DOES euthanize if they run out of space.

WHAT TO DO IF YOU FIND A STRAY PET AFTER HOURS AND THE SHELTER IS CLOSED:

IN MARION COUNTY: For after hour emergencies including sick/injured animals, dangerous and aggressive animals and animal attacks in progress, please call 317-327-1393.

To report nuisance wildlife please call the Indiana Department of Natural Resources at 317-232-4010.

IN ALL OTHER COUNTIES:

You have two options. You can either:

  • Call the local police department non-emergency number or animal control department (phone numbers below), and ask if either has an officer available to pick up the animal.
  • Store the animal yourself until the Hamilton County Humane Society opens during the next business day.

HAMILTON COUNTY ANIMAL CONTROL WEBPAGE

Animal Control and Other Agencies:

Arcadia Non-Emergency: 317-984-5662, Emergency: 317-773-1282
Cicero Non-Emergency: 317-984-3648, Emergency: 317-773-1282
Cicero/Arcadia Waste Water Treatment Plant 317-984-3456

Atlanta 317-773-1282
Carmel 317-571-2580

Fishers 317-595-3326
HCSD/Westfield 317-773-1282
Noblesville 317-776-6356 / 317-773-1300
Sheridan 317-758-5293 / 317-758-5233 / 317-773-1282

Lawrence 317-545-7575
Tipton 765-675-2152
Anderson Humane Society 765-648-6305

Whether you choose to use the Hamilton County Humane Society or Indianapolis Humane Society , or work to find a forever home for your pet by yourself, we wish you good luck! If you are considering taking your pet to the Humane Society for Hamilton County / Hamilton County Humane Society or Humane Society of Indianapolis / Indianapolis Humane Society / Indy Humane please call Leo’s Pet Care at 317-721-7387 first to get your pet caught up on necessary veterinary care before you attempt to rehome them!

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