Love & Let Live
Every animal deserves a second chance at love — and life. We invite you to be part of the solution and give back to the animals who give us so much.
Seeing is believing when it comes to our truly no-kill approach to animal welfare. Browse our video library and press releases below to see why we’re able to make such an impact — and how you can too!
Humane Society for Hamilton County to Host Holiday Gala with Support from Canine Cloud Nine, Cosmos Superior Foods and Smitten Kitten Cat Cafe
November 1, 2023
FISHERS, Ind. – The Humane Society for Hamilton County’s (HSHC) 17th annual Tinsel & Tails Holiday Petacular will take place on November 16, 2023. This festive event is from
6-9 p.m. at the 502 East Event Centre in Carmel, IN. Tickets and tables are still available for purchase at TinselandTails.com.
Tinsel & Tails is HSHC’s largest fundraiser of the year, supporting the shelter’s annual operating expenses. The highlight of the evening is a video presentation, followed by the featured animals and their humans walking a runway that spans the ballroom. A silent auction, seated dinner, and ‘Golden Ticket Raffle’ are also part of the evening’s festivities.
“This is more than just a fundraiser,” explained Lily Pesavento, Community Engagement Manager for HSHC. “This is an opportunity for us to share with the public some of the year’s most remarkable stories of rescue and redemption. It’s a celebration of our work and a heartfelt thank you to our supporters.”
Those who are unable to attend can donate at TinselandTails.com or bid in the silent auction opening on November 9th at tinselfromhome.com.
Tinsel & Tails is proudly sponsored by Canine Cloud Nine, Cosmo’s Superior Foods, Smitten Kitten Cat Cafe, Centier Bank, Ed Martin Automotive, Republic National Distributing Company, VCA Animal Hospitals, Curran Architecture, Woodford Reserve, Fetch Pet Insurance, Current Publishing, Round Room Holdings, LLC., Paws & Play Dog Resort & Training Center, Delta Faucet Company, PODS, Four Day Ray Brewing, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, 502 East Event Centre, Strategic Wealth Designers, and Hupp Jewelers.
Indiana Gaming Lic. #011664
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Humane Society Out Of Space: Save Lives – Clear The Shelter
August 23, 2023
FISHERS, Ind. – Friday, August 25 through Sunday, August 27 from 12-5:00 p.m., the Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) will take part in the annual Clear the Shelters adoption event to find homes for the almost 600 animals in their care.
“Our situation has become dire as so many homeless pets rely on us as a safe haven, not to mention dogs around the state who are literally dying for a spot in our facility,” explained Lily Pesavento, Community Engagement Manager for HSHC. “Right now, we are having to turn away animals in need outside of Hamilton County. The fact is, we don’t know what will happen to them. We are asking for the community to step up by adopting or fostering a dog to help with this ongoing animal welfare crisis.”
In place of the traditional adoption fees, HSHC will ask adopters to make a donation – of any amount – at the time of adoption.
Things to know for the Clear the Shelters adoption event this weekend:
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Senior Dogs at the Humane Society for Hamilton County Fetch Grant
August 16, 2023
FISHERS, Ind. – Old dogs have something to wag about this summer, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants, and dogs at The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) are among the winners.
HSHC is one of 90 animal welfare groups chosen from 370 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs. The winning groups received $848,000 in grants to help save or improve the lives of at-risk old dogs in their communities.
“We have seen such an increase in owner-surrender cases of senior dogs,” said Lily Pesavento, Community Engagement Manager for HSHC. “This grant will help us provide the necessary and sometimes emergency medical and dental care these dogs need. No one is more grateful or loving than an old dog, and we’re looking forward to giving more senior dogs their best chance at a second chance.”
Over the past 15 years, the national nonprofit Grey Muzzle Organization has provided more than $4.6 million in grants to support its vision of “a world where no old dog dies alone and afraid.”
“Thanks to the generosity of our donors, we’re delighted to help deserving organizations like The Humane Society for Hamilton County make a difference in the lives of dogs and people in their communities,” Grey Muzzle’s Executive Director Lisa Lunghofer said. “Many senior dogs in Central Indiana are enjoying their golden years in loving homes thanks to the wonderful work of HSHC.”
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Event details and an urgent video message from HSHC President/CEO can be found at: hamiltonhumane.com/theyneedyou.
National Nonprofit Petco Love Invests in Humane Society for Hamilton County To Save and Improve the Lives of Pets in Central Indiana
HSHC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. It is not a United Way Agency and is not affiliated with any other animal welfare group in the United States. For more information visit www.HamiltonHumane.com. Learn more about Petco Love here: petcolove.org.
Humane Society for Hamilton County to Celebrate Moving to Fishers with Grand Opening Event
May 7, 2021
FISHERS, Ind. – We invite you to join the Humane Society for Hamilton County for the Grand Opening of The Steven J Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center this Saturday from 12pm-4pm at 10501 Hague Rd in Fishers! Meet adoptable dogs and cats, enjoy snacks from FoxGardin and Ohana Donuts & Ice Cream, take home a souvenir photo at our Photo Teepee Photo Booth and peruse all of our vendors!
The celebration would not be complete without an incredible adoption special. HSHC’s adoption special will include black and white cats for $15 with exclusions and black and white dogs for $25 with exclusions. Not only that, attendees can shop HSHC’s brand new Shrout ReTAIL Shop Sponsored by Drs. Derek and Melissa Shrout! All apparel and merchandise in the shop will be 10% off for the Grand Opening Celebration. Be sure to get there right at noon because the first 50 people through the door will get a complimentary HSHC pet waste dispenser for FREE!
While you are enjoying the brand new facility be sure to stop and visit with our corporate sponsors that will be on site!
Vendors Include:
Centier Bank
Furtography
Paws & Play
PetSuites Fishers
Pet Wellness Clinics
VCA
Superior Mosquito Defense
Canine Cloud Nine
Cosmo’s Superior Foods
The Humane Society for Hamilton County launched its Building a Brighter Future for Hamilton County & Hoosier Animals Capital Campaign in November 2018 raising the $12M needed to build the 40,000 square foot facility in Fishers within one year thanks to lead gifts from the Steven J. Cage Foundation, Samerian Foundation, the Hamilton County Commissioners & Council, and Dr. Mark and Vanessa Roth. The facility, which was designed by Curran Architecture with the construction managed by Meyer Najem, will bear the name of both the Humane Society for Hamilton County and The Steven J. Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center.
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Humane Society for Hamilton County to Host Ribbon Cutting Celebration for New $12M Facility in Fishers
April 5, 2021
FISHERS, Ind. – The Humane Society for Hamilton County (HSHC) will celebrate their move into a state-of-the-art, $12M facility on Wednesday, April 7, 2021, at 12:00 p.m. with a private, celebratory ribbon cutting ceremony. In attendance will be county and city officials, HSHC staff and board members, key supporters and major gift donors including Steven Cage whose foundation name, and cat Stanley, are featured on the facility. Speaking will be Fishers’ Mayor Scott Fadness, Steve Cage, Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt, the shelter’s current and previous board chairs, Paul Reis and Kim Ebert, and HSHC’s President and CEO, Rebecca Stevens. HSHC plans to hold a public, grand opening event in May with more details to come.
A special announcement will be made honoring the memory of 13 year old Izzy Mattocks, a Noblesville resident, who lost her decade long fight against Stage IV Neuroblastoma on April 1st. Izzy loved cats and it was very important to her that all homeless cats would be fed and cared for. HSHC was named as a beneficiary in lieu of flowers and has already received $9,500 in contributions in Izzy’s memory. Izzy’s parents, Molly and Kendrick Mattocks, will be attending the event.
Following the ribbon cutting, refreshments and hors d’oeuvres will be provided compliments of Republic National Distributing Company, Prime 47 and Nothing Bundt Cakes in the Education Center. Guided tours will be offered showcasing the facility’s highlights and commemorative photos will be available.
COVID restrictions and regulations will be in place to ensure the safety of all attendees and staff. Masks and social distancing are required at all times.
“Words cannot express the level of gratitude we have for every donor and supporter who has made this possible,” Stevens said. “I believe this facility rivals any other animal shelter in the United States with the amount of research, planning, and significant investment that has gone into creating a healthy environment where the animals shine, and a beautiful destination our community will choose as their first option when adding a new pet to their families.”
We encourage the media to attend but request that you safely park alongside Hague Road. Advance notice of your participation, if possible, would be appreciated.
The Humane Society for Hamilton County launched its Building a Brighter Future for Hamilton County & Hoosier Animals Capital Campaign in November 2018 raising the $12M needed to build the 40,000 square foot facility in Fishers within one year thanks to lead gifts from The Steven J. Cage Foundation, the Samerian Foundation, the Hamilton County Commissioners & Council, and Dr. Mark and Vanessa Roth. The facility, which was designed by Curran Architecture with the construction managed by Meyer Najem, will bear the name of both the Humane Society for Hamilton County and The Steven J. Cage Foundation Animal Wellness Center. HSHC will continue serving Hamilton County as an open-admission, truly no-kill shelter in its new location.
The Humane Society will be closed for adoptions as they settle into their new surroundings until April 8th. They will, however, continue accepting Hamilton County’s stray and unwanted animals throughout the entire transition.
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Humane Society for Hamilton County Officially Moving to Fishers with Pet Parade through Hamilton County
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HSHC Faces Financial Difficulty Due to COVID-19
August 20, 2020
Dear Supporter,
I realize this post is a bit long, but please bear with me.
Like so many other businesses and charities in our community, the Humane Society for Hamilton County has been hit incredibly hard by the pandemic. While pet adoptions have been excellent, our annual fundraising initiatives that keep our doors open, 365 days a year, to over 3,000 animals, have been casualties of COVID.
HSHC relies on the generosity of our donors, corporate sponsors, grants, our Trends for Tails Resale Shop, and the revenue generated by our three major fundraising events to fund our daily operation, community programs, and all life-saving care. Those events–Wine, Wags & Whiskers (May), Woofstock (August), and Tinsel & Tails (November)– account for nearly $400,000 in NET revenue in our 2020, annual operating budget.
While our hope in May was to reschedule Wine, Wags & Whiskers for September 18th, and we have a very comprehensive COVID safety plan to facilitate an indoor event, our team feels the format of a wine tasting still represents too much risk for our guests. Therefore, this event will be canceled for 2020.
It is also with a heavy heart that we will have to close our Trends for Tails Resale Shop effective September 25th. Our resale shop in Noblesville has been another important revenue stream for HSHC generating $50K-$60K in net revenue for our Survivor Program each year. The shop was closed for nearly 2 months, and with continued limited retail traffic and restrictions, it has become another going out of business victim of COVID.
Thankfully, we had already raised the funds needed for the construction of our new facility in Fishers before the pandemic hit. So, the good news is, that project is still on track with those restricted funds in place for this purpose.
The bad news is, the cancellation of Wine, Wags & Whiskers, and the closing of Trends for Tails, along with the loss of several sponsors also impacted by COVID, has us looking at approximately $250,000 in lost revenue for 2020.
Your Humane Society for Hamilton County serves as one of the only open-admission, truly no-kill shelters in the country. As both the animal control facility and Humane Society for Hamilton County, we rescue the most difficult to save, and place, animals imaginable. From victims of abuse and those with hit-by-car injuries, to pets displaced by the economy or a lack of owner commitment, we are equally committed to them all. HSHC has always believed in sharing our blessings beyond Hamilton County’s borders rescuing over 300 animals each year at-risk for euthanasia in other Indiana shelters.
But with this deficit, the lives of these animals, that we are requested daily to help,
lie in the balance.
I have faith that those of you who can *will* consider sharing your blessings with us at this incredibly difficult time. We’re counting on you…because they’re counting on us.
Please donate to our COVID Emergency Fund Today at www.hamiltonhumane.com/covid-relief
With hope,
Rebecca Stevens
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HOT OFF THE PRESS: Our New Facility is Coming Soon!
June 5, 2020
Dear Friends,
The Humane Society for Hamilton County launched its Building a Brighter Future for Hamilton County & Hoosier Animals Capital Campaign in November 2018. That brighter future includes a state-of-the-art, 40,0000 square foot facility located in Fishers that will allow us to save more lives, expand our community outreach programs, and provide a happier and healthier life for the animals.
The $14M campaign ($12M for construction, $2M for an operating endowment), reached $11.7M in October 2019 as we went into the “public phase” of the campaign. With $12.5M raised to date, we still have $1.5M to go…and we’ll be sharing some exciting information next week on how we hope all of you can help us get there.
We are on track to move into this remarkable facility located at the corner of Hague Road and 106th Street in the Spring of 2021. The dream we’ve had for so many years is coming true before our eyes. So we hope you enjoy this first glimpse of our journey thanks to Tom Wood Group, Meyer Najem, and Curran Architecture.
Stay tuned for our Tom Wood Group Weekly Updates…and check out www.HSHCBrighterFuture.com for more information, naming opportunities, and continued updates.
Sincerely,
Rebecca Stevens
President and CEO
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