INDIANAPOLIS — Pet adoptions from Indianapolis animal shelters decreased in 2020 due to precautions taken during the COVID-19 pandemic, but foster programs helped provide cats and dogs with comfortable places to stay.
A total of 2,853 animals were adopted from IndyHumane last year, including 1,865 cats and 988 dogs. The numbers represented a decrease from the previous two years when about 3,500 animals found permanent homes.
Meanwhile at Indianapolis Animal Care Services, 3,979 animals found permanent homes in 2020, compared to 6,977 in 2019.
At IndyHumane, the downturn from past years was partially due to a decision in March to close to the public, cease almost all off-site events and set up adoptions by appointment only with online applications.
"As COVID continues to impact our state, we will take what we learned in 2020 and continue to serve as many animals as we can, as safely as we can," IndyHumane CEO David Horth said.
Management at IACS also had to adapt to challenging circumstances by figuring out the best way to get animals adopted while keeping staff and visitors safe.
"As a result, we implemented our adoption appointment system and it has been successful," said Roxie Randall, IACS manager of community outreach. "With appointments, we are able to control the number of people at the shelter for social distancing purposes while still getting animals into new homes."
Fostering proved to be especially important for both shelters in 2020. Statistics from IndyHumane showed 1,861 animals went through the IndyHumane Foster Care Program, compared to 1,736 in 2019. An additional 453 new foster families joined the program.
Randall said IACS worked with rescue partners to transfer out 2,322 animals, allowing them to spend time in a home rather than the shelter.
"Fostering during a pandemic is beneficial for everyone. It’s a win-win situation," Randall said. "The animal gets a break from the high-stress shelter environment and the foster parent gets a companion for company. We also get to learn more about the animal when it is in a foster home, such as personality, favorite type of toys, treats, and overall what type of home would be best for them."
Randall added that IACS works with Indy CARES, a program IACS employees established to provide pet owners with assistance they need to keep pets in homes.
Indy CARES offers resources, such as pet food, supplies, help with medical costs and spay/neuter surgeries — which are especially important as spring approaches and cats and dogs have kittens and puppies.
"There are options out there for people who think surrendering their pet is the only choice," Randall said. Indy CARES can help put pet owners in touch with other organizations that can help with things such as temporary housing."
According to IndyHumane, the shelter continues to take in as many cats and dogs as it can going into 2021. A limited-admission shelter, it does not euthanize due to time, space or cost.
"We typically see a huge increase in animals throughout the spring, particularly young and orphaned kittens and puppies, so our foster care program is instrumental in allowing us to take in these tiny, fragile animals," Horth said.
How you can help
- People can learn more about becoming a foster family on IACS and IndyHumane's websites.
- Click here to donate to IndyHumane and here to give to IACS.
- Purchase needed supplies from IndyHumane's Amazon wish list.
