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Last updated on Tuesday, April 23, 2013
(BLOOMINGTON) - Mayor Mark Kruzan announced the City of Bloomington will recognize Be Kind to Animals Week starting May 5 in conjunction with American Humane Association’s (AHA) annual national celebration.
The AHA has celebrated Be Kind to Animals Week since 1915.
One of the most meaningful ways to "be kind" to animals is to adopt a shelter animal that is in need of a loving home. To encourage adoptions during this week, all dog and cat adoption fees will be reduced to $40. Regular adoption fees are $75 for dogs and cats younger than 5 and $55 for cats and dogs older than 5.
The adoption fee includes spaying and neutering, vaccines and micro-chipping, heartworm testing for dogs and feline leukemia and FIV testing for cats.
The following are additional ways in which the public can Be Kind to Animals:
- Volunteer at the City's Animal Shelter or with the Monroe County Humane Association (MCHA).
- Become a foster parent for shelter animals.
- Donate food, toys, bleach or bedding to the Shelter or make a monetary donation to the MCHA.
- Spay or neuter your pets. The MCHA provides spay and neuter assistance for low income individuals in Monroe County and has a special program in Monroe, Greene and Owen counties for dogs who weigh more than 40 pounds. Call 333.6242 to apply.
- Keep your pets current on vaccinations, and make sure your pets are wearing identification tags and are microchipped.
- Call the City of Bloomington Division of Animal Care and Control immediately at 349.3492 if you witness animal cruelty, neglect or abuse.
- Create a space for wildlife in your own backyard.
- Teach others to be kind. Contact the MCHA to sponsor a classroom for just $28. Students will receive a year subscription to KIND News, the award-winning humane education magazine for children in kindergarten through sixth grade.
- Connect with MCHA and the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter on Facebook to keep in touch and find out when your voice is needed to help support humane laws and legislation.
In partnership with the MCHA, the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter will also hold a children's essay and poster contest for students in kindergarten through sixth grade.
Kids are asked to use their creativity in writing or art to demonstrate the theme "It's Cool to be Kind."
Winners of the contest will be announced on May 3 and entries will be on display at the Shelter.
Winning entries from each age group will be treated to a "behind the scenes" tour of the Shelter and the grand prize winner will earn an MCHA education program for their classroom featuring live "Animal Ambassadors."
The deadline for entries is May 1. Guidelines and entry forms are available on the Shelter's website at www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter.
The Shelter is located at 3410 S. Walnut St. and is open to the public Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from noon to 5 p.m., Tuesday and Friday from noon to 7 p.m. and Sundays from 1 to 4 p.m. Anyone interested in adopting can view adoptable animals on the Shelter's website site at www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter and on the Shelter's Facebook page at www.facebook.com/COBAnimalShelter. For more information, please contact the Animal Shelter at 349.3492.
The MCHA is also located at 3410 S. Walnut St. Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. The MCHA is online at www.monroehumane.org or www.facebook.com/MonroeCountyHumaneAssociation, and is reachable by email at mcha@monroehumane.org or by phone at 333.6242.
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