INDIANAPOLIS – Mayor Bart Peterson, joined by representative from 21 Central Indiana animal welfare organizations, will officially kick-off “Home 4 the Holidays,” a national campaign designed to promote the adoption of orphaned animals during the holiday season.
WHEN: Today, Monday, November 241:30 p.m. WHERE: Indianapolis Animal Care and Control2600 S. Harding St.
More families add pets to their homes during the holidays than at any other time of year, yet only 17 percent of these pets are adopted from shelters. This campaign promotes the adoption of orphaned pets, rather than the purchase of pets from a pet store.
“We want to encourage people who have decided to add a pet to their family to begin by looking for the right match in area shelters,” Mayor Peterson said. “Central Indiana shelters and rescue groups are full of loving pets available for adoption.”
According to the Helen Woodward Animal Center who launched Home 4 the Holidays in 1999 with 14 animal shelters in San Diego, CA., the 2003 Central Indiana effort is the largest collaboration of shelters participating in the 5th annual Home 4 the Holidays pet adoption campaign, which includes more than 1200 pet adoption centers nationwide. The following organizations are “joining paws” for this campaign:
Throughout Home 4 the Holidays, with each pet adoption from the 2003 participants, you will receive a 5 pound bag of Science Diet® dog or cat food, a free 6 month membership to the Humane Society of Indianapolis pet park for dog adopters, a complimentary cat nail trim from VCA Animal Hospitals, a certificate for a free gift from PETCO® and a complimentary membership to the Indiana House Rabbit Society & National Society for Rabbit Adopters.
Information regarding all participating 2003 Home 4 the Holidays participants and their campaign activities and special events can be found on one cooperative website – www.indyh4th.org.