Organization: VANDERBURGH COUNTY HUMANE SOCIETY INC
Mission: VHS'S PROGRAMS ARE DESIGNED TO PREVENT CRUELTY TO ANIMALS, PROVIDE CARE AND FIND HOMES FOR HOMELESS ANIMALS, EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT HUMANE TREATMENT OF ANIMALS AND SEEK SOLUTIONS TO PET OVERPOPULATION.
Activities: ANIMALS ARE GIVEN MEDICAL CARE IN ORDER TO PLACE HEALTHY ANIMALS UP FOR ADOPTION TO THE PUBLIC. IN 2019, VHS TOOK 3,428 ANIMALS INTO THEIR SHELTER AND PLACED 89% OF THESE ANIMALS INTO HOMES. VHS ALSO OFFERS SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC IN AN EFFORT TO KEEP ANIMALS IN THEIR EXISTING HOME RATHER THAN BEING SURRENDERED, SUCH AS A PET FOOD BANK AND BEHAVIORAL TRAINING ADVICE. VHS ALSO WORKS WITH OTHER RESCUE ORGANIZATIONS FOR THE PLACEMENT OF ANIMALS.
VHS OPERATES A LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC. IN 2019, 6,769 SPAY/NEUTER SURGERIES WERE PERFORMED. ALL ANIMALS ARE ALTERED BEFORE BEING PLACED IN THEIR NEW HOME TO ENSURE NO BREEDING OCCURS ONCE ANIMALS LEAVE THE SHELTER. THE SPAY/NEUTER CLINIC IS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC. THE SHELTER SIGNIFICANTLY UNDERWRITES THE COST OF THESE SURGERIES AND OTHER SERVICES TO ENSURE THE SURGERY IS AVAILABLE REGARDLESS OF INCOME. THE CLINIC ALSO OPERATES AS A WELLNESS CLINIC TO PROVIDE LOW-COST MEDICAL SERVICES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, INCLUDING VACCINATIONS, MICROCHIPPING, PARASITE TREATMENT, AND MEDICAL TESTING.
THE EDUCATION AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAMS OF VHS REACHES THOUSANDS OF CHILDREN AND ADULTS EVERY YEAR. THESE PROGRAMS INCLUDE TOURS OF THE SHELTR AND CLASS ROOM STYLE PRSENTATIONS ON BEING SAFE AROUND ANIMALS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER PET AND SAFETY RELATED ISSUES. THE VHS EDUCATOR PRESENTS IN SCHOOLS AND OTHER SETTINGS TO TEACH ABOUT THE SHELTER AND PET RELATED ISSUES. THE PET ASSISTED THERAPY VOLUNTEERS REACH SENIORS IN NURSING HOMES AND ASSISTED LIVING CENTERS AND PROVIDE MUCH NEEDED ENRICHMENT TO THESE GROUPS.
NTEE category: Animal-Related
Secondary category: Food, Agriculture & Nutrition