Program areas at Humane Society for Hamilton County
HSHC is an open admission, no-kill facility serving as both the animal control facility and Humane Society for Hamilton County, Indiana. HSHC took in over 4,000 animals this year including hundreds at risk for euthanasia in other Indiana shelters. HSHC successfully adopted out over 3,300 animals in 2023 and placed 1,542 animals into foster care. In addition to pet adoption, HSHC both funds and facilitates community outreach programs that connect children, at-risk youth, seniors, and Hoosier veterans with the healing power of pets.Our K-12 youth education and Scout programs are planting seeds of kindness, responsibility, and philanthropy in thousands of children each year. HSHC has also taken on a leadership role in the state of Indiana to educate against breed discrimination and development of stronger animal ordinances to offer better protection of domestic pets and stronger legal consequences for those convicted of animal cruelty.
PETS HEALING VETS PROGRAM:An estimated 22 veterans commit suicide each day while approximately 2.7 million animals are euthanized in shelters every year. These alarming statistics prompted HSHC to make it our mission to improve the emotional well-being of Hoosier veterans suffering from Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder or Traumatic Brain Injury by pairing them with carefully selected shelter animals in need of homes. The Pets Healing Vets program, which is fully funded and facilitated by HSHC, was established in 2012 to do just that. Pets Healing Vets is currently the only veteran-emotional support pet matching program in Indiana that will cover all costs of pet ownership for the life of the pet up to and including food, annual vaccines, preventatives, general supplies, training, boarding, grooming and emergency medical care. 41 veterans participated in this program in 2023.
SURVIVOR PROGRAM:The Survivor Program funds 100% of the medical care that was provided to over 3,000 animals in 2023. It also covers all costs, including daily care and the initial vetting, of the adoptable animals HSHC rescues from other Indiana shelters who are at-risk for euthanasia.