Updated: 11/26/08 
MEET YOUR NEW BEST FRIEND:
M-SA, 10AM-4PM Central
Don't delay, PLEASE ADOPT TODAY!
Want to help to keep our privately funded shelter open, so that we can give the animals a chance to get back home or to find new loving guardians?
Please send checks made payable to Starke County Humane Society directly to:
Starke Co. Humane Society
0104 W SR 10
North Judson, IN 46366
We are a 501(c)(3) Charity. All donations are TAX DEDUCTIBLE.
Our shelter is always full, and we take in more animals nearly everyday. If you have room in your home and heart, have time, and have the financial means to care for a pet properly, please adopt a shelter pet today. If you can't adopt, please make sure that all of your animals are spayed and neutered, so you are not contributing to the population of unwanted pets.
19th Annual Open House at the Starke County Humane Society Animal Shelter - December 14, 2008 (10am - 2pm) Everyone is welcome to join us in celebrating another year of working to accomplish our mission. Punch & light refreshments will be served. Meet old friends and new. Don't forget to take a look at the current residents. You just might spot your new best friend.
We will be at PETSMART with a group of sweet pets that will be available for adoption on December 20 & 21* (Saturday & Sunday*) Hours: 11Am-4PM, Hobart, IN Store (Merrillville area) *SANTA PICTURES - Get your pet's (you included, if you'd like) picture taken with Santa on Sunday, 12/21, 11am-4pm, for $8.95 with a PetPerks savings card. Pet guardians will receive one 4x6 digital photo in a holiday collector frame. Petsmart donates $5 of this money to the Starke County Humane Society.
Get some scented candles at our shelter today. They are great for masking pet odors or for just making your place smell wonderful. We are asking for a
Donation of $7.50/candle or 2 for $14.
They come in a variety of fragrances including: Orange Blossom, Mango Delight, Mulberry & Spice, Lavender/Chamomile, Fresh Strawberry, Honeydew Melon, and Clothesline Fresh.
For a $2 donation you can get a "Candle for the Car" air freshener in Orange Blossom or Vanilla Cream.
All donations help to keep our privately funded, nonprofit shelter open.
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You can find information about vaccines, diseases, and other health information by visiting Doginfomat.com. Click on "Health and Genetics" or visit Peteducation.com to find health and general information about cats, fish, birds, ferrets, reptiles, and other small pets, as well as dogs. These sites have valuable information on many topics. You can find out more about heartworms by visiting the American Heartworm Society‘s heartworm information page.
We have recently been reminded of the widespread misunderstanding and general lack of accurate information about Canine Parvovirus. Originally discovered in 1967 "CPV-1", as it was called, was mostly a threat to only new born puppies. However, by 1978, a new variant called "CPV-2" appeared in the United States. CPV-2 is shed in enormous numbers by infected animals and the virus is extremely hardy. Thus, WORLDWIDE distribution of the virus occured quickly. NOW, THE VIRUS IS PRESENT IN EVERY ENVIRONMENT UNLESS REGULAR DISINFECTION IS APPLIED. This means that it can be found on every floor, on every carpet, in every yard, and in every park. ALL CANINES, including dogs, wolves, foxes, coyotes, etc. are exposed to Canine Parvovirus everyday-everywhere. This is why vaccines are so important. One of the most frustrating problems with canine parvovirus and puppies is that EVERY PUPPY (no matter how well cared for) has a week or so when they have no antibody protection against the virus. This is the time when the antibodies gained through "mothers milk" are no longer affective and the puppies' systems are still too young to respond to vaccine. For a number of reasons, this period occurs at different ages in different puppies (even pups among the same litter.) This is why puppies are given a series of vaccinations over a period of time. This helps to insure that at least one of these shots will be given at a time when the puppy can respond the vaccine. AGAIN, THIS IS WHY GETTING ALL OF THE SHOTS IN THE PUPPY SERIES IS SO IMPORTANT. Among puppies who are treated for canine parvovirus, there is about an 80% survival rate. Treatment is costly, but once the pup has recovered, it should be able to lead a normal life with no permenent consequences due to this infection.
If you would like to learn more about canine parvovirus visit the Mar Vista Animal Hospital's web site which is the source of the parvo information above. We hope that this information can help to clear up any misunderstandings. We, also, welcome you to stop by the shelter to ask any questions that you may have. We will be happy to try to help find accurate information to answer your questions. As always, we recommend that you discuss any health problems or their treatment with your veterinarian.
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BE AWARE that there may be some animals at our shelter that are not listed on this site at the moment. If you are looking for a LOST PET (don't wait), CALL NOW at 574-896-5060. (If your lost pet returns home, please remember to let us know, so we can remove it from our LOST LIST.) If you have FOUND an animal, please report it to the shelter. We may have the information to get it back home.
Residents of Starke and Pulaski Counties: If you LOSE or FIND a pet, please, call the Starke County Humane Society IMMEDIATELY at (574) 896-5060. Animal control officers from these two counties bring their pick-ups to our shelter. Your lost pet may be OUT of TIME! If you live near a county line, please check with surrounding shelters, too. (Sometimes, people will take animals to shelters out of your county.) Please, share this information with friends and family.
Keep looking for your pet, inform friends & neighbors, call police, animal control, and veterinary offices, hang-up posters, place ads in newspapers, and on internet - don't wait & don't give up!
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Cats crave companionship. A study commissioned by one of the leading makers of cat litter products found that 7 out of 10 vets agree that cats sharing a household with another cat companion lead happier, healthier lives! You can help reduce the overcrowding in shelters and have happier cats with fewer behavior problems by making your home a multiple cat household. We have lots of great candidates for you. PLEASE come in and find the purrfect addition to your family today.
View Our Pet List
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**If you see a pet that interests you, please call immediately to let us know.
(574) 896-5060**
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We are currently forming a list of individuals who would be willing to volunteer in the event of an emergency situation. We need volunteers to donate their time, services, and/or space to assist:
In the event of an emergency, volunteers will be needed to rescue, transport, temporarily house animals, as well as, assist with the paperwork involved, such as, creating files which record ID and any available information for each animal .
Examples of services and other needs include, but are not limited to the following:
Please contact the Starke County Animal Shelter at (574) 896-5060 or stop by to get your name and information into our Emergency Response Log. We want to be prepared to assist all animals in the event of an emergency.
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Warning: RAISINS & GRAPES ARE TOXIC TO DOGS. Read about it at Snopes.com. Eating just a few raisins or grapes can cause acute renal (kidney) failure. Please keep your dogs away from raisins and grapes. Other foods dangerous to dogs include: chocolate, cocoa, onions, and macadamia nuts.
WARNING: Get the facts about the dangers of Cocoa Mulch to pets. If you are planning to use a mulch in your yard or garden, please be aware that Cocoa Mulch, if ingested, can be fatal to pets.
Even if your pet is chipped, an ID tag is extremely important!
Make sure information on tags is current.
ID TAGS SAVE LIVES!
*You can write your phone number with permanent ink on your pets collar until you get a tag. This is better than nothing.*
Does your pet have a tendency to slip out of or break its collar?
Consider using two collars. Keep ID and Rabies tags on one. Use the other to attach leashes or for tying your pet out when necessary. If the pet slips the attached collar, it will still be wearing a collar with ID. Rabies tags help animals get back home, too. They can be traced back to the owner, if the information is current. The more ways that your pet can be traced back to you, the better its chances of getting back home if it strays or is lost. Please, make sure that your pet has at least one form of Identification.
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Our HOMELESS PETS CAN NOT WAIT to MEET YOU!
NEVER PUT OFF until tomorrow, WHO YOU CAN ADOPT TODAY!
THREE DAYS! This is how long your lost pet is guaranteed a spot in the shelter. After that, if it is deemed adoptable, it may have a chance to stay longer depending on the amount of animals at the shelter. We try to give all healthy, gentle animals as long as possible. Sadly, if we are full, your pet may not have any more time. Please be responsible. Make sure your pets have ID TAGS, ID Collars, or some form of ID on them at all times. Call the shelter IMMEDIATELY to report a lost pet. We will add it to our log and keep a record of it until you report it found. Please, let us know, if it does return home, so we can remove it from our log. Pets with ID Tags don't need to spend THREE DAYS at the shelter. They will not take up the space that would otherwise allow another animal a chance. Please, be a responsible guardian to your pet. Don't make it experience that "THREE DAYS". ID TAGS SAVE LIVES!
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Please help us to find RESPONSIBLE, CARING GUARDIANS to ADOPT all of our homeless pets. If you are at all interested in a new pet, please consider one of our wonderful shelter animals. PLEASE SPREAD the WORD.
**All canines and felines adopted from our shelter must be spayed or neutered within the designated time frame which is stated in the adoption contract.
Please consider becoming a VOLUNTEER for the Starke County Humane Society. There are many ways that you can assist the animals within the shelter, and they don't all require spending time at the shelter. If interested in becoming a volunteer, please Email: Web Mistress for more details or stop by the shelter today.
Please, keep your pets on heartworm preventative year round. Heartworms are deadly parasites transmitted by mosquitoes. Although treatment is available, it is expensive and there are no guarantees that your pet will survive. Often, damage to organs has occurred before treatment even begins. Please, be a responsible guardian by helping your wonderful pet to stay healthy. Use heartworm preventative year round.
NEWS from our ANIMAL SHELTEROur shelter is in desperate need of new kennels in our small animal room. We are now accepting donations to help with the cost. If you would like to help, please send a check payable to the Starke County Humane Society
to:
Starke County Humane Society - Kennel Fund
0104 W SR 10
North Judson, IN 46366
OR Stop by and drop off your donation directly. Our homeless pets would love to meet you. Your perfect pet may be waiting for you today.
Our SHELTER IS OVERFLOWING WITH WONDERFUL, GENTLE, AND KIND ANIMALS. There is a never ending influx of animals that will never slow down until all people commit to solving this problem by being responsible pet owners. Please spay and/or neuter all pets. Leave breeding to knowledgeable, responsible breeders who do their research. The only reason to breed is to better the breed using breed standards as a guide. Mixing breeds to create "designer dogs" is extremely irresponsible. Shelters are full of mixed breeds, and pure breds that need homes today. Also, please make certain that your animals have updated ID information on them at all times. PLEASE consider adopting a mature pet. Most are extremely eager to please and quickly adapt to your routines. They are just as loving as the babies and require much less effort on your part. Open your hearts and you will be rewarded with the love and affection of these wonderful pets.
We often have PUPPIES and KITTENS!
We ALWAYS have
AMAZING adult dogs and WONDERFUL adult cats available!
(Contrary to the old adage: You definitely can teach an old dog (or cat) new tricks!)
Please help us find responsible pet lovers for all our homeless animals!
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Do you NEED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE to have your pet spayed or neutered?
If you are a resident of Starke County and have proof that your pet is up to date with required shots (Rabies & Boosters), you may be eligible to receive a spay/neuter certificate. Find out more by calling or visiting the shelter.
SPAY/NEUTER MATH:
1) An unspayed female dog, her mate, all of their puppies, and their puppies' puppies, if none are ever neutered or spayed, add up to:
The disturbingly correct answer is f. All of the above. Please, spay and neuter all of your pets.
2) A female cat has four kittens. Each kitten matures and has four kittens. Each of those kittens matures and has four kittens. All of the kittens have a second litter, then a third .... Are you getting the picture? Please spay and neuter all of you pets to reduce the population of unwanted animals.
We Strive to:
After over 15 years of aiding more than 30,000 lost, neglected, or homeless animals, we desperately need some remodeling and repairs. The projected cost for these projects is just under $20,000. If you can not help monetarily, perhaps you can help by donating building supplies or labor. (All donations are tax deductible.) We, also, have several ongoing fund-raisers in which you may wish to participate. We are extremely grateful for any help.
Some ways that you can assist us in providing the animals with a chance to get back home or a chance to find a loving, responsible guardian:
We appreciate all donations- large and small. All donations are tax deductible. We maintain a wish list including, but not limited to the following:
*If you buy us a gift card with your cash-back credit card, we can use the card and you get cash back.*
You can support the Starke County Humane Society with a percentage of your transactions from over 640 stores. It's free. It's easy! Visit iGive.com.
You can, also, designate us to receive a % of your purchase amount at over 500 online retailers at Reverb Giving Network. Go to www.Reverb.org and enter Starke County Humane Society, North Judson or our Reverb ID# 1003640.
Donate from 10 - 100% of your eBay proceeds to the Starke County Humane Society. List your items with eBay Giving Works choosing us as your charity.
Help the Starke County Humane Society to continue our efforts by making a donation through the Northern Indiana Communtiy Foundation. Check out the different ways to give or make a donation at www.nicf.org.
We will have a number of fund-raisers throughout the year including our Rabies Clinic, Woof Studios providing purrrfect portraits of pets, Nelson's Port-a-Pit Chicken, Bake Sales, Beanie Baby Adoption, Pet Fun Run,... Check our calendar for dates of current and upcoming events.
Board Meeting- Tuesday, December 14, 2008
19th Annual Open House at the Starke County Humane Society Animal Shelter - December 14, 2008 (10am - 2pm) Everyone is welcome to join us in celebrating another year of working to accomplish our mission. Punch & light refreshments will be served. Meet old friends and new. Don't forget to take a look at the current residents. You just might spot your new best friend.
We will be at PETSMART with a group of sweet pets that will be available for adoption on December 20 & 21* (Saturday & Sunday*) Hours: 11Am-4PM, Hobart, IN Store (Merrillville area) *SANTA PICTURES - Get your pet's (you included, if you'd like) picture taken with Santa on Sunday, 12/21, 11am-4pm, for $8.95 with a PetPerks savings card. Pet guardians will receive one 4x6 digital photo in a holiday collector frame. Petsmart donates $5 of this money to the Starke County Humane Society.
COMEDY NIGHT FUNd Raiser -date pending - Dinner and Lots of Laughs at the VFW in Knox. COMEDY NIGHT FUNd Raiser- Buffet Dinner and Lots of Laughs from the H.Y.E.N.A.S. (6 or 7 animal loving, professional comedians to tickle your funny bone) .
$25/single or $35/couple. Date Pending: Doors open at 5:30 PM central. Show at 7 PM central.
Call or visit Shelter for advanced tickets or information. Tickets available at the door up until show time. Call or visit Shelter for Ticket information.
Nelson's Port-a-Pit Chicken Fundraiser - April 11 (Saturday before Easter)
Chicken will be cooked at the Five Star Parking Lot.
Pick-up site designated on Ticket: Five Star Parking Lot - Knox or Burger King Parking Lot - North Judson. Tickets available in advance at shelter or from SCHS Board Members and Staff.
WOOF STUDIOS will be at the shelter to photograph your pets (and you, if you'd like) - Spring 2009. Please call the shelter at (574) 896-5060 to set up an appointment. $10 sitting fee will be donated to our shelter by Woof Studios.
SPRING ADOPTATHON - Seeking caring, responsible guardians to adopt wonderful, friendly, homeless pets at PETSMART, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, date pending, Hours: 11Am-4PM, Hobart, IN Store (Merrillville area)
RABIES CLINIC: Date Pending
Rabies vaccinations ($10) & booster shots ($15) will be available for cats and dogs at our animal shelter:
0104 W SR 10, North Judson
Heartworm tests ($15) and booster shots will ONLY be available to animals that receive rabies shots.
Call 896-5060 for more information.
SCHS Pet Parade at the Mint Fest in North Judson
Before the big parade, participate or watch the pet parade. Sunday, June 14 - Register: 1PM, Town Park - free: All pets welcome! Prizes awarded for: Biggest, smallest, cutest, ugliest, most unusual, best costume, and Grand Champion.
19th Annual Pet Fun Run - Wind up the Starke County Fair with the Pet Fun Run (WALK) on Saturday, July 19.. Bring your pets and participate or just come to watch the fun. Register: 1:30 - 2:00PM at the Conservation Building. A $5.00 fee (per pet) allows you to participate and gets you a T-shirt, too. The fun run lasts from 2-2:30PM. Prizes will be awarded for: Most laps completed, Oldest human competitor, and youngest human competitor. Participants are welcome to walk or run.
Pet Parade at Harvest Festival in Knox - Sunday, 1pm.
B & K Drive-In Dog Days: August 1-31 A percentage of each hot dog sale is donated to the Starke County Humane Society. (Thanks Julia!)
FALL ADOPTATHON - Seeking caring, responsible guardians to adopt some of our wonderful, friendly, homeless pets at PETSMART, Friday, Saturday & Sunday, September Hours: 11Am-4PM, Hobart, IN Store (Merrillville area)
Woof Studios will be at the shelter to photograph your pets alone or with family. Fall 2009 - A portion of the $10 sitting fee is donated to the shelter by Woof Studios. Call (574) 896-5060 to schedule an appointment for photos.
ABOUT USThe Starke County Humane Society was founded in 1980 and opened its shelter doors on December 10, 1990. The shelter is a private 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that depends on the generous donations and support of animal lovers to operate. We receive no funding through tax dollars (NO COUNTY FUNDING).
We accept animals from Knox Animal Control, Pulaski County Animal Control, Starke County Animal Control, and any private citizen who wishes to surrender an animal. A donation is requested and appreciated, but not required. The Starke County Humane Society accepts all animals! Occasionally, we will request that an owner surrender be postponed if possible, because of lack of space within the shelter. This will allow the animal a chance to be adopted. By law, owner surrendered animals do not have to be put up for adoption or held for any amount of time. This is why we ask owners to call and check to make sure that we have space before surrendering an animal. We want to give all healthy, gentle animals a chance to be adopted.
We do our best to find homes for as many animals as we can. Sadly, we often must face the reality that there are simply more wonderful, loving animals than there are loving, wonderful people willing to care for them. It is with extremely heavy hearts that we must euthanize healthy, gentle animals in order to make room for the never ending influx of lost or unwanted animals. Perhaps, the saddest thing is knowing that many of these animals once had a home and for some reason (usually the fault of the owner) ended up at our shelter. Please help to reduce the euthanasia rate at all shelters by doing the following:
It is our hope that we may see the day when all healthy, nonaggressive animals can have responsible guardians and live in loving, caring homes for all the days of their lives. Then, we will never again find it necessary to euthanize a healthy, gentle animal.
Adopting a Friend The SCHS houses over 2000 animals per year. Primarily dogs & cats are brought to us. However, we will not turn away any animal in need. We have taken rabbits, chinchillas, ferrets, guinea pigs, hamsters, turtles, pigs, ponies, a horse, a mini-mule, chickens, and many other kinds of birds. Stray animals are held 3 days then assessed for adoption. We will give all healthy, gentle animals a chance to be adopted, if space allows. If deemed adoptable and are over 6 months old, dogs are screened for heartworms. Cats can be screened for feline leukemia upon request. If the test is negative, the animal is given the chance to join a loving family.
Adoption fees start at $60 for dogs & $40 for cats which include a booster shot, worming, and, if needed, a spay/neuter certificate good for $30 off the cost of the procedure. ***We require all adult cats and dogs to be spayed or neutered within 30 days of adoption, and all kittens and puppies to be spayed or neutered by 6 months of age***. Heart worm tests for dogs and feline leukemia tests will result in an additional fee. This fee is usually less than your vet will charge, and in some cases, it is your choice to have the tests done at the shelter or by your vet. Canine adoptions, also, include a free "Training Your Adopted Dog" DVD. Feline adoptions include a free "Your Adopted Cat" DVD which contains helpful information for any cat owner. Adoption fees are non-refundable. NO CASH REFUNDS are given for any reason. However, in rare situations, we will replace or exchange a pet. These situations must be approved by the shelter director and/or Board of Directors.
If you are seeking a certain breed of pet, we maintain a "Want List". You may add you name to a list for a specific breed, and we will try to give you a call if what you are looking for becomes available. While we try to give people a call as soon as possible, having your name on the list does not insure that you will be called immediately. We simply do not have enough help to do this. The best way to know what is at the shelter is to visit or view our web site's pet list daily.
We, also, encourage you to visit the web sites of breed rescue organizations. Many of the animals available from rescue groups were pulled from animal shelters around the country.
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email: starkecohumane@sugardog.com
**Please call the shelter to inquire about animals. Email is not checked daily, because of lack of staff.
Direct comments or question about this web site to Web Mistress.