Marion Indiana Shelter Needs Help

Animal shelter asks public to help adopt seized animals

Updated: Dec 4, 2007 03:00 PM EST


Marion - The recent seizure of 75 neglected animals has overwhelmed Marion's animal shelter, prompting its leader to plead for public help to find new homes for the pets.

The Marion-Grant County Humane Society needs "major help" from people willing to help alleviate the overflow of animals at the shelter, said its president, Kim Lane May.

The shelter in Marion, about 60 miles northeast of Indianapolis, has space for about 100 dogs. It currently has about 140 canines in the wake of two recent seizures of abused animals.

"We're really desperately searching for foster homes or adoptive families for the dogs we already have at the shelter," May said.

On Nov. 23, the Grant County Sheriff's Department said the Humane Society seized 13 horses or ponies, two pigs, about 10 goats and 17 dogs from a Grant County residence. On Saturday, the group seized 31 dogs from another residence.

Sherri Monts, a county animal control officer, said the shelter is waiting on veterinarian statements but that both cases likely will be prosecuted.

Monts said most of the dogs taken Saturday were emaciated hounds or hunting dogs. Among them were seven puppies, one of which died because of exposure to the cold.

May said most of those dogs had been freezing and starving for the past couple weeks in hunting-style boxes and makeshift kennels, while others had been running loose in the cold.

"It's just despicable to know how those animals had to live," she said.

While some of the animals recently taken to the shelter cannot yet be adopted due to pending investigation and custody issues, May said animals that were already housed at the shelter are available for adoption or foster arrangements.

The shelter's Web site includes photos and descriptions of many of the dogs and cats at the shelter, which is seeking blankets and food for its animals.


http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=7449620