Barb Perry, [317]872-5650, ext. 173bperry@indyhumane.org
INDIANAPOLIS – 21 Central Indiana animal shelters are “joining paws” for a cause this holiday season, November 10-January 4, 2004, as a part of the 2003 Home 4 the Holidays national pet adoption campaign. “Indy Home for the Holidays (IndyH4TH)” is partnering with over 1200 pet adoption centers nationwide with the goal of finding loving, lifelong homes for more than 250,000 orphaned pets.
More families add pets to their homes during the holidays than at any other time of year, yet only 17% 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. And what better gift can any of us give during the holiday season than to give a home to an orphaned pet?
“Indy H4TH" is the largest collaboration of shelters participating in the 5th annual Home 4 the Holidays campaign. Although it may not be common to have this many groups participating under one umbrella, this collaboration is at the root of what it’s all about. Cooperative ventures are what make this campaign so successful,” said Pat Downing of the Helen Woodward Animal Center. The Helen Woodward Animal Center, in San Diego, CA., launched Home 4 the Holidays in 1999 with 14 animal shelters. The success of that event led to the nationwide pet adoption effort that it is today.
IndyH4TH is not about any one animal welfare group. The purpose of this campaign is to create an awareness of all of the wonderful lost, homeless and unwanted pets who are waiting to get their second chance at life throughout Central Indiana.
The following organizations “joining paws” this holiday season for IndyH4TH are:(alphabetical order)
Further information regarding all participating 21 organizations and their IndyH4TH activities and special events can be found on one cooperative website – www.indyh4th.org.
While the IndyH4TH campaign will run November 10-January 4, 2004, the campaign will officially kick off with a press conference and proclamation by Mayor Bart Peterson on Monday, November 24th at 1:30pm at 2600 S. Harding St.