Animals from the Rushville Animal Shelter were given a great Christmas gift from the City of Rushville and the Humane Society of Indianapolis.

Approximately 20 animals were transported Monday evening by the city’s Animal Control vehicle with Mayor Bob Bridges behind the wheel, as well as assistant chief of police Tim Williams and another city employee to the HSI, where they will get a second chance at life.

Martha Boden, the society’s CEO, called the city after hearing of the recent euthanasia controversy through the Indianapolis media.

“We read the story and knew they needed help,” Boden said. “One of the roles that we play is to provide shelters with assistance, and the city was gracious enough to answer our phone calls and accept our offer to help,” she said.

The HSI houses approximately 175 to 275 animals at any given time. As it is an open acceptance facility, they take in approximately 9,000 animals a year. Fifty-eight percent of those animals that come into the shelter go right back out, whether through adoption or foster programs, or back with their original owners.

“Running a shelter is an unusual business,” Boden said. “It’s a combination of kenneling, animal care, customer service and retail, or what we call adoption. It’s surprisingly complicated, and when you’re a non-profit, even more so. The best way for us to be successful and grow is to keep in touch with other shelters. We have programs, such as our volunteer program, that work well, and we want to share them. We want to say, ‘Here’s what we have learned,’ and pay it forward in that manner, because if there is a struggling shelter that we can teach something to there’s no since in recreating the wheel.”

Boden relates that she and the society recognize that every community is different and needs a different solution.

“We don’t want to suggest that we have all the answers, because we don’t,” she said. “We merely want to help with what knowledge we have in the areas that have worked for us.”

Since 1905, the Humane Society of Indianapolis (HSI) has provided shelter and care to animals in need on their way to loving homes. Originally started to help both animals and families in need, the Humane Society eventually switched to focus solely on animal care. In its current location at 79th and Michigan Road since the 1960s, HSI’s facility now spans more than 32,000 square feet on 13.5 acres.

In a caring and nurturing environment, the work of HSI deepens the bond between people and their companion animals.

The HSI will also work with the Rushville Animal Shelter in preparation of policies for the shelter in every aspect of actual operation procedures, from intake policies to euthanasia.

Mayor Bridges said this process is something he is working closely with mayor-elect Merv Bostic on and will continue to do so after Jan. 1.

The Rushville Animal Shelter is continuing to take in animals. The HSI will continue to assist the shelter for a limited period of time until a new animal control officer is named to help with animal intake.

Elizabeth Gist can be contacted at elizabeth.gist@rushvillerepublican.com or at (765) 932-3111 ext. 109. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.