- The shelter facility will be closed to all public walk-in traffic through March 30th. We will be accepting adoption applications online, and making appointments for potential adopters to visit with animals. Contact us BY EMAIL ONLY at adoptions@vhslifesaver.org to inquire about adopting a pet during this time.
- All current Spay/Neuter Clinic appointments still stand. We currently have all of the medical supplies required to perform surgeries & vaccinations as usual. If you currently have an appointment with us through March 31st, you should have received an email on Monday 3/16 with amended drop-off and pickup instructions. (If your appointment is after March 31st, you will not have received an email.)
- We are not accepting new Spay/Neuter Clinic appointments at this time. If you do not currently have an appointment, please contact us after April 1st. Our current bookings are scheduled out into late April/early May.
- We are suspending our Low-Cost Vaccine Clinics until further notice.
- Our Intake Department will be closed until further notice unless you currently have an appointment. If you need to surrender a pet, contact us after April 1st.
- We are suspending our Cardio for Canines and Mutt’s Morning Out programs for public safety and also the safety of our volunteers, some of whom are over 60.
- Our Happy Tails Resale Shop will be CLOSED through Saturday, March 28th for both donations AND shopping. This is for the safety of our shop volunteers, most of whom are 60 or older. Keep an eye on the Happy Tails Resale Shop Facebook page for opportunities to purchase bigger or newer items by appointment!
- River Kitty Cat Café is still open for carry-out only. By order of Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb, all bars & restaurants must close to dine-in customers. Please do still order carry-out wine, beer, macarons, and merchandise from River Kitty! Adjusted business hours through March 31st will be updated on the River Kitty Facebook page. River Kitty also offers Grubhub delivery! (If you are interested in adopting a cat from River Kitty, contact our Adoptions team to make an appointment.)
- There will not be Emergency Food Assistance in April.
Q: Why is public support continuously needed for the VHS?
The Vanderburgh Humane Society senior leadership team wants to stress to the public that donations and support are vital, now more than ever, to make sure that our 200+ animals are cared for. The organization depends 100% on donations from the public and fees from in-person services & programming including:
- Clinic fees
- adoption fees
- Happy Tails Resale Shop revenue
- River Kitty Cat Café revenue
The VHS receives zero tax dollars or state/national funding from larger organizations.
Any reduction in public support and especially the closure of our Happy Tails Resale Shop/reduction in River Kitty income will mean a significant drop in public-facing revenue to help offset those expenses.
As a reminder, even when the shelter is closed to the public, expenses remain largely unchanged because a team of paid staff members must be there to care for the animals. It costs approximately $56,000 just to pay for two weeks of shelter operations. Several wonderful volunteers also assist, but volunteers are not ever required to be here. Additionally, many VHS volunteers are retired or older, and have been encouraged to stay home during this crisis. The shelter’s animals and the cats at River Kitty will always be cared for without any interruption in their daily routines.
