Members
Vigo County Animal Coalition
Several Vigo County Animal Coalition member organizations are non-profits in themselves and cover a wide range of services. The following organizations are VCAC members:
Harmony Haven, Inc. is a no-kill shelter on the north of Terre Haute which has been in operation for 8 years. It typically houses approximately 160 dogs and cats while seeking prospective adopters. All animals are altered and provided with appropriate care to maintain health. As a no-kill shelter, Harmony Haven provides a home for the life of the animal if an adoption is not possible. Through generous supporters, the shelter has been able to hire a minimal staff to operate the facility along with volunteers. Prospective pet owners are encouraged to contact Harmony Haven about adoption.
Spay/Neuter League of Terre Haute, Inc. provides reduced-cost animal alteration through a $30 coupon reimbursement program with local veterinarians and through a monthly pet transport to the low-cost Pets Alive Clinic in Bloomington, IN. An all-volunteer organization funded by donations and an endowment, SNL has operated for over 30 years and now assists approximately 1,100 animals per year. SNL programs support pet owners who do not qualify for HOPE (above) but for whom the full cost of surgery is an obstacle.
Terre Haute Humane Society is the original “animal shelter” in the community, supported largely by gifts, grants, and donations. The City and County contract with THHS to provide housing of nuisance animals collected by Animal Control personnel. THHS has realigned itself to emphasize adoption rather than euthanasia, utilizing local adoptions and with a cadre of volunteers transporting animals to communities with controlled animal populations and which therefore can find new owners for the animals.
League for Animal Welfare, Inc. is an all-volunteer organization that assists pet owners when emergencies require immediate veterinary care and cash is needed to see a veterinarian. LAW also provides dog houses, pet food, and assistance with transportation to a vet. The League is supported through donations and operation of a thrift shop and yard sale by volunteers.
City of Terre Haute Animal Control is the branch of City government that handles animal issues and implements animal related regulations. Animal Control officers assist with the monthly Pets Alive Transport sponsored by the Spay-Neuter League and work with the Terre Haute Humane Society to respond to animal abuse and neglect cases.
Vigo County Animal Control operates similarly to and with the City Animal Control to respond to animal issues outside the City limits.
VCAC is the financial administrator for several programs:
Warm Straw for Chilly Paws is an annual program offering straw bales to pet owners with outdoor animals, to provide warm shelter for those animals during winter. The 2009 event was held at Graham Feed on Voorhees Street in Terre Haute in early November. Graham Feed generously donated 50 bales of straw, and the VCAC provided $500 funding. Pet owners donated $1 for each bale.
HOPE (Halting Overpopulation of Pets without Euthanasia) is an assistance program operating under Vigo County Animal Coalition, which matches pet owners who qualify for public assistance to public funding for spay/neuter of their pets. Funded by the City of Terre Haute and the Vigo County Commissioners, HOPE has provided over 3,000 surgeries since February 2007. HOPE is already credited with making a huge difference in the number of dogs, in particular, being brought to THHS. HOPE is supported by several local veterinarians who provide services at a reduced cost.
Friends of Feral is a Trap-Neuter-Release program begun in 2009 in Vigo County. Several volunteers are working to identify areas where residents have large colonies of cats, and concentrate trap-neuter-release efforts in those areas to stabilize the populations and eventually decrease the large numbers of feral cats in Vigo County. As specified in the Animal Control Ordinances of both City of Terre Haute and Vigo County, residents must register a colony if they are supporting it with food, shelter, or care. This helps the City/County identify colonies for future participation in Friends of Feral.
