Slinky, the Ferret
Slinky was rescued from a hot car by animal control officers and the Bloomington police in the summer of 2003. Unfortuntely, perhaps as a result of overheating, Slinky does not see very well and has some balance problems. She is also less active than most ferrets, and is extremely mellow and laid back. Because of her temperament, and her unique story, we decided to adopt her and work with her to become an "Animal Ambassador". Slinky is always a hit with classrooms and often sparks discussion of responsible care, as well as the uniques adaptations of various animals.

Ferrets have unique care requirements, and normally when a ferret comes to Bloomington Animal Care and Control, it is transferred to the Ferret Rescue and Halfway House in Martinsville to be carefully screened before being placed in a new home. For more information on the care requirements of ferrets, please explore the Circle City Ferret Club web site. or contact Mason Lowrey, Director of the Ferret Halfway House in Martinsville.

Stella, the Lesser Sulfur Crested Cockatoo
Stella is a good example of why large parrot type birds often do NOT make good pets. Stella ended up with Education Program Director Sarah DeLone after becoming unmanageble in his first home. Stella was purchased as a newly hatched chick and raised with loving care by his new family. After about 2 years, the family grew with the addition of their first child. Stella did not adjust well to this new addition, and started to become increasingly noisy, destructive, and agressive. These behavior changes also coincided with Stella beginning to mature into an adult cockatoo. He quickly became unmanageble for his first family.

Since 1989, Stella has lived with and been trained by Sarah DeLone, and began working with the MCHA in 2001. Before that time, Stella participated in bird shows at the Fort Worth Zoo, the Milwaukee County Zoo, Grassmere Wildlife Park in Nashville Tennessee, and helped in education programs at Wayport Pet Supply in Bloomington.

Stella may live to be 50-60 years old and requires a great deal of time and training. He can be extremely destructive, chewing anything and everything that comes in contact with his beak, and has a particularly loud voice. Stella has been trained to do a number of natural behaviors on cue, and also mimics a few words. He seems to thouroughly enjoy visiting local classrooms.

Lucille, the Royal (ball) Python
Lucille was left in a box on the gate of the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter in 2002, with a note that stated she was sick and her current owners could not care for her. In reality, the young python was getting ready to shed her skin and had taken on the lethargic attitude and pale blue/grey tint of a snake about to shed. She did, however, have a rather severe mite infestation, as well a burns on her lower body resulting from the improper use of a heat rock in her environment. Unfortunately, her guardians had not done their research before purchasing this exotic animal, which is all too common. In general, exotic animals do not make good pets, and can be quite difficult to care for. Most exotic animals are not legal to keep in the city of Bloomington, including boas and pythons that have the potential to reach a length of 12 feet.

Royal pythons only reach a length of 5-6 feet, and they are legal to keep in Bloomington, so Lucille was adopted by Sarah DeLone and Dr. Jo Liska (Education Coordinator for BACC), and has participated in education programs ever since recovering from her burns. Royal pythons have earned the name "ball" python due to their unique defense mechanism of curling into a ball when disturbed or upset. Lucille is a very calm and slow moving snake, and provides students with close observation of a truly misunderstood animal.

Lucille helps to spark discussions of the difficulty of taking care of exotic animals as well as promoting respect and care for creatures that are not "cute and cuddly". We also discuss health issues that can arise when keeping reptiles as "pets" and discuss their unique contribution to the world. Lucille serves as a focal point of discussions on the cruelty and neglect that are ubiquitous in the trade of exotic wildlife.

Boris, the Great Horned Owl
Boris is a permenantly injured great horned owl who was injured on a piece of farm equipment in northern Indiana. He now has a permenantly disfigured wing and can no longer survive on his own in the wild. Boris was rehabilitated at Soarin' Hawk Avian Rescue in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and came to the MCHA in November of 2001. The MCHA holds all the required state and federal permits needed to care for and train Boris for education programs. Boris is a regular visitor to classrooms and helps us promote respect and care for our native wildlife. Great horned owls can be found throughout Monroe county, and although they are seldom seen, many people recognize their familiar hoot.

Scarlett, the Red-Tailed Hawk
Scarlett is a permenantly injured red tailed hawk. She was rehabilitated at Soarin' Hawk Avian Rescue in Ft. Wayne, Indiana, and came to the MCHA in November of 2001 after it was determined that she could not fly well enough to hunt for her food. The MCHA holds all the required state and federal permits needed to care for and train Scarlett for education programs. Scarlett is a regular visitor to classrooms and helps us promote respect and care for our native wildlife. She gives students the chance to observe one of our most common birds of prey up close and personal, creating a sense of wonder and interest in the wildlife with which we share the world.

Scarlett was named by two 2nd graders from Rogers Elementary school.

Journey, the German Shepherd
Journey has been working with the Monroe County Humane Association since 2001. Journey and her gaurdian Sarah DeLone have gone through training and testing to become registered Delta Society® Pet Partners®. Journey visits classrooms and community groups on a regular basis, and especially enjoys working with kids. In 2003, Journey attended 95 programs throughout Monroe County, helping the MCHA spread the message of "promoting respect and responsibility for all animals". Journey can often be seen at MCHA displays at community events like Lotus Blossoms, the Garden and Landscaping Show, school and community wellness fairs, and the Monroe County Fair.

In her spare time, Journey volunteers with the MCHA VIPaws program at Bloomington Hospital and the Rise, and participates in the Dog Days reading program at the Monroe County Public Library. She also enjoys herding sheep, playing frisbee, swimming, patroling the yard for squirrels, and keeping watch over the rest of the "Animal Ambassadors".

Amelanistic Corn Snake
One of the most recent "Animal Ambassadors", joining the MCHA in the Spring of 2004 is this amelanistic corn snake which was donated to the MCHA by a local educator who bred her snakes to provide captively raised, healthy snakes for education programs.

This snake (who still needs a name) was hatched in July 2003, and its clutchmates can be seen in classrooms in Bloomington and Indianapolis, and Columbus Ohio. Corn snakes are very calm and interesting snakes, and wild relatives can be found in the Bloomington area. Here is another ambassador for those "not quite cuddly" creatures that play such an important role in various ecosystems.

Nick, the Orphaned Kitten
Nick is our newest "Animal Ambassador", and was only five days old when he arrived with his littermates (but no mother) in March of 2004 at the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter. Thanks to BACC's foster program, this litter of kittens was given a chance at life, being bottle-fed and raised until they reached adoptable age. All four kittens have found their forever homes in the Bloomington area, and Nick was adopted by his foster mom to be trained and socialized for MCHA programs. For more information on becoming a foster parent for a shelter animal, please click here.

Nick is very loving and outgoing, and is being introduced to a wide variety of people and locations at a very young age. We hope that with his winning personality and socialization from kittenhood, Nick will make an outstanding "Animal Ambassador" for years to come and that he will prove to be suitable for work as a Delta Society® Pet Partner® once he reaches one year of age. Of course, he will also be a much loved companion in his lifelong, loving home with the DeLone family and the rest of the "Animal Ambassadors".