MCHA Monthly Newsletter
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December 2024 Newsletter
Safe & Simple Gifts For Pets
Our pets are family, and naturally, we want to include them in our celebrations. With so many toys and treats available, it can be tough to know where to spend your hard-earned dollars for the perfect holiday gifts for your pets. It’s also fitting that December is Safe Toys & Gifts Month, which is a great reminder to take your pet’s safety into consideration when planning your gift-giving.
Pet-Safe Toys for Dogs: The best dog toys are mentally engaging, provide an outlet for chewing, help reinforce positive behavior, relieve stress, and provide physical exercise and entertainment.
- Look for durable, safe toys. These might include things like hard rubber Kong®-type toys, snuffle mats, or knotted rope bones.
- Select toys appropriate for your pet’s size.
- Always supervise playtime and remove toys once they’re damaged. If a toy or its parts are small enough to be swallowed, it’s time to toss it.
For further information on this topic, the Humane Society of the United States has a very helpful article about how to pick the best and safest dog toy.
Creative Gifts for Cats: Some finicky felines can be the most challenging family members to please with the right gift. Instead of buying new toys, repurpose cardboard boxes to create cozy purrfect cat hideaways or scratching posts. Add festive touches like blankets or aluminum foil balls to engage their senses. Catnip bubbles can also provide hours of fun! Keep in mind that scratching is a natural behavior for cats and allows them to maintain their nails, so a new scratching post can be a relief for both you and your cat.
Identification: Gift your pet a new collar with up-to-date ID tags. If your pet is microchipped, confirm the registration is current. If they’re not microchipped, consider gifting this simple procedure as a permanent form of identification.
The Gift That Keeps Giving: A gift that continues to give and will bring you and your pet closer is a training class. It’s a gift that strengthens communication and enhances your relationship. A training class is like giving your pet a promise of spending quality time together each week.
The Gift of Quality Time: The best gift you can give your pets is your presence. Spend time snuggling your cat. Take your dog for a winter walk, ensuring they’re protected from the cold with booties or paw balm. (Dry their paws thoroughly after returning home to prevent irritation from salt or snow.) Plan family activities, like a family game night, to create cherished memories with all your loved ones – pets included.
Mission Moment: Spay & Neuter Assistance
Each year, Monroe County Humane Association (MCHA) provides thousands of dollars in assistance to individuals to have pets spayed/neutered through its Spay/Neuter Assistance Program. The Program subsidizes these surgeries in the form vouchers for clients who can demonstrate their participation in a government financial assistance program.
So far this year, MCHA has provided 212 vouchers with a value of $8,480, an increase from 184 spay/neuter vouchers issued in all of 2023.
We recognize the importance in addressing pet overpopulation and safeguarding the health of our beloved companions. With our shelters consistently overfilled, promoting spay/neuter practices is not merely an option but a critical imperative. Spaying and neutering is the most effective way for all of us to contribute to the well-being of pets and to alleviate the strain on our shelter system.
2023 Annual Report
Giving Thanks for Giving Tuesday
Thank you to everyone who showed up for us on Giving Tuesday! Whether you are a long-time supporter or made your first gift to MCHA on December 3, no matter the size of the contribution, it really added up! THANK YOU!
Your contributions will feed hundreds of hungry animals; provide vaccines, veterinary services, and spay/neuter assistance to those in need; and support every pet under our care in the Susan E. Bartlett Crisis Housing Program.
At the end of the day, we were just short of our $10,000 goal, so if you are reading this and thinking “Oh darn, I missed it!,” there’s still time to make your donation count! Simply visit monroehumane.org/giving-tuesday to make a one-time or monthly donation of any amount. We promise, you’ll feel good knowing you made a PAWsitive difference!
2024 MCHA Holiday Donation Drive
Through January 4, businesses across our community are hosting MCHA donation drive boxes to collect much-needed items for MCHA’s wishlist! Every donation directly helps an animal in need. Click here to view our wishlist and to learn more about our annual holiday drive!
Find our donation boxes at the following locations:
Arlington Heights Veterinary Hospital (two locations)
BloomingPaws
College Mall Veterinary Hospital
German American Bank (three Bloomington locations)
GigaBitNow Bloomington
Hoosier Hills Credit Union – Ellettsville Banking Center
Mad 4 My Dog
Scout’s Honor
Slotegraaf Niehoff P.C.
Smithville Communications
The Dog House, LLC
Wild Birds Unlimited
Pop-Up Holiday Donation Drive Event | Dec 7
On Saturday, December 7, A.J. & Marlo Bowlen of RE/MAX Acclaimed Properties will be out in front of the Rural King (3201 IN-45, Bloomington, IN 47403) from 10 a.m.–12 p.m. collecting donations for MCHA in hopes of filling their truck to feed hungry cats and dogs!
Two Opportunities to Dine & Donate in December
What easier way to support MCHA’s mission than by attending an upcoming Dine & Donate event and enjoying a delicious meal in the process!
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MCHA Dog Walking Club | December 28 | 9 a.m.
Saturday, December 28, 2024 | 9 a.m.
Meet at the MCHA Clinic
791 S Fieldstone Blvd, Bloomington, IN 47403
Are you interested in joining a walking club with other dog lovers to learn how to walk trails with your dog? This will teach your dog healthy interactions, good leash walking habits, and safe trail walking! Join us promptly at 9 a.m. on the last Saturday of each month, weather permitting. Just bring your dog, a leash, and good walking shoes for a fun walk on our walking trails through the woods surrounding the clinic.
Registration is not required; this is an open and free event!
Upcoming Mobile Vaccine Clinic | January 12
Sunday, January 12 | 1–3 p.m.
Monroe County Humane Association Animal Care Campus
791 S. Fieldstone Blvd, Bloomington, IN 47403
On Sunday, January 12, 2024, MCHA’s outreach team will host a pop-up vaccine clinic at our Animal Care Campus from 1–3 p.m. with no appointment needed. All are welcome!
Our Mobile Vaccine Clinics offer a range of services, including legally mandated rabies vaccines for pets aged 12 weeks and older. Additionally, we provide nail trims, anal gland expressions, microchips, and preventive measures for fleas, ticks, and heartworm. While these clinics are intended for healthy dogs and cats, they are not a substitute for your pet’s annual wellness check-up with your primary veterinarian.
Subsidized pricing is available for clients who present proof of a government subsidy program, or other proof of financial hardship.
Your Opinion Counts!
We’re asking members of our community to take a moment to complete a short survey about our annual fall event, Run for the Animals & Barktoberfest. Even if you’ve never attended, we’re interested in hearing your thoughts on the future of this event!
Message From MCHA's Executive Director
As we approach the end of 2024, I want to take a moment to express my heartfelt gratitude to each and every one of you—our staff, volunteers, and supporters—who make the work of Monroe County Humane Association possible.
This year, your dedication and compassion have made an extraordinary difference. Together, we have helped considerably more animals than in 2023, reaching families and pets who might otherwise have had nowhere to turn.
Above, you’ll see a photo of Socks, who I’m currently fostering through our Crisis Housing Program. Socks is staying with me until he can be reunited with his family, and every day I’m reminded of the critical role we play in keeping pets safe and out of shelters during difficult times.
Our accomplishments this year would not have been possible without your hard work and commitment. Each hour spent volunteering, each donation made, and each ounce of care provided has strengthened our mission to keep families together. I am so proud of what we have achieved, and I look forward to sharing more details next week in our 2023 Annual Report, which highlights the incredible impact we’ve made together.
Thank you for making 2024 another remarkable year for MCHA. — Andrew Krebbs, MCHA Executive Director
Get Involved – Volunteer
Become a foster parent—volunteer for MCHA and make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals in our Crisis Housing Program!
For animals who need to stay in our care for extended periods, a loving foster home provides a comforting environment where they can thrive until they’re reunited with their families. By opening your heart and home, you’ll give these pets the care and stability they need during a challenging time.
If you’re interested in becoming a foster parent, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Whitney Pickett, at wpickett@monroehumane.org.
Your support can make all the difference!
Interested in sponsoring our newsletter? Email mcha@monroehumane.org for details.
MAILING ADDRESS
P.O. Box 1334
Bloomington, IN 47402
ANIMAL CARE CAMPUS
791 S Fieldstone Blvd
Bloomington, IN 47403
Sunday: Closed
Monday: 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
Tuesday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Wednesday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Thursday: 10 a.m.–6 p.m.
Friday: Closed
Saturday: Closed
FOLLOW US
Monroe County Humane Association is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization that relies on donations, sponsorships, and grants to fund all of our programs and services. EIN: 35-6064277
Monroe County Humane Association proudly collaborates, but is distinct from, the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter. For services such as adoption, lost/found pets, shelter hours, and animal control, feel free to reach out to our friends at the City of Bloomington Animal Care & Control at 812-349-3492. Together, we're caring for our community's animals.