INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) is urging the public to make an appointment if they need to surrender an animal. Since July 11, IACS has taken in 430 animals, making the already crowded shelter, even more crowded.
“We’re not telling people they can’t surrender their animal,” said Laura Keith-Williams, IACS Kennel Manager. “What scheduling allows us to do is anticipate the number of animals coming in to the shelter and better plan how we are going to house them.”
While making an appointment to surrender an animal is not required, it will drastically cut down on the time the public spends waiting to be helped at the shelter’s back door.
To make an appointment, call IACS at 317-327-1397 and select option 3. Along with scheduling appointments, staff can also connect pet owners with resources that may help keep the animal in the home and out of the shelter.
IACS is an open-intake shelter, meaning they are required to accept every animal, regardless of age, species, health or temperament that is brought in. Over the past few weeks, the shelter has seen an influx in dogs and cats being brought in as strays.
If you pick up a stray animal, IACS will vaccinate and treat it for fleas if you file a “found report” with the shelter and can keep the animal for two weeks. Along with filing a found report, you will need to report the found animal to Indy Lost Pet Alert. IACS will also post on the found board at the shelter for owners to locate their missing pet. This is a great way to keep animals out of the shelter and still give an owner the chance to find his or her pet. After two weeks, if no owner has claimed the animal, you may rehome the pet yourself or keep it.