Shelter faces challenges, new chances

VERMILLION COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - It’s a chilly Thursday morning at the Parke-Vermillion Humane Society near Clinton, and a litter of bleary-eyed puppies is waiting in a line at the door.

The puppies, along with several other dogs, are being sent to Milwaukee, Wis. as part of PetsMart Charities Rescue Waggin’ program.

“We take animals from over-populated areas where euthanasia is high, and we transport them to areas in need of dogs, where euthanasia is very low due to spaying, neutering and educating the public,” said Jamie Christianson, who helps drive the dogs back to Wisconsin.

Once there, many of the dogs will be adopted in two to three days, Christianson said.

Those who work in the Parke-Vermillion Humane Society said the Rescue Waggin’ program is vital to their work.

Last year, the shelter took in 1,741 dogs and cats, many from outside Parke and Vermillion Counties, the area typically served by the shelter.

Though the shelter takes in animals from several communities outside its typical service area, it does not receive funding from those communities, and the funding it receives from the cities in its area has dropped slightly.

That has left the shelter in a financial bind, and board president Mark Southwark said without an increase in donations, the society will have to cut back on its services.

“We offer low-cost spay/neuter to the public, and that’s probably the first program to go,” Southwark said.

If you’d like to adopt a pet from the Parke-Vermillion Humane Society or make a donation, you can visit the society’s Web site here.