Dogs and cats at Indianapolis shelter who have been looking a long time for a home
Throughout this year, Indianapolis Animal Services pleaded with Hoosiers to adopt hundreds of dogs and cats at its shelter as staffing issues made it harder for the agency to care for them.
In September, the deputy director of the agency said the shelter has 340 animals and staff to care for just 254. By November, that number is still high. And staffing problems persist.
The meet-and-greet at the shelter is often not an accurate snapshot of a dog, said Roxie Randall, a spokesperson for the agency. The shelter is stressful for dogs, especially those who need their own space and lots of exercise. Usually, it takes a few weeks for a person or family to get to know a dog. It may take a few weeks more, and lots of patience, for people to train dogs. That's why the shelter has a program for families to return pets after two weeks if the match isn't good.
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The staff at the shelter are matchmakers, looking for the people to care for dogs and cats with their own personalities, interests and quirks. Even if adoptions don't work out, Randall said it's good to get the dogs out of the shelter for a few weeks. That way, the staff learns more about their needs — if they get along with kids and other dogs, if they love strangers but hate vacuums.
The IndyStar visited some of the longest staying dogs and cats. Their profiles, created using information provided by the shelter, are below.
Saint aka "Lewis and Clark" 1.5 years old, 60 pounds @IACS shelter
Saint is the embodiment of puppy energy, with excitement spilling over with every step as he explores new places. Know that he will try to do the most. He'll pull to sniff every smell and wants to play every moment of the day. But with a treat in hand, he'll stop in his tracks to listen. He's looking for a family or person who can take him out on lots of hikes and walks. He's very treat motivated so can be trained to be a well-behaved dog. He's been at the shelter for two months because he's looking for a family without young children because he can knock kids over when he's playing. He's a stray who struck out once because the family had young children, according to staff.
Fletcher aka "just under the ear" 5 years old, 57 pounds @IACS animal shelter
Fletcher just wants to be scratched by a loving person who can shell out a little bit of extra money for his allergy food — something like double the cost of a bag of kibble. He's been at the shelter for a few months because of his allergy needs and, unfortunately, the sad fact that people generally prefer lighter color dogs. The shelter finds that darker-fur pets, like the jet-black Fletcher, are often the last to be adopted.
He's got more than his fur color stacked up against him. He also needs to be the only animal. But if he's got a person or family that can take care of him, he's an affectionate dog that loves to be near people.
Gallagher aka "Air Jordan" 3 years old, 70 pounds @IACS
Gallagher is an athlete that has the potential to be a TikTok star — just needs a social media savvy manager to film him launching himself into the air in slow motion. He's ready for any obstacle course — park or arena. He's got a brindle coat with two front white paws — an ankle sock and a knee sock. Because he's toy obsessed and eager to play, he will do well in a home without young children. He arrived at the shelter as a stray so there's not much information about his history.
Washington, aka "floppy ears" 2 years old, 35 pounds @IACS
Tall boy with a tail that cannot stop wagging, Washington is just happy to be alive. Once out of his room at the shelter, he runs with the energy of a kid leaving school for summer break. He's got an athletic build and nothing but potential for fun outdoor activities. Because of his energy, he can't be around small children. He's very sweet even though he's been through so much as a stray dog.
Malichai 11 years old, 9 pounds @IACS
Malichai is a stray cat who's looking for a home. Cats typically are adopted faster than dogs at the shelter. Hopefully he can find a home because he's a friendly cat.
Little Bit 8 years old, 9 pounds @IACS
He was surrendered by his previous owner but not because of any issues with him, according to the shelter. He was also pretty scared but has really warmed up. He's an attention seeker. Also, look at those whiskers! So wise!
Sasha 2 years old, 7 pounds @IACS
Sasha is an affectionate cat and does well with other pets. She came in as a stray but is very friendly. She's just 2 years old and looking for a home to grow old in.
Binghui Huang can be reached at 317-385-1595 and Bhuang@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: 7 Indianapolis shelter dogs and cats looking for home for the holidays
