Published: May 15, 2008 11:15 am         

Agency seeks to help animals

Injuries to animals seem to be on the rise, whether from people’s frustration at circumstances or just the lack of respect for another living thing.

These beautiful animals are being maimed and neglected and Ark Animal Rescue & Adoption Inc. is trying to make them whole again. The money crunch has resulted in people losing their homes and leaving animals behind and not giving needed medications such as heartworm preventative.

We are currently treating six heartworm positive dogs with four more on the waiting list. This is a very expensive procedure, but the only alternative is to have them euthanized. Ark is the only organization that treats shelter animals, so we can use your donations.

There is very alarming news concerning family pets being stolen. We’ve heard it is a growing problem in Noble County and apparently is starting in LaGrange County as well.

Several have disappeared in the Howe area, and we are asking people to be on the lookout for any suspicious vehicle that may be stealing animals or any activity that might relate to this. Rewards are being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of such person or persons or for information on the whereabouts of these animals.

If you have any information at all, please call the LaGrange County Animal Shelter at (260) 463-4142 or contact Ark Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 95, Howe, IN 46746. We also appreciate your being the eyes and ears for animals in need. People who abuse or neglect animals will be prosecuted.

There is good news. Our Paws & Claws bookstore continues to gain volunteers and it is open Tuesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. If you are interested in spending a couple of hours there to help keep it open, call Merrily Hamp at (260) 463-2765. The bookstore is located on the north side of the square in the former grocery store. The books are all sold on a donation basis and all proceeds go to help defray medical costs for shelter animals.

If you happen to go by the bookstore and see the wheelchair van from Lakeland School Corp. parked there, it is because the children from the functional skills class are using our bookstore because of its easy wheelchair access and the fact that we have cushions on the floor for them to sit on while they browse the books. Their teacher says they love going there and we’re happy to have them.

The Council on Aging is again running the notice about our spay/neuter program for low-income elderly people. We recently neutered two cats for a 92-year-young lady who was very appreciative. Getting to know her was a pleasure.

Our after-school program is continuing and we will be planning more activities now that the weather is better. An officer from the Westville Correctional Facility will be visiting Westview today and bringing his guard dog, Rambo, who was adopted from the LaGrange shelter. The group from Lakeland will attend also.

We continue to find homes in various places for shelter animals but the farthest will be a puppy that was adopted last month and will be going with its new family when they return to Saudi Arabia.

Ark still needs foster homes for animals until they can be adopted or sent to approved rescues. If you can foster cats, call Merrily at (260) 463-2765 and tell her you would like to join the “Cat Tales” group. If you can foster dogs, tell her you want to join “Noah’s List.”

We will furnish food and pay medical expenses. All you have to do is provide a safe, loving place for a short period of time until we can find their “forever homes.” We particularly need people who can take an animal after it has had surgery or heartworm treatment and keep it until it can be adopted. The shelter is very full, so the sooner the better.

Mark your calendars for Aug. 14. We will have a dinner/auction at Howe Military School. The food will be good and we promise an interesting evening. Tickets are $12 each for adults and $8 for children under 12 for a buffet-style dinner. Ark members will be selling tickets or those interested can call Marge Malone at (260) 562-3655.

In the meantime, we need your help to keep up with the growing problem of animal care and placement at the LaGrange County Animal Shelter. If you can help, it will be very much appreciated. Since we are a 501-(c)-3 non-profit organization, your donations are tax deductible and we will send you the documentation so you can deduct your gift from your taxes next year.

Donations can be sent to Ark Animal Rescue, P.O. Box 95, Howe, IN 46746. We are also looking for tax-deductible donation of land, or land with buildings, where we can locate our own facility. Please let us know if you have anything that might be suitable for our needs.



— Margaret C. Malone, Howe