VHS Blog
What "No-Kill" Really Means
Feb 06, 2024
It's one of the first things people notice about an animal shelter or rescue organization these days. Some people even ask us outright. "Are you no-kill?" "Are you a kill shelter?"Even though the VHS has finally reached the industry standard "no-kill" benchmark of a 90% or higher save rate (91% in 2020), the answer to both of those questions is no. Here's why."No-kill" is primarily a marketing term designed to present an emotional appeal to the pub...
Read MoreGiving Pets as Gifts
Dec 08, 2023
The phrase, "I want to get my kids a puppy for Christmas" used to send shivers down the spines of those working in animal welfare. Even now, the Facebook comments on posts about pets for the holidays are brutal and off goes the bandwagon with people guaranteeing that all Christmas pets will be returned shortly after the holidays. But that does not have to be true, and with some counseling, Christmastime can be the perfect time to find homes for pets!Impulse vs. PlannedPerhaps the most ...
Read MoreBeware of Online Puppy Scams
Dec 01, 2023
Beware of pet-related scams!They start with online photos of cute animals when you Google "cute puppies for sale near me!"Attorney General Curtis Hill and Indiana State Veterinarian Bret D. Marsh, DVM, are warning Hoosiers to watch out for online pet-adoption scams.Both offices have received complaints recently from citizens who have made down payments on animals they found on the internet — only to learn after paying multiple fees and never receiving animals that they were duped...
Read MoreHoarding: "If I Had a Big Farm, I'd Take Them All!"
Dec 18, 2020
One of the phrases we hear most often in sheltering is "If only I had a big farm..." followed by something like, "I'd take them all home," "I'd start my own rescue," "I'd be a crazy dog lady," etc.As lighthearted as the intent is, what they actually mean is... "If only I could be a hoarder." That's the underlying message that can lie behind innocent statements about wanting to help as many animals as possible. Of course most ...
Read MorePets in Media
May 01, 2019
Nearly everything we do is influenced in some way by media and pop culture. It's just the world we live in. Animal welfare is no exception. Have you ever paid attention to the nuances and messages being portrayed in media regarding animals? If not, listen a little closer next time. Good or bad, there are certainly some clear stereotypes out there!Issue: The Dog Catcher/Animal Shelter StereotypeYou're already picturing it, aren't you? Chance with his porcupine quill-covered face in Ho...
Read MoreHow To Afford Your Vet Bills
Aug 06, 2018
Part of pet ownership is providing veterinary care, just as part of parenthood is providing medical care for your kids. Vet care used to be exclusively paid for out of pocket, and often at a hefty price, with little to no options for those larger vet bills. But this is 2018! There are lots of options to help pay for vet care! All of us who have loved a pet have probably experienced a big vet bill at some point or another, whether for a broken leg, UTI, getting into something poisonous, or even j...
Read MoreAdvice Regarding Lost and Found Pets
Jun 20, 2017
The staff at the VHS receive many calls each day regarding people finding an animal or losing their beloved pet. We want to help as many owners and pets as possible get reunited. The following is some advice that we regularly issue to our callers to assist them in doing all they can do to help a lost or found pet get returned to their family safely.Accidents happen but PLEASE REMEMBER that prevention is the best way to avoid the heartache of losing a fuzzy family member.Keep up to date tags on y...
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