Marion-Grant CO Humane Society Inc

In August of 2018, my husband and I adopted our first dog together, and we named her Rhubarb. She had been living at the Marion-Grant County Humane Society (MGCHS) for six years, since the age of two. Whenever we have told people how long she was there, they are always shocked. Unfortunately, this has become all too common at MGCHS. There are currently several animals at MGCHS that have been there for at least 5 years. In this no-kill shelter, animals are not put down because they run out of space. This means any animal that comes in stays there until they find a home or until they must be put down due to health reasons.

But like many other shelters and rescues, MGCHS is facing an overpopulation crisis right now. They currently have around 230 animals in their care, and they aren't even the only shelter in Marion. There are too many people who don't spay and neuter their pets and who have "accidental" litters. There are too many people breeding their pets to make extra money. There are too many people who don't understand what it takes to care for an animal, who then surrender these pets when they no longer want to put in the effort. And this is on top of the pets who end up homeless due to family tragedy or hardship, or who are born on the streets to begin with. Sadly, there are not enough people stepping up to adopt these pets. These struggles are magnified in small, rural towns like Marion, Indiana, where orphaned animals don't get enough visibility. So they end up living out the majority of their lives in a place that was never meant to be a long term solution. Though the staff and volunteers do their best to care for them, an animal shelter is not a home. There are no cozy couches to curl up on, and there are not enough people or funds to spoil these pets the way they deserve to be spoiled.

As a nonprofit, MGCHS operates primarily on donations, which means they are always playing catch-up with the needs of the animals and of their facility. On top of the recurring costs of food, medical care, laundry, utilities, etc., MGCHS now desperately needs funds to refurbish their dog kennels. After years of wear, the kennel doors need to be replaced. MGCHS would also like to purchase larger crates to house larger dogs that are in need of rescue. Recently, they have had to turn away many dogs due to a lack of proper space.

Sadly, on January 4th of this year, we had to say goodbye to our baby Rhubarb at the age of 14 . She brought immeasurable joy and love into our lives, and we have MGCHS to thank for allowing us to find her. In honor of her passing, we want to give back to the place that cared for her for so long. We want to allow MGCHS to help more dogs like Rhubarb so that they can find the homes and love that they deserve. Please help us reach our goal of raising $5,000 to support the $50,000 refurbishment project at the Marion-Grant County Humane Society. Any contribution, large or small, is helpful. And if you find you are able to do so, please consider adopting one of the wonderful animals living there today.

On one of my morning walks, I noticed this dog laying in a field. When she was in that same spot the next morning, I realized she needed help. I brought her a bowl of dog food, which she barely lifted her head to eat. With some effort, I managed to get her home. She was on death's door—starving and abused. The humane society kept her for a couple nights, but as soon as she was strong enough, I brought her back home.

I've named her Ghost because she responded to that name when I first met her. Her eyes are still so sad, but she is gaining trust even as she is gaining strength. Many thanks to those who have already contributed money for food and checked in on her. And a huge shoutout to Alisha Howard (All Fluffed Up Professional Grooming) for donating your time to transform her. Ghost is safe and loved, but she is still in need of medical care, which she will be getting next week.

Please contribute what you can to cover the costs of bringing this girl back to full health—or make a payment directly to Hometown Animal Hospital in Gas City. Any additional funds will go directly to the Marion-Grant County Humane Society.