Help Is Available!

Get Them Spayed/Neutered.

Please don't put it off; do it now! Animals spayed or neutered before their first heat cycle (sometimes as early as 4 months old for dogs and cats) will heal more quickly, experience all of the health benefits, and will not add to the overpopulation problem. Please spay or neuter animals before they create their first unwanted litter.

Below is an extensive list of low-cost spay/neuter programs available to make spaying and neutering affordable. Information is also available on what "spay" and "neuter" means, why is good for most animals, how it will help you, and how it benefits your community, too. The surgery is much safer for females than pregnancy, giving birth, and it eliminates the risk of several very common cancers and infections. Neutered males live longer because of the health benefits and the decreased urge to roam and fight for a mate. There is no good reason not to spay or neuter healthy dogs and cats.

Get Help with Other Issues.

The best way to help others is to first take care of your own needs. The majority of this website is dedicated to showing you resources available to enable yourself and others. Take time to learn about issues which affect you, your animals, your family and neighbors, and find out about programs available to deal with those issues. You are not alone.

Here is more about what Spay-Neuter League does and ways you can support us whether you have time, money, or even recyclable junk!

Here are resources to help you report abuse and neglect, learn how to advocate for a chained or penned dog, find a lost pet, deal with a wildlife emergency, and get freebies for your animals.

Here are a variety of ways you can take action to make the world better for animals, including signing online petitions, clicking for free donations, and learning about volunteer activities.

Here is a dizzying list of links leading to many other great resources. Find out more about animal welfare issues like benefits of spaying and neutering, shelters and rescues, puppy mills, dangerous dogs, working animals, and lab animals. Get more specific information for pet caregivers about dogs, cats, birds, horses, small animals, exotic animals, and special-needs animals. Here are links for kids, teens, families. Locate resources for veterinarians, law enforcement and non-profits. To care for your personal issues, here are even links to free technical resources, government websites, and public community services.

Share your wisdom or insights by signing our Guestbook! Suggest ways to improve this website or services you would like to see provided. Offer ways you have successfully helped animals, stories about animals you've known, or tips on cheap flea control. Brag about the wonderful cat you adopted from the shelter or how you taught your children that animals have feelings too. Here is your opportunity to add content.

Why So Important?

Animal overpopulation is a tragic problem that can be solved with your help. Year after year, millions of dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters because they are unwanted, inconvenient, or do not behave. Rescues and humane organizations work hard to find homes for these animals and many people adopt, but there are not enough homes for the number of animals being born.

THREE WAYS YOU CAN HELP:

1. Spay and Neuter your pets.

• Prevent "just one litter" and accidental litters by spaying and neutering your pets before they have a chance to reproduce.
• Encourage, educate and enable your family, friends and neighbors to spay/neuter their pets before they have a chance to reproduce.
• If you feed or care for stray or feral cats, have them spayed or neutered right away.

Spaying and Neutering is much less expensive, emotionally and financially, than euthanasia. Remember cats can become pregnant at four months and while nursing; they can be safely spayed and neutered as early as six weeks. The younger the animal at the time of surgery, the faster they heal.

Contrary to popular myth, it is not healthy for dogs or cats to have one litter first before being "fixed". It robs them of vital nutrients and strains their bodies, and greatly increases their risks for developing breast cancer later. Most animals first become pregnant when they are too young to physically support it.

Please consider that with animals being killed at shelters or dying on the streets because they have no homes, it's just wrong to add any more--even if you sincerely believe you can find "good" homes. If you're that good at finding "good" homes, PLEASE volunteer to help the local shelter place their poor unwanted animals.

2. Adopt a pet from a local shelter.

• Consider that each animal you buy from a pet store or breeder is one less opportunity for a shelter animal to find a home.
• Answering "Free to a good home" ads encourages the cycle to repeat and usually ends up costing more in veterinary fees than adopting from a shelter.
• "I can't go there, it is too hard. I will want to take everyone home." Guess what, that is what most people think, and so few people go and the animals must be killed to make room for more! Shelters aren't pleasant places to go. Please, if you really care about animals, take a friend and go. The animal you save doesn't have a chance if you don't go.

3. Keep your pets for life.

• Learn about types of animals and their care BEFORE you obtain a pet.
• Take behavior classes/obedience training with your dog. It's fun and may save your dog's life. Obtain help if your cat has a behavioral problem.
• Please provide your pets with two forms of identification -- a tag inscribed with your phone number and either a tattoo or a microchip.
• Don't give up on your pet! Most common problems, like litter box issues or jumping, can be corrected with a little patience and understanding. Call your veterinarian, groomer, or shelter for advice or suggestions on who can help.

If everyone who keeps companion animals made these three commitments, there would be no homeless pets and no need to euthanize healthy animals.

SPAY-NEUTER HELP

Programs Open to Our Area

There are currently five active Spay-Neuter assistance programs available to the Wabash Valley at large and one program available specifically to residents living within Vigo County, Indiana who are currently receiving public assistance. Spay-Neuter League Inc. strongly encourages having surgery performed with a local full-service veterinarian when possible. The extra fees involved mostly cover extra testing to confirm the animals' health before surgery as well as additional equipment and staffing for emergencies. If a $30 coupon from Spay-Neuter League will enable you to afford to use a local veterinarian, please request a coupon. In many cases, a coupon will bring the cost down to match the assistance programs listed below. If a coupon will not lower costs enough, please consider taking advantage of one of the other low-cost programs listed below instead. Unless your situation is extreme, please do not ask to combine the coupons with the other assistance programs since this results in fewer animals being spayed and neutered.

1. Spay-Neuter League Coupons

Spay-Neuter League Inc. offers a limited number of $30 coupons on the first Monday of each month (except holidays, when it is rescheduled for the second Monday of that month) to help decrease the regular cost of spay-neuter surgery with most local veterinarians. Although we would like to help every animal, our funding constraints require us to limit coupons to one per month per household. If you need a coupon to be able to afford to have your animal spayed or neutered with a local veterinarian, please follow the instructions on the About Us page.

2. Terre Haute Pets ALIVE Spay-Neuter Transports

This is a TRANSPORT SERVICE from Terre Haute to the LOW-COST Pets ALIVE Spay-Neuter Clinic in Bloomington, IN. Pets ALIVE provides Terre Haute with animal transport services on the 3rd Thursday of each month. Through their agreement with Spay-Neuter League Inc., Pets ALIVE charges transport users a discounted rate of:

If the animal is current on rabies vaccination, please bring the current rabies certificate to Registration; if the animal is not current on rabies vaccination, the clinic will charge an additional $8 for rabies vaccination.

*Feral cats MUST be brought in a feral cat trap. The $35 fee includes Rabies vaccination and ear tipping.

Other services are available but not required. These other services, which are available at your option for additional charges, include Heartworm Testing for $20, Feline Leukemia/FIV Combination Testing for $22, Immunizations for $12 each, and AVID Microchipping for $22. These services are only available for dogs and cats on the day they are scheduled to be spayed or neutered.

Please do not bring animals to registration. Registration Sessions will take place at the Spay-Neuter League office, 1403 Chestnut Street, Terre Haute, IN from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. The Spay-Neuter League office is located inside the 14th & Chestnut Community Center (which is inside the church on the southeast corner of 14th & Chestnut streets). The entrance is the glass door at the top of the ramp facing the blacktop parking lot which is entered (and visible) from 14th Street. For further questions about the Terre Haute Pets ALIVE Transport service, please email info (at) TerreHauteSpayNeuter.org or call 812-514-8520.

On Transport day, registered pets are to be dropped off between 7:00 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. at a designated Transport Site. All animals must be secured inside their labeled carrier when on City property, wearing the i.d. collar given during registration. Carriers must have hard sides (not soft-sided or cardboard), solid floor (not cages or all-wire crates), and must be large enough for the animal to be able to stand up and turn around in the crate. Spay-Neuter League has a limited number of crates to loan for these transports from Terre Haute. Animals are more comfortable in crates lined with shredded newspaper. Spayed and neutered animals will be ready for pick-up the following day from Noon - 12:30 p.m. at the designated Transport Site. Read more >>

Help spread the word! Please print and share our 2008 Terre Haute Pets ALIVE Transport flyer (PDF) which includes prices, dates, and contact information. Post them on public bulletin boards at work, church, stores, clubs, or anywhere you believe they will be seen.

3. Clay County Humane Society Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic

Clay County Humane Society in Brazil, IN, will be offering a Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic every Friday. The cost is $61 per dog (male or female, any size, even if pregnant!) and $56 per cat (male or female, even if pregnant!). Rabies vaccination is included! If your pet is current on vaccinations please bring proof and they will discount the price $5. Please call the shelter at 812-446-5126 for an appointment. All animals should be at the shelter between 7 and 8:30 am on Friday, and may be picked up Saturdays between 10 and 12 am. There will be other services such as micro chipping and other vaccinations available, please ask for details.

4. Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society Pets ALIVE! Transports

Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society may be offering Transports to the low-cost Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic in Bloomington, IN, possibly on the 2nd Wednesday of every even-numbered month. Call 765-492-3540 for more information.

5. Terre Haute Humane Society

If there is further need for spay-neuter options and/or you have an unwanted litter of puppies or kittens, you may call the shelter at 812-232-0293 and speak with an Adoption Counselor about the shelter's in-house programs.

6. P.O.A.P. Project H.O.P.E.

P.O.A.P. is a program which matches pet owners in need to assistance. H.O.P.E. is the spay/neuter project which matches pet owners who receive public assistance to spay/neuter funding. Currently, H.O.P.E. is funded by the City of Terre Haute and the Terre Haute Humane Society. To qualify for H.O.P.E., dog and cat owners must live within Vigo county, Indiana and receive public assistance.

For a few months, the Vigo County Commissioners had authorised funds to cover residents of Vigo County who live outside of Terre Haute city limits. For reasons not fully understood and with no notice, they pulled funding, leaving many of the most destitute pet owners without H.O.P.E. Terre Haute Humane Society stepped forward to provide H.O.P.E. to those animals. Currently, funding for these pets is provided through a generous grant from PetsMart Charities. This funding is limited and it is wished that the Vigo County Commissioners will do the right thing and cover Vigo County residents when the PetsMart funding is exhausted.

Owners must personally register their animals and provide a current photo ID, proof of current address within city limits, and proof of public assistance (such as a valid EBT card or Medicaid card). Call volunteers Ron or Susan at 812-514-8520 with any further questions. For the Registration Times and Locations, see Local Animal Welfare News below.

AWAY FROM TERRE HAUTE AREA

Click on the following links to find more low-cost spay/neuter resources.

Indiana Low-Cost Clinics

Indiana Community-Specific Programs

Illinois Low-Cost Programs

Away from Indiana

LOCAL NEWS & EVENTS

Some older news may be found in the News Archive.

Animal Welfare

Get involved with animal welfare on a local level by attending meetings and participating in as many events as you can. Be a voice for those who cannot speak for themselves, and help make positive changes in your community. Your suggestion or simply your interest might be enough to spark needed improvements in the dismal situation facing most animals today.

Spay-Neuter League Inc.

OFFICE HOURS: the Spay-Neuter League office will be open January 7, 2008 (Monday) from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. to answer your questions about our program and accept donations. Please drop off your empty aluminum cans, ink cartridges or other items. Tell us what you think of our website! For more information, visit the About Us page.

TERRE HAUTE PETS ALIVE TRANSPORT SCHEDULE - See Terre Haute Pets ALIVE! Low-Cost Spay/Neuter Transport above for prices and other information.

• January 7 (Monday): Registration Session
• January 11 (Friday): Registration Session
• January 12 (Saturday): Registration Session

Animals MUST BE REGISTERED to participate in the January 17 (Thursday) Transport.

WISH LIST:

• Gift Certificates for office supplies (Office Depot, Office Max, Staples, Wal-Mart, etc.) or Office Supplies: postage stamps, pens, highlighters, markers,paperclips, colored copy paper, card stock, plastic sheet covers, rubber bands, envelopes, etc.
• Portable, durable sign (one person can carry, won't easily blow over in wind).
• Items for our sales: nice small tables and furniture, housewares, fans, lamps, quilts, books, CDs, DVDs, yard and garden tools, etc.
• Medium and larger-size animal crates, screws and misc. fittings for any size crates.
• Feral cat traps
• Volunteers and Money are always needed and appreciated! We are an all volunteer organization and the demand for spay/neuter assistance is very high.

POAP Project H.O.P.E. Registration Locations and Times

This is a spay/neuter assistance program for residents of Vigo County who are receiving public assistance. See POAP Project HOPE above for a more specific list of proof of qualifications to bring to registration. If you have any questions about whether you qualify, please call 812-514-8520.

To register for an appointment with a local veterinary clinic, bring your photo ID, proof of current address in Vigo county, IN, and proof of public assistance to:

• January 4 (Friday): 4:00 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. at Locust Street IGA, 1140 Locust St, Terre Haute, IN
• January 10, 17, 24, & 31 (Thursdays): 11:30am-3:00pm, at Salvation Army, 234 S 8th St, Terre Haute, IN
• January 19 (Saturday): 10:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m. at Rural King, 3235 Wabash Ave, Terre Haute, IN

Clay County Humane Society

LOW-COST SPAY/NEUTER CLINICS

Every Friday: The cost is $61 per dog (male or female, any size, even if pregnant!) and $56 per cat (male or female, even if pregnant!). Rabies vaccination is included! If your pet is current on vaccinations please bring proof and they will discount the price $5. Please call the shelter at 812-446-5126 for an appointment. All animals should be at the shelter between 7 and 8:30 am on Friday, and may be picked up Saturdays between 10 and 12 am. There will be other services such as micro chipping and other vaccinations available, please ask for details.

Terre Haute Humane Society (THHS)

FOSTER HOMES NEEDED! If you are able to foster one or two adult animals, a litter, an animal in need of extra care, medical care, or waiting to be sent to rescue, this would make room at the shelter for others in need. Please call the shelter at 812-232-0293 and ask for Sharon if you are willing to try fostering an animal in need.

Saturdays: PetSmart Adoption Outreach - come see selected animals available for adoption at the Terre Haute PetSmart!

RESCUE RUNS Shelters and Rescues throughout the Midwest have been helping us find good homes for strays in Vigo County, IN. Volunteers are needed to drive animals from Terre Haute to their rescuers. All fuel and tolls are paid by the shelter; volunteer drivers donate their time. Call the shelter at 812-232-0293 for more information or leave a message for Sharon if you are interested in becoming a Rescue Driver. You can also help send cats and dogs to rescue (PDF) and save money on local carwashes! Spring Clean Touchless Carwash has agreed to donate half of the price of their Coupon Books which are sold through THHS. The Coupon Books are $35.00 for 5 washes and GET A SIXTH WASH FREE! There is a wash on South 7th just south of Springhill Rd., one on Wabash Ave. by Kroger, and one up north behind the North Kroger.

$35.00 Microchipping! Call the shelter at 812-232-0293 to schedule an appointment to have your pet michrochipped and registered with the HomeAgain Microchip Identification System. This is an excellent savings (this service elsewhere can cost up to $50 and more for implanting plus $12.50 for registering), it benefits the shelter, and offers permanent identification in the event your pet is lost and separated from its collar tags.

SHELTER WISH LIST:

• Digital Camera
• New computer and/or Flat Screen Monitor
• Capstar / Frontline flea medication
• Canned kitten and puppy food (Science Diet is preferred)
• Bleach
• Liquid Laundry Soap
• Paper Towels
• Terry Cloth Bath Towels
• Shredded Paper (the long strips, not the confetti type)
• Dog/Cat Collars & Leashes
• Dog & Cat Shampoo
• Dog/Cat Toys- Please be sure they are sturdy ones! (Kongs & Nylabones are great)
• New Office Supplies, paper, pens, pencils, markers, paperclips etc.
• Gift cards for Gas, Pet Stores, Walmart, Kmart, etc. or Money is ALWAYS appreciated!

Harmony Haven

Harmony Haven shelters approximately 160 animal residents! Their operation depends completely upon fundraisers, contributions, and memberships. Harmony Haven deeply appreciates the fundraisers and donations at the local level since they are a grass roots organization.

Becoming a member of Harmony Haven is as simple as printing out their Membership Application Form, filling it out and returning it with dues donation to: Harmony Haven, P O Box 3305, Terre Haute, IN 47803-0305. Membership includes the Harmony Haven newsletters.

Harmony Haven is participating in the Kuranda Donate a Bed program.

SHELTER WISH LIST:

• Money and Volunteers are ALWAYS needed and appreciated!
• Canned Dog and Cat Food
• Empty Blue Plastic Lay's Potato Chip Cans
• Cleaning Supplies of all types (Laundry Detergent, Paper Towels, Pine-Sol, Bleach, Febreze, Peroxide, Alcohol, Mineral Oil, Baking Soda, Litter Deodorant, Mops/Brooms, etc.)
• Small Indoor Heaters
• Wet or Dry Dog/Cat Food
• Treats, Toys
• Scoopable Cat Litter
• Towels, Blankets, Sheets, Carpet Remnants (used items are fine)
• Furniture (again, used is fine; call the shelter and leave message if you want to check on acceptance of furniture or need help getting it there: 812-535-3819.
• Aluminum cans, tabs, etc. to recycle for fund raising
• Cell Phones to recycle for fund raising
• Used Ink Cartridges to recycle for fund raising (all except Epson; cannot be drilled or previously recycled; place in original box or a plastic bag.

League for Animal Welfare Inc.

The Flea Market fundraiser has a New Location: 5064 N Lafayette St, Terre Haute, IN 47805-1831

League for Animal Welfare is our community's only charitable organization to assist pet owners when emergencies require immediate veterinary care and cash is needed to see a veterinarian. They offer loans of up to $75 toward veterinary visits in emergency cases. They have very few active members and are in serious danger of dissolving. Flea market proceeds, donations, loan repayment and membership dues are their only sources of funding. Membership in the League for Animal Welfare is just $12 a year! This is the most affordable membership fee of any animal welfare organization in Vigo County, IN. For more information on how you can help the League or to request financial assistance for a veterinary emergency, call Elsie at 812-894-2358.

Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society

Parke-Vermillion County Humane Society may be offering Transports to the low-cost Pets ALIVE Spay/Neuter Clinic in Bloomington, IN, on the 2nd Wednesday of every even-numbered month. Register at the shelter during regular hours. Call 765-492-3540 for more information.

Crawford County (IL) Humane Society

$20 Microchipping! With the new Illinois law in place, requiring all shelter dogs and cats adopted or strays being reclaimed to be microchipped, Crawford County (IL) Humane Society is now offering microchipping. They charge $20 for the chipping and the registration. They can microchip dogs or cats. Call the shelter at 618-544-8698 for details if you would like your pet chipped.

Local Open Government News

Our government officials play a key role in developing and enforcing animal welfare laws. Get to know your local leaders and legislators, and let them know your concerns. It is important to realize that there are TWO local governing bodies: City of Terre Haute (governing issues inside Terre Haute city limits) and Vigo County (governing issues outside Terre Haute city limits including some of North Terre Haute, South Terre Haute, West Terre Haute, Seelyville, and Riley). Any meeting listed here is open to the public. Please respect any given rules of conduct. Vote whenever you have the opportunity. This is where the large-scale changes take place.

Terre Haute Area Planning Board Meeting

January 2 (Wednesday): 7:00 p.m. until end in the Council Chambers of the Vigo County Annex , 127 Oak Street. County Rezonings and Subdivsions are heard at these meetings. Developers or their respresentative MUST be present at these meetings. These meetings are held the first Wednesday of each month. For information, contact Jeremy Weir at jkweir (at) vigocounty.org.

Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment Public Notices/ Meetings

Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan Annual Submission for the City of Terre Haute

The Terre Haute Department of Redevelopment will hold a series of public meetings and a public hearing for input on the 2008 Housing and Community Development Consolidated Plan's Annual Submission for the City of Terre Haute. The plan will be discussed in order for the City to obtain views of citizens, public agencies, and other interested parties, on the strategies, priorities and contents of the Plan's Annual submission. The meetings and hearings will discuss the proposed Community Development Objectives and Projected Use of HUD Community Development Block Grant Funds for 2008, 2008 HOME funds and the 2008 Emergency Shelter Grant.

The following is a list of the dates and times of the meetings and hearing to be held in the City Hall 1st floor Conference Room, 17 Harding Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana.

• November 14 (Wednesday): 4:00 p.m. Public Meeting Meeting & Hearing Outline.
• December 19 (Wednesday): 4:00 p.m. Public Meeting Program Overview.
• December 20 (Thursday): 4:00 p.m. Public Hearing Proposed Use of Funds.
• January 2 (Wednesday): 4:00 p.m. Public Meeting Annual Plan.

The following is a list of the dates and times of the meetings to be held in the City Hall Courtroom, 17 Harding Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana.

• January 3 (Thursday): 7:30 p.m. Public Meeting Use of Funds.
• January 10 (Thursday): 7:30 p.m. Public Meeting Annual Plan

Terre Haute City Council Meetings

January 3 (Thursday): Sunshine Meeting (First Thursday of each month)
January 10 (Thursday): Regular Meeting (Second Thursday of each month)

All Terre Haute City Council Meetings are at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Courtroom, 17 Harding Ave., Terre Haute, IN 47807 unless otherwise noted. The City Council Members are grouped into four committees: Finance, Contracts, Appropriations, Franchises; Governmental Affairs, Parks, Public Property; Planning, Zoning, Improvements; and Traffic, Public Safety, Special Health/Welfare. For more information on meeting schedules, contact the Office of the City Clerk at clerk (at) terrehaute.in.gov or 812-232-3375.

Vigo County Council Meeting

January 8 (Tuesday): 5:00 p.m. until end at the Vigo County Council Chambers located in the Vigo County Annex at 127 Oak Street, Terre Haute, IN 47807. The Vigo County Council is comprised of seven members, four elected from districts and three elected at-large. The Council is responsible for establishing an annual budget for County Government and appropriating funds for the operation of County Government. The County Auditor serves as the clerk of the fiscal body.

What the Council Does:

• Exclusive power of making appropriations to be paid out of the county treasury.
• Adoption of the annual budget after receiving estimates submitted by the various county agencies through the county auditor, subject to the modification by the State Board of Tax Commissioners.
• Incurring county indebtedness within the constitutional limitations.
• Appropriation of additional funds arising after the budget is adopted.
• Fixing of salaries of officers, deputies, assistants and employees whose salaries are payable from any county fund, with certain exceptions as provided by the statutes granting the Council.

For more information, please contact Matt Muckler via email msmuckler (at) vigocounty.org or call 812-231-5638.

Terre Haute Redevelopment Commission Meeting

January 16 (Wednesday): 4:00 p.m. in the Board of Public Work's Conference Room, First Floor of City Hall, 17 Harding Avenue, Terre Haute, Indiana 47807. Meetings are regularly held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month.

The City of Terre Haute, through its Department of Redevelopment, announced a new program on March 22, 2007, designed to stimulate residential construction in the city's older neighborhoods. The Terre Haute Residential Development Program provides targeted incentives to developers who follow established guidelines to construct new residences.

The program is available for construction within a defined area in the city, on sites belonging to the city or on those owned privately. The program is designed to pursue a variety of benefits to the community, including the infill of vacant lots, the increase of the city's tax base, the creation of new, modern living quarters in areas where additional infrastructure construction is minimal, and increased employment brought by construction jobs.

It is also supposed to help improve the quality and average age of the city's inner city housing stock. According to the 2000 census, almost 70 percent of the houses in Terre Haute were built before 1950. More than 42 percent were built before 1939. Many of the city's older homes are the jewels of our historic neighborhoods. Others are a significant cause of urban blight.

See the listing of incentives provided by the city, along with requirements asked of developers and builders in order to participate, and a map (PDF) of the city showing the area within which the program will operate.

Local Human Services News & Events

Your own health and the health of your family are critical to the health and well-being of animals depending upon your care. Anything listed here is open to the public.

From Silent Spring to Silent Night: Atrazine's Impact on Environmental and Public Health

January 8 (Tuesday): 4:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Indiana State University's Life Science Building 12, Terre Haute, IN. Tyrone Hayes, a professor in the department of integrated biology at the University of California at Berkeley, has found links between a common pesticide and amphibian deformities. The speech is offered by Indiana State University's Department of Life Sciences and Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action. For more information, contact Jennifer Sicking at 812-237-7972 or email jsicking (at) indstate.edu.

Terre Haute Neighborhood Partnership Monthly Meeting

January 22 (Tuesday): 7:00 p.m. at the former Crawford School at the corner of Crawford and South Fifth streets. The THNP is a citywide coalition of Terre Haute neighborhoods dedicated to the improvement of the quality of life in Terre Haute. Meetings are held monthly on every fourth Tuesday (except December). THNP often has city council members attend meetings, and there is always a city staff representative present (usually it's Pat Martin from the City Engineering department).

The minutes of these meetings are widely distributed to City Council, the mayor and other city and county staff. The Neighborhood Partnership has requested and even insisted that neighborhood residents be allowed to meet with engineers, planners and contractors about city projects affecting them. The communication goes both ways. City staff tells the group what's going on and the partnership tells them what they're concerned about. When there is a neighborhood organization to represent the residents, city staff knows who to contact when an issue comes up with a specific neighborhood. That representative can then inform all the neighbors.

Everyone is welcome to these meetings, even if your neighborhood is not yet organized. As the Terre Haute Neighborhood Partnership says, "You don't have to move to live in a better neighborhood." Marie Pontius is THNP secretary

Bereavement Support Group

January 24 (Thursday): 5:45 p.m. at the office location of Hospice of the Wabash Valley 400 8th Avenue. Hospice of the Wabash Valley believes the needs of the family continue after the death of a loved one. Your loved one need not have been a Hospice of the Wabash Valley patient for you to attend our support group. The Bereavement Support Group is open to anyone in the community who has experienced a loss. The group meets the 4th Thursday of every month. For more information about the bereavement program call Hospice of the Wabash Valley at 812-234-2515 or 1-800-216-5692.

REGIONAL HUMANE NEWS & EVENTS

Two Important Bills were Signed into Law this Summer:

SB 108: Counseling for Animal Abusers and HB 1387: Adding Animal Cruelty to Definition of Domestic Violence

Governor Mitch Daniels signed SB 108: Counseling for Animal Abusers into law.

Indiana Supports Counseling Sentences for Animal Abusers!

The bill was sponsored by Senator Timothy Lanane. It was a landslide; SB 108 passed both the House and the Senate without a single "nay" vote!

SB 108 will help citizens, as well as animals, by addressing the mental health needs of animal abusers. If passed, this bill will require Indiana courts to consider psychological, behavioral, or other forms of counseling as part of the sentence imposed on an adult or juvenile who has committed animal cruelty.

Violence toward animals is often an early warning sign of future violence toward humans. In fact, statistics show that the majority of children involved in schoolyard shootings tortured animals before moving on to hurt their teachers and classmates. For years, the FBI has profiled individuals who tortured animals and later become serial killers. One such serial killer, the notorious Jeffrey Dahmer, had a lengthy history of torturing animals.

Because of the established link between violence toward animals and violence toward people, many states have already enacted laws requiring counseling for animal abusers.

HB 1387: Adding Animal Cruelty to Definition of Domestic Violence was sponsored by Rep. Linda Lawson.

It is a sad fact that family pets are often used as pawns in domestic disputes. HB 1387 expands the definition of a "crime involving domestic or family violence" to include crimes involving animal cruelty used to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass or terrorize a family or household member.

HB 1387 also allows a court to prohibit or impose conditions on the right of a person convicted of certain animal cruelty offenses to possess an animal. It makes killing an animal with the intent to threaten, intimidate, coerce, harass, or terrorize a family or household member a Class D felony. It also makes sexual intercourse or deviate sexual conduct with an animal a Class A misdemeanor or a Class D felony.

NATIONAL HUMANE NEWS & EVENTS

Be a Citizen Scientist!

Citizen Science is a partnership between the public and professional scientists to gather data to better understand and conserve birds. Everyone is invited to participate in Cornell Lab of Ornithology Citizen Science! No matter your location, age, or experience there is a project for you. Each project has easy-to-follow instructions describing how to count the birds and record additional information. Once you have submitted your data to the Lab, you have succeeded as a citizen scientist and contributed valuable data to bird conservation and population monitoring efforts. The Lab projects are listed by time of year. Their website also offers Tools for Success.

Year-Round Projects

House Finch Disease Survey
Will House Finch eye disease cause an epidemic in the West as it has elsewhere? We need help from citizen scientists in all regions to find out more about how the disease is affecting House Finches across the continent.

eBird
A continentwide, year-round survey of North American birds: Any bird, Anywhere, Anytime. State-of-the-art Web technology provides simple and flexible, yet powerful, ability to track birds and share information with scientists, teachers, amateur naturalists, and other birders.

PigeonWatch
Did you know that pigeons come in different colors? Join PigeonWatch and help scientists solve the mystery, "Why are there so many colors of pigeons?"