Information about Pet Refuge's Organization

You can FIND us at 2300 West 6th Street in Mishawaka, one block South of Lincolnway West, between Ironwood and Logan. Our office is open each weekday from 10 AM until 3 PM and staffed by volunteers. You can PHONE us at (574)256-0886. Our telephone message Hotline will take your calls during weekends and after hours. All calls are returned by the next staff member on duty.

To become a MEMBER of our organization and receive our newsletter, send a $20 check made payable to Pet Refuge ($10 for students and senior citizens, $25 for patrons, plus any additional gift) to Pet Refuge, Inc., P.O. Box 4534, South Bend, IN 46634, and remember to include your address and phone number. Your donation is tax deductible.

ESTABLISHMENT:

We are a Northern Indiana agency incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation with the Indiana Secretary of State in April, 1978.

Our PURPOSES are as follows:

The health, welfare and best possible placement for every animal placed in the care of our organization.

Recognition of the value of each animal life, and therefore, no euthanization of any animal unless determined by a veterinarian to be the most merciful treatment.

Spaying and neutering of every animal to help control pet overpopulation.

Educating the public as to pet care and welfare.

Our ACTIVITIES are as follows:

Maintenance of a pet hotline office in Mishawaka (telephone 256-0886) to coordinate prospective owners with available pets.

Requirement that every adoptive pet owner sign our adoption agreement promising the best possible care of the animal, including necessary shots, neutering, and return of the animal to Pet Refuge should problems develop.

Adopt-A-Pet Days are held every Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon for cats and every Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon for dogs.

Maintenance of a number of foster homes where unwanted and abandoned pets are cared for until permanent homes can be found.

Initial immunizations given to our fostered dogs and cats.

Neutering of all adult cats and dogs in our foster homes and shelter before adoption.

Leukemia test for cats and heartworm test for dogs.

Our FUNDING comes from the following avenues:

Donations requested from owners of each pet adopted

Annual membership dues

Donations from interested persons

Fundraising Events

Annual Auction in early Spring and our annual Mutt March in September

Sponsorship Program

Some MISCELLANEOUS stuff:

All of our staff is volunteer.

The office is staffed each weekday from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. by volunteers who take phone calls and arrange for coordination of prospective new owners with pets.

An answering machine records phone calls in the absence of volunteer staff at the office. These calls are then returned by the next volunteer on duty.

Donations of damaged bags and cans of pet food by several area stores is made for use by our foster homes.

Careful screening is done to prevent adoptive pet owners from breeding animals, training guard dogs, use of dogs for fighting, and poor homes.

All donations to Pet Refuge are fully tax deductible.

Some of our FUTURE GOALS:

Our main goal is to obtain a new animal shelter for the temporary housing of pets needing medical attention and those in transit between homes.

Finances do not permit realization of this objective at the present time.

As we are almost totally dependent upon money donations to continue our work with animals, all contributions are greatly appreciated. Checks may be made payable to Pet Refuge, Inc., and sent to our Post Office Box.

Responsible foster homes for cats and dogs are always needed as is pet food, kitty litter, office volunteers and cleaning volunteers for the animals that stay at our shelter

All medical care, food and cat litter is provided by Pet Refuge to our foster homes.