City Kicks Off Animal Shelter Adoption Campaign

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 19, 2007

For more information, contact:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care and Control, City of Bloomington, 349.3492
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN - As the proud papa of two Shelter dogs, Stormy and Echo, Mayor Mark Kruzan is pleased to announce the launch of the Animal Shelter adoption campaign,[ Adopt Today!|http://www.bloomington.in.gov/adopt-today]

"The campaign is a milestone in our efforts to reduce pet euthanasia in Bloomington and Monroe County," Kruzan said. "Adopt Today! is the first campaign the City has undertaken to aggressively increase the number of adoptions at our Shelter. We chose to pair the campaign kickoff with this month's Be Bloomington theme, Be Compassionate Bloomington, because adopting an animal from the shelter is an act of compassion for those animals that don't have permanent homes."

[Adopt Today!|http://www.bloomington.in.gov/adopt-today] is an educational, awareness-building campaign focused on:

• increasing adoptions and reducing euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets at the [City of Bloomington Animal Shelter|http://www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter];
• enhancing awareness of the multiple benefits associated with making pets part of an active, healthy lifestyle; and
• increasing awareness of the importance of spaying and neutering to help the Bloomington community curb the pet overpopulation crisis.

In 2006, the shelter reported 5,255 incoming animals. Of those animals only 54 percent were adopted and more than 42 percent were euthanized. The goal of Adopt Today! is not only to change these numbers by increasing adoptions and reducing the need for euthanasia, but also to encourage the public to become part of the solution to the pet overpopulation problem.

The City owns and operates the [City of Bloomington Animal Shelter|http://www.bloomington.in.gov/animalshelter], which is the primary provider of animal-related services for Bloomington and Monroe County.

Laurie Ringquist, Animal Care and Control Director, said, "We are very excited about this campaign and hope it will help us achieve our number-one goal of adopting 100 percent of our adoptable animals. We hope the community will support this effort by helping us find loving homes and compassionate guardians for the homeless animals at the Shelter."

The campaign features a variety of local animal lovers including Kruzan, Indiana University President Adam Herbert, Monroe County Community School Corporation Superintendent Jim Harvey, IU Professor Emeritus James E. Mumford, IU Women's Basketball Coach Felisha Legette-Jack, supermodel Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp, IU Men's Basketball Coach Kelvin Sampson, Monroe County Commissioner Joyce Poling, Bloom Magazine editor and publisher Malcolm Abrams, and screenwriter/producer Angelo Pizzo.

City staff, community spokespeople, businesses, nonprofit organizations and animals have taken part in the execution of the campaign.

Sponsoring businesses include the Communities of Meadowood, Longhorn Steakhouse, Nick's English Hut, the IU Credit Union, Bloomingfoods, and Todd Whitlock, DDS. Kendall Reeves of Spectrum Studio, Inc. provided the photography of many of the spokespeople and their pets or Shelter animals.

Additional Adopt Today! supporters include Eric Stolberg of Wininger Stolberg Homes; Myers-Croxton Group; Bloom Magazine; the Herald-Times; plus Bark & Wine major event sponsor, Tutto Bène Wine Café and More; and event supporter, Upland Brewing Company.

For more information about the Adopt Today! campaign, visit [www.bloomington.in.gov/adopt-today|http://www.bloomington.in.gov/adopt-today] or call the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter at 349-3492.