Adopt Today! at Farmers' Market and New Downtown Location

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 5, 2007

For additional information:
Laurie Ringquist, Director, Animal Care and Control, City of Bloomington, 349.3489
Maria K. Heslin, Communications Director, City of Bloomington, 349.3569

Bloomington, IN -- Mayor Mark Kruzan announced today that the City of Bloomington Animal Shelter invites you to Adopt Today! at two downtown weekend locations.

"We recently launched Adopt Today!, an educational, awareness-building campaign aimed at dramatically increasing adoptions of the wonderful pets that come to our Animal Shelter," Kruzan said. "One key element of this effort is making the dogs and cats more accessible and visible to the community. We are thrilled to be able to showcase these animals in our downtown every weekend."

Weather permitting, the Animal Shelter will showcase adoptable dogs and cats at the Bloomington Community Farmers' Market, which begins its season on Saturday, April 7. Throughout the Market's season, visit the dogs near the City Hall entrance, and meet the cats in the City Hall atrium from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturdays.

Beginning Sunday, April 15, adoptable shelter pets can be seen every Sunday from noon to 3 p.m. at 124 E. Kirkwood, Ave., the former Roadworthy Guitar location. Use of the space is being donated by Walnut Street Development.

"Having such a visible offsite location right on Kirkwood is a terrific community collaboration that benefits potential adopters and the pets, too," Kruzan said. "The entire Adopt Today! campaign is a major collaborative effort with many individuals and businesses that have come forward to help, and it will take the entire community to solve our animal overpopulation problem. We appreciate the generosity of Walnut Street Development in helping us further these goals."

At both locations, adoption counseling services will be available along with Adopt Today! materials such as information about pet care, messages from community spokespeople on the benefits of pet adoption, and successful adoption tips. The adoption fee for animals younger than five years is $75 and for animals older than five is $55. Fees cover the cost of spaying or neutering, heartworm or feline leukemia/FIV testing, vaccinating and microchipping.

For those who are not able to adopt right now but would still like to help, the Shelter is always in need of temporary foster homes for cats, dogs, puppies and kittens. Foster homes are needed for unweaned puppies and kittens, for animals recovering from an illness or for animals in need of socialization. Foster homes also are wanted when the Shelter reaches capacity, which happens frequently during the spring and summer months. If you are interested in fostering, please visit the Shelter to complete an application or visit [www.bloomington.in.gov|http://www.bloomington.in.gov].

The City of Bloomington Animal Shelter is located at 3410 S Walnut St. Operating hours are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Saturday from noon - 5 p.m. and Tuesday and Friday from noon - 7 p.m.

For additional information about adopting or fostering, contact the Shelter at 812-349-3492 or visit [www.bloomington.in.gov|http://www.bloomington.in.gov].