Hobart Humane Society responds to social media attacks
NWI Times
Sep 24, 2013
HOBART | The Hobart Humane Society has been under attack — particularly in comments made recently on social media — Director Brenda Slavik said, adding that the attacks are unwarranted.
The thrust of many of the negative comments is that the shelter, located at 2054 E. Indiana 130, is against pit bulls, she said.
That's not the case, officials said.
"We don't single out any breed," Slavik said.
The shelter accepts and currently has up for adoption several pit bulls.
The shelter is careful and won't accept all pit bulls dropped off by owners who just decide they don't want the animals anymore, office manager Connie Hollar said.
But the shelter doesn't euthanize dogs based on their breed.
"We euthanize only if the animal is sick or aggressive," Slavik said.
A stray pit bull puppy brought to the shelter by a Portage resident was euthanized because it had gotten sick and its owner, when reached, never came to pick it up, Slavik said.
The shelter was founded and received its charter in 1954. It has provided animal control for Hobart since 1957 and also contracts for animal pickup with Portage and Lake Station, Slavik said.
Given their small staff of seven employees and limited funding, the shelter does its best to handle the hundreds of dogs, cats, puppies, kittens, rabbits and even guinea pigs it takes in.
The number of cats and kittens, in particular, have increased this summer with 145 kittens and 77 cats brought in during the month of June alone, the shelter reported.
"Animals are disposable to people," Slavik said.
In addition to the misconceptions perpetuated on social media, there have also been email threats sent to employees over the summer, shelter officials said.
"We worry about every animal. We don't need to worry about the crazies," Hollar said.
For information about the shelter, call (219) 942-0103.
