When I opened my business I was down here at 49th and College nearly all by myself. Days after opening, the Paw Patch announced they were coming down with me. They moved in on March 31st. Happy Anniversary. Directly next door on the other side of my shop there is a groomer, Bud's Dog House (named after the groomer's dog). In April, The Barking Dog Cafe relocated from the City Market to just down 49th Street at Pennsylvania. I call 49th Street "Canine Corridor". Of course it doesn't discriminate against Kitties. I've learned a lot by having a veterinary hospital as my next door neighbor. One day as I was taking trash out some of their staff were outside enjoying a break. A persistent cat joined us. Everyone wondered if it was a stray. They took it inside, checked for an identification chip (there was none), gave it some food and took care of it for the day. It was not spayed. I provided a cat collar and a note was attached to the collar that if this is your cat please call. No one did so it was assumed that kitty was a stray. She had a wonderful loving personality so we did not think she was feral as they are usually shy. I got a lesson that day which is people dump their pets where they think they might get good care and attention. What better place to dump a pet than behind a vet clinic and a pet food store? Obviously we love pets and so do our customers. We don't know for sure that that was the case but, apparently, this happens, as I was told by the staff.

On March 6th, the Indianapolis Star featured a letter to the editor written by Martha Boden, Chief Executive Officer of the Humane Society of Indianapolis. In the event that you missed it I will share some of what she said. "In 2007, Humane Society of Indianapolis and Indianapolis Animal Care and Control took in almost 11,000 stray animals. Surprisingly, these two organizations also took in almost 11,000 pets surrendered by their owners. This means as many pets were surrendered by their owners as were abandoned or lost. Thirty times a day in 2007, someone decided the relationship was over and the pet ended up in a shelter. Across the United States, one animal in three has a home that lasts its entire lifetime." That got my attention and I knew it would yours, as well. She goes on to tell us the new way that her shelter is going to proceed later this month, fashioned after the successful animal-sheltering models of Dallas and Portland, Oregon. There the intake process has become consultative. Rather than walking in, owners are asked to call first to discuss their situation with a phone counselor. They will be linked to professionals and resources who may be able to help the pet stay in its home. Owners who can't be helped over the phone will make an appointment with their animal. This will offer another opportunity to discuss their pet's issues. We are told this means animals will no longer be euthanized solely due to lack of space. Spay/neuter clinics are driving home the message that neutering is key to bringing down the number of homeless and the number of animals euthanized. In 2000 the number of animals euthanized was 22,000 and by 2007 that number dropped 33% to 14,750. FACE spay/neuter clinic led the way by bringing low cost services to our community. Indy Feral sterilizes feral cats and has become a national model.

Here's another thing I've learned being next door to a vet: People find strays and bring them in to see if they have an identification chip. So often they don't. If all of us would put identification tags and chips on our pets there would be a happier ending. When deciding on a new pet why not rescue one. I know first hand they show gratitude and make wonderful pets. One of my customers said it's like they know you've given them a better life and they have more love towards you as a result. It's true. Why spend so much money on "Designer Breeds" when the one that has already been designed is there waiting for you? Pets make you smile (and sometimes they make you cry). They make us real.