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KOKOMO, Ind. (AP) — In the days before the Internet, there wasn't much hope for severely injured animals that found their way to places like the Kokomo Humane Society.
A nonprofit organization, Kokomo Humane Society barely had enough funds to take care of the animals that came in fully healthy, let alone the ones that needed extra care.
The world wide web, and social media specifically, has helped change that.In recent years, the organization has been able to reach out to community donors through Facebook to help animals receive the medical care they need to get healthy so they may be adopted.
"Getting the animal adopted with an ongoing problem isn't easy," Kokomo Humane Society executive director Karen Wolfe told the Kokomo Tribune (http://bit.ly/1yclJc8). "So, we basically put a call out on Facebook for help from the community, and we're always pretty amazed within 24 hours - sometimes it takes a little longer - but we'll get money raised."
Cases of animals showing up in acute need of medical care come in waves, Wolfe explained. Lately, it's seemed like one after another come in with severe dental problems, a mangled limb or tail, or a bulging eye that must be removed.
"You put it on social media and everyone is watching it," Wolfe said. "A picture is great. You put up a picture of an animal that needs help, and . what they need, and the help comes. It's great to let people know that not only are they helping, but the vets in town are helping. It's really a community effort to get these animals taken care of."
Local businesses chip in right alongside average citizens. Jefferson Road Animal Hospital recently performed surgery on Simon, a dog who was hit by a car and left in need of a leg amputation, for roughly a quarter of actual cost of the procedure. Jefferson Road Animal Hospital also fostered the dog and was instrumental in helping Simon get adopted.
Greentown Animal Hospital has been known to treat animals with heartworms for the cost of the medication. AA Pet Care in Walton does reduced dental treatment for the organization.
And, 4 Precious Paws Clinic recently performed a procedure on Baltimore, a cat who needed a leg and portions of his tail removed, for a fraction of the cost. Baltimore was adopted and renamed "Nubs."
Additionally, places such as Pooch Palace provide countless hours of grooming for animals that sometimes show up with matted fur or skin conditions.
"All these animals are really potentially great pets, but they need a little extra care," Wolfe said. "People tend to think we don't keep the animals that aren't adoptable or they have a limited time. They don't. We have to be realistic about who we can help, but we try and help as many as we can."
These types of animals wouldn't be adoptable otherwise. They would be euthanized because most people can't afford to spend $120 on a pet adoption and the additional money for medical care such as surgeries, which can cost $2,000 or more.
"The quality of life is dramatically improved," Wolfe said. "And, they feel much better a lot of times, especially with the eyes. The eyes can be painful, and it makes a big difference to get that taken care of. And, with something like a broken leg, a lot of times a dog wouldn't be able to carry on dragging a broken leg around. So, it changes their life 100 percent."
Wolfe explained that those animals that arrive in need of extra help tend to tug on the hearts of Humane Society employees. Those animals often end up in the front office, so everyone knows who they are and develops a connection with them. That interaction does wonders for a pet's future adoptability as they learn to be comfortable around loving humans.
"It's amazing every time there's an animal adopted," Wolfe said. "It makes everyone's day to see these animals go to forever homes when they're healthy. But, when you have an animal that's in bad shape that gets rehabilitated, it changes everyone's perspective. You really feel like you're making a difference on top of what you already do."
Individuals also donate directly through the organization's website, kokomohumane.org, which makes it easier on donors because it doesn't require writing a check, driving to the facility or making a phone call.
And while donations for medical procedures are constantly being sought as the cases come in, the Kokomo Humane Society is nearing the end of its "silent phase" for another fundraising project.
The organization has raised a little over $900,000 of its $2 million goal as it pushes forward with plans to build a new facility to replace the current one on South Elizabeth Street, which is over 60 years old.
Once it's reached the halfway point, the Kokomo Humane Society will emerge from the silent phase, where it approaches larger donors, and turn to fundraisers in the community, places like schools, as it tries to reach 100 percent of its goal.
"Not everyone can donate $20,000. But if you can donate $10 or $5, every little bit helps," Wolfe said.
The new facility will be bigger than the old one, and with features that weren't available 60 years ago, such as air flow technology, will help make the animals healthier.
Plans are in the works for the new facility to feature a community room for groups to congregate in, and a room dedicated to the photography process aimed at helping animals get adopted at a quicker rate. A cat colony is also in the works so the felines that make their way to the shelter don't have to be locked down in a cage.
"We're not in business to house animals," Wolfe explained. "What we want to do is have them here and healthy, and have a faster turnover. Decreasing the length of stay is what's really huge."
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Information from: Kokomo Tribune, http://www.ktonline.com
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