19 October 2009

Adopt-A-Dog Month

The mayor of Bloomington has dubbed October Adopt-A-Dog Month, and the local shelter is following through by offering 1/2-priced adoptions. Adoption fees, which cover "a first round of vaccinations, a free visit to a local veterinary office, heartworm testing, microchip identification and spay/neuter surgery, will be $37.50 for dogs younger than 5 years old and $27.50 for those 5 years and up."

Though the shelter is not a resource for service dogs, companion animals have been shown to be beneficial to children and adults with disabilities. Pets aid in teaching children nurturing behaviors and nonverbal communication (Beck&Myers 1996). Furthermore, the use of animals in therapy "strengthens...contact with reality" in children with autism and "[decreases] agitated and aggressive behavior" in children with ADHD (Barker 1999).

The Bloomington animal shelter is located on South Walnut, next to the Recycling Center. Its hours are:

Mondays 12-5pm
Tuesdays 12-7pm
Wednesdays 12-5pm
Thursdays 12-5pm
Fridays 12-7pm
Saturdays 12-5pm
Sundays 1-4pm

The shelter can be contacted at 812-349-3492.

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