Here's the HSI answer...

LOVE the name and the idea! Did HSI really make $350,000 from the Mutt Strut?!

We're in.

We're in too. I'd love to do this!!!!

agreed paws IN!!

If we do, we'll need to get Mama Muttblood a trailer for the Mini-Coop so she can do pick up service.

Can I be the director? I really need a job and it won't cost you $110,000/year for nothing. I promise results that are good for the animals not just for publicity. And Yes, I heard they raised that much as well. You would think they wouldn't be as "broke" as they claim with all that $$ coming in along with donations.

No T, I like the idea of the clown car better. Lets see how many big dogs she can stuff in the Mini.lol

Well, I had 3 medium sized ones in the back the other day, and could have added a small one back there, plus a medium to large one or 3 small ones in the front, but none of us would have been safely restrained. I'm up for anything if it involves rescuing dogs!

It's funny you mention this, Charlie, because a friend of mine with IGPR has the idea of buying the old Winona hospital and adjoining nursing home to do just that. It's all for sale for about $700,000 I think. Even if we just had the nursing home property, think of the space for kenneling, triage, surgery, etc. We could run it the No Kill way with a few paid staff and mostly volunteers, plus the rescue organizations would have some space for office stuff and the like. If anybody has any grand ideas about raising that kind of money and working out zoning it's a lock! And they are centrally located at 32nd and Meridian.

Doesn't anyone know anyone who's extremely weathly and wants to donate over $700,000???????? Btw...if you do find someone, let me talk to them about Psychiatric Research donations as well :) I'll work there for you Mama Muttblood...I can design your temp test to place dogs in the most appropriate homes!!!

If I make it through vet school, I'll volunteer my services as well. I think us IP could do a much better job running a shelter.

It's time to try to win the lottery again!

Again? Did someone win earlier and I didn't hear about it? I thought the need to win the lottery was pretty much an ongoing thing... ;P

Improper wording, my bad! I need to try, again, to win the lottery. It is ongoing. There's so much I could spend the money on right now. It's wishful thinking, that's for sure.

I was hoping the nursing home part could be a dog hospice. You know people would donate that worthy cause...or should I say feel bad about NOT donating.

Hey, BTW, have you all checked out House of Puddles? It's a nursing home for Bassets! How cool is that? www.houseofpuddles.org

OMG, that is exactly what mom wants to do. Well, except the Bassett part. I think she meant for Doxies or just an old small dog. Those are the ones that really get to her. That's how I ended up here:-)

Write Oprah. You never know. . .

I posted before I read this one! Forming a non-kill shelter is a dream of mine. I am working toward that goal for Hendricks County but maybe we could expand and just do all of central Indiana...

This sounds like a SUPER idea! But.... would somebody tell me what an IP shelter is?
I love the idea of using the old Winona hospital. Surely there's SOMEBODY with money in this city who cares enough about animals to help! My mom knows how to write brochures and things -- she'd help get the word out. What d'you think -- could this really happen? A REAL no-kill shelter??

IP stands for IndyPaws!

Maybe we need someone to write and ask Mari Hulman George to loan indypaws peeps the speedway to raise funds like HSI.

Duh! Well, I may not be absolutely the sharpest knife in the drawer....but I'm lovable! And loved, which makes me so much luckier than so many dogs and cats in our city. Let's keep this idea going! Matter of fact, I've heard that Mari Hulman George is very much an animal lover. Sophi might be onto something.

I think the Winona hospital idea is awesome. There are so many of us on here. We should be able to get something going!!

Sounds like a great idea, guys! We need a fundraiser. Maybe a bake sale... Do you think a bake sale could raise $700,000???

Depends on what you bake into those brownies... ;)

Mari Hulman George does support a lot of animal groups, like best friends and the grey hounds and HSI.
so why not get someone to write and ask her. I've heard many good things about her in the animal world, So someone from a rescue group should contact her and at least try to get them to sponsor a event, or better yet write and ask for a large donation to help fund the hospital you never know until you try. And alot of the drivers are animal lovers, maybe they would help to.

My dad is a BIG fan of NASCAR, and those drivers all have their pet (pardon the pun!) charities. Greg Biffle and Ryan Newman support animal-welfare charities. Another idea???? Meanwhile, we should all get our people to write to HSI's board of directors and tell them how we feel about the terrible way they're doing business!

With all the people on here we could do it!

What a great idea. Mom and dad would volunteer working for the shelter. Mom could help with bake sales and knows how to make tie knot blankets. I'm sure there are other "crafty" IP peeps that can make things and sell for the proceeds to go towards the IP shelter. We can do this the same time we do the IP Mutt Strutt. Also, mom has a small suv that she could help with transporting.

I've thinking about this for the last few minutes. In order to make a commitment and make this happen we need some legal advise on how to start the proceedings for a non-profit organization. Do we have any IP lawyers on here that is willing to offer services? We do need a commitee, we can also apply for a government grant once we have a 501(c)(3) established. This can take 4-6 months once the application IRS form 1023 25-75 pages long with no guarantee it would be approved. Also, we would need to register to the state, there will be insurance that will be needed, bank account will need to be opened once we are registered. Is there a certified accountant here on IP that can help with this? We have talked about this for a while now on how IP should start our own IP shelter,Mutt Strut etc.... but if we are to really start this it must be soon with people who will be committed to make this happen. We need a base of operation to work out of. We are not a take charge person but willing to help make this happen if anyone here is serious about starting a non-profit no-kill shelter.

I think it might be faster to work with what we have and get the Board of Directors at HSI to realize they need a new shelter director committed to No Kill and then help IACC go No Kill.

How do we get this started? Petitions, protests, writing letters to the board? Do board members get paid? Unfortunately, this is all new to us and need some education to help us understand.

OMG this is an AWESOME idea!!! The hospital is a great idea too. Maybe I could do something...like Cafe Press shirts and stuff supporting it? Making flyers, ect. But Lisa&Harry are right, we do need some legal help, ect. Also....I call being Petition Girl! I will relive the fame! *Mwahahaha!* Just kidding lol. But I will get started on a petition and maybe someone can round up local businesses to support us??? Laters~Elyse

Oh, I'm so in!! I have no businees skills but I'd certainly help those sweet furbabies!!! Can't help on the financial end.... we've only got $600,000 sitting around. (kidding)

This is a great idea! Unfortunately I can't offer any practical business advise, but I would definitely volunteer here and offer my services (if I make it out of school alive- ha). I do make some good cookies and breads if we are going bake sales and I've had lots of practice at school....

By the way who is Mari Hulman George?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mari_Hulman_George

She is chairman of the IMS, and huge contributor to many animal related "causes", one being the Search and Rescue Academy at camp Atterbury, run by the Indiana Department of Homeland Security. She (and her family) are pretty well known around Indy. :)

Writing letters to the board is a great start -- lots of us are doing that (or our moms and dads are -- my paws are too big to fit the keyboard. Although my kitty brother turns Mom's computer on all the time...!) You can find a list of the HSI board members on HSI's web site, and most of their email addresses can be found at http://www.movetoact.org/media/hsi_bod.pdf. Someone has posted a sample letter on IndyPaws too -- look for "Open Letter to HSI". I'm so excited to see how MANY people care about this!

I'm so excited at the response here...I knew you guys had your hearts in the right place :)
Perhaps Warren Patitz at movetoact.org and doggoneconnection.com would be a good consultant. I'd certainly be willing to lend my business knowledge and marketing skills!
Mama M, who is your IGPR person who wanted to buy the old hospital?