Huntington County Humane Society

10/12/2026

🚨 URGENT: BARN HOME(S) NEEDED! 🚨

We have three cats who desperately need working-cat homes. These aren’t your snuggle-on-the-couch, curl-up-in-your-lap kind of cats. They are not able to be handled, and frankly, they’d much rather have a job patrolling a barn than spend another day in a shelter kennel.

All three are scheduled to be spayed/neutered this Thursday, and we need safe places lined up for them.

Right now, they’re sharing a kennel because we simply don’t have anywhere else to put them. It’s not ideal for them, and it’s not sustainable for us.

And here’s where things get even more complicated.

We’re currently dealing with a dog situation that’s demanding an enormous amount of our team’s time, resources, and attention. We’ll share more about that situation when we can, but for now, we’re asking our community to help us make room wherever possible.

These three cats need out. And we need your help making that happen.

🏡 Have a barn, stable, shop, greenhouse, or other safe outbuilding where a working cat could thrive?

🐈 Willing to provide food, water, shelter, and a secure acclimation period while they learn that their new home is home?

Please message us if you can help. Even if you can’t take one yourself, sharing this post could put it in front of exactly the right person.

10/12/2026

🌸 Her name is Flower and she just wants someone to hold her. 🥹

Meet Flower, a 2-year-old bulldog mix with the face of a bouncer, the body of a baked potato, and absolutely ZERO interest in being intimidating. She’s a sensitive little soul in a tough-girl costume, and we’re completely smitten with her. 🥹

When she first arrived, she was so overwhelmed that she’d lie in her bed trembling. Even a gentle hand reaching toward her could make her flinch.

But here’s the beautiful thing about Flower. Even when she’s scared, she still wants to love you.

She’ll inch closer, give a tiny tail wag, and eventually work up the courage to climb right into your personal space. Not necessarily for kisses, either. Sometimes she just wants to put her face inches from yours and stare deeply into your soul. 🩷😍

And now that she’s had a little time to settle in, we’re seeing what an absolute GEM she is.

🌸 She’s laid-back and wonderfully mellow.
🌸 She keeps her kennel tidy. A lady with standards!
🌸 She walks beautifully on a leash.
🌸 She’s not particularly interested in toys. She’s more of a treats-and-hugs kind of gal.
🌸 She hasn’t shown much interest in interacting with other dogs, though we haven’t established whether she’d enjoy living with one.
🌸 She’s affectionate, gentle, and seems happiest when she can just be close to her people.

Flower isn’t looking for a three-ring circus. She’s looking for a soft place to land. Someone who will let her build confidence at her own pace, celebrate her little victories, and show her that hands are for loving, not fearing.

And we’d really, really like to find that person.

Flower gets spayed TOMORROW, and we’re hoping to have a family waiting in the wings when she’s ready to go home.

We have a feeling you’ll understand exactly why we’ve fallen for her. Some flowers just need a little sunshine and a safe place to bloom. 🌸❤️

www.huntingtonhumane.org/adopt

10/11/2026

🎤 WELCOME TO OUR TED TALK.

Because apparently, it’s time we had this conversation. Again.

🤔💭 Imagine this … someone picks you up, drops you off in a foreign country, and leaves.
You don’t speak the language. You don’t know a single person. You have no idea where you are, where you’re supposed to go, or what’s going to happen next.

Then, a family of complete strangers picks you up and takes you to their home.
You don’t know them. You just met. They seem nice but you still have no idea what’s going on.

Then, the second you walk through the door, they introduce you to every person living in the house. Then their friends come over. And the neighbors. And the cousins. Everybody wants to touch you, kiss you, hug you, get in your face, and tell you how excited they are that you’re there.

Oh, and tomorrow? You’re going to a party! Lots of strangers, unfamiliar faces, loud noises, and absolutely no idea what’s expected of you.

ARE YOU HAVING FUN YET?

Or are you anxious? Overwhelmed? Exhausted? Uncomfortable? Maybe a little defensive because you still have absolutely no idea what’s going on?

Would you be acting like your normal, happy, well-adjusted self?

Probably not. SO WHY ON EARTH DO WE EXPECT OUR NEWLY ADOPTED PETS TO?

❌ Your new dog/cat does not need to meet every animal in your household within 30 seconds of walking through the door.

❌ They do not need to attend the neighborhood cookout, the pet parade, or Sunday dinner with 17 relatives.

❌ They do not need to be bum-rushed by every friend, neighbor, child, and distant cousin who wants to meet the new furry friend.

✅ THEY. NEED. TO. DECOMPRESS.

They just came from a shelter. A place where dogs bark constantly, strangers come and go, stress levels are high, routines are unpredictable, and restful sleep can be hard to come by.

They’ve lost everything familiar to them. And now, even though you’ve given them something wonderful, THEY DON’T KNOW THAT YET.

They don’t know you’re their forever family.
They don’t know your intentions are good.
They don’t know that the other dog just wants to play or the resident cat just wants to sniff.

They don’t understand English. They cannot rationalize what’s happening or reassure themselves that everything will be okay.

All they know is that their entire world has changed. Again.

Maybe they want to sleep for three days. Maybe they’re nervous. Maybe they’re clingy. Maybe they’re withdrawn. Maybe they’re overstimulated and reacting in ways they normally wouldn’t.

⚠️ GIVE. THEM. SOME. GRACE. PLEASE. ⚠️

When we tell you to allow time for decompression, introduce resident animals slowly, supervise interactions, establish a routine, and avoid overwhelming your new pet, WE ARE NOT SAYING IT BECAUSE WE ENJOY HEARING OURSELVES TALK.

We’re saying it because it matters.

➡️ Because rushed introductions can create conflict that could have been avoided.

➡️ Because overwhelming an already stressed animal can lead to fear, defensive behavior, and setbacks.

➡️Because the dog/cat you bring home on day one may look very different from the dog/cat you get to know after several weeks of them feeling safe.

And because we are absolutely exhausted and disappointed by animals being returned for situations that could have been prevented with a little patience and common sense.

Your new pet is not a party favor. Not a social accessory. Not a toy for your children. And certainly not a mind reader.

They are a living, breathing creature with emotions, fears, needs, and LIMITS.

They deserve the opportunity to adjust before being expected to fit perfectly into your life.

And no, decompression isn’t a magical three-day or three-week deadline. Some animals adjust quickly. Others need significantly longer. You need to pay attention to the animal in front of you.

PLEASE stop expecting more emotional regulation, adaptability, and patience from an animal than you would expect from yourself.

If your expectation is that a newly adopted pet should immediately love everyone, tolerate everything, get along with every animal, and behave perfectly from the moment you bring them home, please reconsider whether you’re ready to adopt.

Because when those unrealistic expectations aren’t met, it’s the animal who pays the price.

They lose their home. Again.
They come back to the shelter. Again.
And we get to watch an animal who barely had a chance to settle in start all over.

We want your adoption to last. We want your pet to succeed. We want you to build a relationship that lasts a lifetime. That’s why we give you guidance. That’s why we talk about decompression. That’s why we insist on slow, thoughtful introductions.

Not to inconvenience you. To set you AND your pet up for success.

So please, for the love of all things furry, LISTEN.

Give them quiet. Give them structure. Give them space. Give them patience. Give them time to learn that they’re finally safe.

The welcome-home party can wait. Their well-being shouldn’t have to.

🎤 Thank you for coming to our TED Talk.

Sincerely,
The very tired humans at Huntington Humane 🐾

10/11/2026

💔 Yesterday was Lilly’s 7th birthday. And she spent it in a shelter.

But something happened yesterday that we can’t stop thinking about.
You see, Lilly has been breaking our hearts a little more every day.

She’s a 45-pound shepherd mix. Nothing particularly flashy about her. She’s not a puppy. She’s not the dog jumping at the kennel door begging you to notice her.

In fact, most days, Lilly just sleeps.

She doesn’t make a fuss. Doesn’t demand attention. She just quietly exists in her kennel, and we’ve wondered if this sweet girl has simply given up on expecting anything more.

And then she met one of our (9-year-old) junior volunteers. And HOLY COW. 🥹

The dog we’d watched quietly sleep her days away suddenly came to LIFE.

She was play bowing. Chasing a Frisbee and proudly bringing it back. Dropping it on command. Her little nub tail was going a million miles an hour.

And when her little friend stopped playing? Lilly WHINED for her to keep going.

There she was. The real Lilly.

Not the quiet, withdrawn dog we’ve been watching in her kennel. But a happy, silly, playful girl who apparently just needed someone to give her a reason to be excited again.

And we’re sitting here wondering how many more days she’s going to spend sleeping through life when THIS is the dog she could be in a home.

Lilly is gentle. She’s incredibly sweet. She listens beautifully. She’s perfectly content with a cozy bed and some butt scratches. She’s shown friendly interest in other dogs, and after watching her absolutely adore the children she’s met, we’d LOVE to find her a family with kids who want a four-legged best friend.

She’s seven. Not seventeen.

She still has so much life to live. So many Frisbees to chase. So many birthdays that deserve to be celebrated with a family.

Please don’t scroll past Lilly because she’s not the cutest puppy on your feed.

Because somewhere inside that unassuming little shepherd mix is a dog who is absolutely bursting with love and happiness. We saw it yesterday.

And we’d give just about anything to see it every single day.

Lilly got a little taste of happiness for her birthday. Now let’s find her a lifetime of it. 🐾

10/10/2026

What a day at Mutts, Meows & Musicians! 🎶🐶🐱

Thanks to an incredible community, 8 puppies and 2 kittens found their forever homes today! 🥹❤️

A HUGE thank you to The Shops at The Sanctuary for hosting such a wonderful event! And to everyone who came out, donated items for our silent auction, placed bids, shared some love with our animals, or simply stopped by to support us, we appreciate you more than you know!

To the talented musicians who kept the good vibes going and the food truck vendors who kept everyone fed, THANK YOU for being part of such a special day!

It was a GREAT day for our little shelter, and we couldn’t have done it without all of you! ❤️

Now, before we wrap up the happy endings… we have THREE little gentlemen who would like a word. 👀

Our three adorable Aussie/Lab mix boys watched their friends get picked today, and they’re still waiting for someone to fall head over heels for them! They’re sweet, playful, ridiculously cute, and ready to become somebody’s new best friend.

🐾 Come meet them TOMORROW (Sunday) from 12–4 PM! 🥹

10/10/2026

10/09/2026

Cattle dog by breed. Trophy wife by choice. 💅🐄

Meet Flossy, our 6-month-old cattle dog who apparently missed the entire orientation on what cattle dogs are supposed to do.

Herd livestock? Sounds exhausting.
Work for a living? Absolutely not. Have you SEEN how pretty she is?

Flossy is less flock supervisor and more pillow princess. She’s not interested in managing the herd. She’s interested in managing your couch, your attention, and preferably your disposable income. 💁‍♀️

Here’s what we’ve learned about her:

🐾 Other dogs? Loves them! She’s sweet, playful, and enjoys having friends.

🚗 Car rides? Passenger princess PROFESSIONAL. She rides beautifully and would be delighted to accompany you on a Starbucks run. One pup cup, please. Make it a venti.

👋 Strangers? What strangers? Flossy operates under the assumption that everyone is already her best friend (or personal servant?)

🐈 Cats? No reactions to the ones she’s encountered, although we haven’t formally tested her with cats.

🐄 Herding instincts? Currently out of office. No crouching, no heel nipping, no attempts to organize everyone into a neat little group. Could those instincts emerge as she matures? Absolutely. But right now, the only thing she’s interested in rounding up is compliments.

🧠 Brains? Oh, she’s got them! She’s smart and beginning to learn her commands. She’s also still very much a puppy, so consistency, training, and continued socialization are important.

Now, before anyone gets too excited about a cattle dog who seemingly has no interest in cattle dog activities, remember she’s only six months old. Her personality and instincts are still developing. She’ll need a family willing to provide exercise, enrichment, structure, and all the things that help a clever young dog thrive.

But for now?

Flossy’s five-year plan includes finding a wealthy benefactor (that’s you), securing a comfortable couch, becoming a regular at the pup cup drive-thru, and contributing absolutely nothing to the agricultural economy.

She’s beauty. She’s grace. She’s currently unemployed and looking for someone to fund her lifestyle. 💕🐾

10/09/2026

Built like a linebacker. Emotionally like a marshmallow. 🥹😂

Meet Andre, our approximately 6-year-old, oversized, beefcake of a baby who has absolutely NO idea that he looks like he should be bouncing nightclub troublemakers out the door.
Instead, he’s probably the biggest wimp currently residing at Huntington Humane. And we are OBSESSED with him. 🥹🖤

He’s a gentle giant in every sense of the word. Calm, sweet, ridiculously soft when taking treats, and never one to get rowdy. He knows absolutely zero strangers and approaches everyone like they’re an old friend.

But let’s discuss his many hardships in life.

💅 Nail trims: A level 1,000 theatrical production. The screaming. The betrayal. The absolute HORROR of someone merely touching the clippers. You’d think we were removing a limb. Sir, we haven’t even clipped anything yet. 🤣

🦮 Leashes: Absolutely not. The second he sees one, he pancakes himself to the ground. Four legs? Suddenly nonexistent. Walking? Never heard of her. Guess you’re carrying 80-something pounds of emotionally compromised beefcake now.

🕳️ Landscaping: He’s taken it upon himself to excavate little holes in our pebbles so he can nestle his big b***y into a nice, cool spot. A man who appreciates comfort. We respect it.

🐕 Other dogs: He’s wonderful! No roughhousing or WWE wrestling matches for this gentleman. Just sweet little play bows, a few bursts of chase, and then he’s ready to return to his regularly scheduled lounging.

❤️ People: Loves them. All of them. We suspect he’d do beautifully with respectful kids, too. He’s also shown no reaction to cats he’s encountered, although we don’t conduct formal dog-cat testing in the shelter, so slow introductions would still be important.

This big, beefy, blockheaded sweetheart is quickly becoming one of our shelter favorites. Not because he’s particularly brave, athletic, or sophisticated.

Quite the opposite, actually.

He’s just a wonderfully derpy, ridiculously lovable, gentle soul trapped inside the body of a dog who looks like he should be bench-pressing 300 pounds.

He doesn’t need someone to toughen him up. He needs someone who appreciates a big, softhearted goofball, doesn’t mind a little dramatic flair, and understands that sometimes a grown man simply cannot be expected to walk when a leash appears.

Come meet this magnificent mountain of marshmallow. We have a feeling he’s going to make someone VERY happy. 🖤

10/08/2026

🎭 Let's talk about the HAUNTington Humane Masquerade!
You have questions. What do I wear? Is there food? Are drinks included? Do I need a mask? Is this fancy-fancy or just regular fancy?

So, we made you a cheat sheet. You're welcome. 💅

Here's the short version:
🍷 TWO drink tickets and six complimentary w**e tastings? Yep.
🍕 Flatbread pizzas, charcuterie spreads, and a popcorn bar? Absolutely.
🔥 Fire dancing, magic, tarot readings, games, and a silent auction? Oh, we're bringing the entertainment.
👗 Dress code? Look nice. Feel good. This isn't the Met Gala, nor a pajama party.
🐾 Helping animals AND getting the first look at something HUGE coming to Huntington Humane in 2027? Now you're catching on.

Friday, October 30 | 6–9 PM | Two-EE's Winery

And now that we've cleared up the mysteries, there's just one question left:

WHY HAVEN'T YOU BOUGHT YOUR TICKETS YET?! 👀

Seriously, friends. We're putting together one incredible evening, and we'd love to see a room full of people who believe in what we do.

🎟️ Get those tickets NOW! Don't make us send a carrier pigeon. We're an animal shelter. We WILL find one.😉🤣

https://secure.qgiv.com/for/huntingtoncountyhumanesociety/event/hauntingtonhumanemasquerade/

10/08/2026

**ADOPTED**

🚨You thought bringing NINE adorable little potatoes to The Shops at The Sanctuary this Saturday was enough? WRONG. 😂

Meet BUZZ & BULLSEYE! 🎯💛

These two 4-month-old American Bulldog/Boxer mix brothers are joining the puppy party, and LOOK AT THOSE FACES. 😭

Their foster family has been keeping tabs on their shenanigans, and here’s what we’ve learned:

🥊 They’ve mastered the Boxer lean. Personal space? Never heard of her.

🦢 They spotted a swan and considered joining it in the pond. Nobody’s told them they’re not waterfowl but they seem to be curious about learning to swim!

🐶 They LOVE other dogs, snuggles, belly rubs, and following their humans absolutely everywhere. There’s no stranger danger in these two!

🚽 They’re doing fantastic with potty training and already learning to ask to go outside!

🍪 Buzz knows how to sit until he sees a treat and forgets everything. Bullseye sits when he feels like it. Work in progress 😂

Bottom line: They are TWO ridiculously sweet, snuggly, goofy boys looking for their forever people!

🐾 Both males | 4 months old
🐾 American Bulldog/Boxer mixes
💰 $200 adoption fee each

📍 Shops at the Sanctuary — Columbia City
📅 THIS SATURDAY, OCTOBER 10
⏰ Starting at NOON!

Get those adoption applications submitted NOW!
Www.huntingtonhumane.org/adopt

And go ahead, tag someone who needs one of these little faces staring at them every morning. 💛