Statement as issued Thursday by HOPE for Animals:

FORT WAYNE, INDIANA – HOPE for Animals has opened its facility to pets affected by the current power outage in Fort Wayne. All pets are welcome and there is no charge for this temporary emergency service. “We see this as an extension of our service to the community” said Madeleine Laird, Executive Director. The HOPE Spay/Neuter & Wellness Clinic, located at 1333 Maycrest Drive, is a nonprofit animal welfare organization dedicated to elimination euthanasia of healthy adoptable pets through education, low cost services and rescue. This is normally our summer shut down week,” said “but we felt that the best use of our time and resources would be to try to help out during this crisis. We know that many people suffering from the power outage and the unusual, heat have pets and are reluctant to accept the help of friends or public shelters if they can’t bring their animals too. By providing a safe air conditioned place for the pets, we hope they will feel more comfortable seeking relief for themselves as well.”

The clinic will be open from 10 am – 6 pm Thursday and Friday and from 10 am to 4pm on Saturday (if needed) to receive and discharge pets and to allow pet owners to visit with the pets they have brought in. Currently they are housing about 15 pets, but have capacity for about 50. Pets can stay until Saturday at 4 pm. If power is not restored by then, HOPE management will reconsider the situation. “We have to reopen for surgery on Monday, so room might be a problem after that, but we will deal with that if it becomes necessary” Laird said.

HOPE has set up a special emergency line for this purpose only at 260-632-SPAY (7729). HOPE asks that people use this number and not the emergency number given in the main numbers recording, as that number is for surgery related emergencies only.