Moving day: Humane Fort Wayne transports dogs, cats to new location

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) – The animals of Humane Fort Wayne are in for a road trip on Monday as they take the journey across town to the shelter’s new location.

Staff plans to have crew of volunteers arrive at Hanna Street and load up the animals in their crates and cage banks located in shelter vans vans. Fort Wayne Police Department then escorts the vans and cars with the animals through the trip to Leesburg Road. The dogs and cats are then offloaded after the 20 minute ride, one or two at a time, and welcomed into their designated spaces.

Although moving can be stressful for animals, the shelter is taking steps to make pets more comfortable with the transition. Melissa Gibson is the community relations manager for Humane Fort Wayne. Gibson said any animal that needs extra care will receive a sedative medication to calm them for the journey. She also said calming pheromones for cats wafts through the new facility throughout the move.

Furthermore, Gibson said closing shelter operations between Aug. 25 and Sept. 3 gives the new tenants time to adjust to their surroundings.

“We want to give everyone a chance to decompress,” Gibson said. ” … [To] get familiar with their new habitat, figure out their new routine, before we bring the public in and stat letting them meet strangers again.”

Gibson said she knows moving is stressful for every pet and person involved, but she said she is confident Humane Fort Wayne animals will be ready to meet their fur-ever families in September.

“Lots of treats, lots of pets are going to help [the animals] adjust quickly.”

The address to Humane Fort Wayne’s new location is 901 Leesburg Rd. For more information on the new facility, check out WANE 15’s article .

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