A Message from CEO of Humane Indiana, Brian Fitzpatrick
monday, August 17, 2026
Dear Friends of Humane Indiana,
I don't know if there are adequate words to describe the devastation our region has experienced over the past week.
On Tuesday, August 11, after sheltering in place with volunteers and staff at the shelter, I found myself standing in the rain on 45th Street in Munster alongside a dedicated team member, in nearly two feet of rising water, trying to unplug street drains and keep the water from flooding our shelter and roadway. What followed has been a heartbreaking reminder of just how quickly a storm can change everything.
Today, our Shelter & Adoption Center, Estelle Marcus Animal Clinic, and PAWS Resale Shop remain without power. Our Wildlife Rehabilitation & Education Center has power, but our wildlife team has been working around the clock to care for hundreds of animals impacted by the storm and the dangerous conditions that followed.
And while our teams and amazing volunteers continue to show up every day (with headlamps on) for the animals and people who depend on us, the challenges are enormous as many of them are also dealing with storm fallout too.
Our clinic cannot perform procedures without power. Our Resale Shop cannot open. These are two of the revenue-generating operations that help fund the lifesaving work of Humane Indiana every day, and both are currently unable to operate.
We also must reschedule our Clear the Shelters adoption event, and the status of Pints in the Park this weekend remains unknown - two additional events that would have generated critical revenue for our organization.
But the need hasn't stopped.
Animals still need care. Sheltered pets still need clean bedding and towels. Our teams need help keeping up with laundry and daily care. Families in our community are struggling, too. People who have been unable to work and remain without power are turning to our Pet Food Pantry because they need help feeding their animals.
This is what Humane Indiana does: We show up when animals and people need us most.
And right now, we need our community to show up for Humane Indiana.
If you are able, there are several ways you can help:
Make a donation. Your gift will help us continue providing food, shelter, care and critical services while our facilities and revenue-generating operations are offline.
Donate clean blankets and towels. Our shelter and wildlife teams go through enormous quantities of laundry every day, and these basic supplies are essential to caring for the animals in our care.
Help with laundry. If you are able to help wash and dry blankets and towels, please watch for information from our team about how you can assist.
Support our Pet Food Pantry. Community members are facing extraordinary circumstances right now, and keeping pets fed can be one less thing for families to worry about.
Most importantly, please remember that every dollar, every donated towel, every load of laundry, every bag of pet food and every act of kindness adds up.
We don't yet know how long it will take to fully recover. But I do know this: Humane Indiana will continue to be here.
We will care for the animals who have nowhere else to go. We will help families keep their pets. We will continue answering the call when injured and orphaned wildlife needs us. And we will rebuild, repair and recover together.
Thank you to the staff and volunteers who have continued to come to work under extraordinary circumstances. And thank you to every member of this community who has reached out, donated, offered help or simply asked, "What can I do?"
Right now, our answer is simple:
Please stand with Humane Indiana. We need you.
With gratitude,
Brian Fitzpatrick
Chief Executive Officer
Humane Indiana