Two animals rescued from local shelter will save others’ lives

Defying statistics, becoming ambassadors

Elizabeth Gist

Waylon, a docile pit bull, and Lexi, a sweet “girly” cat, were given a second chance at life when Indiana-Paw (Proactive Animal Welfare, Inc.) rescued them from the Rushville Animal Shelter. Both were hours away from being euthanized.

Waylon was a shy dog who suffered so many years of neglect that his teeth and hair were falling out. His owner of six years was disinterested in retrieving him and willing to allow him to be put to sleep.

Lexi was orphaned and found huddled on the engine of a car in a junk yard.

The Rushville Animal Shelter was faced with more and more animals arriving daily, and left with the task of scheduling both for euthanasia due to declining space and lack of prospective adopters. But luckily for both, and several other Rushville animals, Indiana-PAW partnered with the shelter to send them to be vetted and placed into PAW foster homes, and eventually to their forever homes. Now, both Waylon and Lexi will be used to change other homeless animals’ lives.

Lexi and Waylon were named the 2008 Indiana-PAW official canine and feline ambassadors. They will appear across the state, from Valporaiso to Evansville and all points in between, for community events and educational programs to shine a spotlight on how Hoosiers can end the tragedy of pet overpopulation.

Indiana-PAW volunteers will talk with citizens about the importance of spaying/neutering, adoption rather than purchasing, and finding alternatives to giving up pets during difficult times.

“We believe having Waylon and Lexi on-hand will add great value to our programming,” Carolyn Valachovic-Monroe, Indiana-PAW’s Education Coordinator (and Lexi’s adoptive mom), said. “It will drive home the fact that citizens’ decisions affect whether animals live or die, and now we can all make decisions that will one day make Indiana a place where no animal has to die due to a lack of a home.”

Indianapolis residents Gretchen and Jon, who adopted Waylon, say that they are proud that he will serve as Indiana-PAW’s ambassador.

“We’ve seen every day for more than 8 months the love and joy Waylon adds to our lives, and if one person who meets him at an Indiana-PAW event is inspired by his story to adopt an animal, to spay/neuter their pet, or to support local shelters, then we’ll be thrilled!” Gretchen said.

Amy Van Ostrand, Esq., Indiana-PAW’s founder and executive director, selected Waylon and Lexi to be pulled from the Rushville Shelter.

“Waylon and Lexi are wonderful reminders of how people fail animals, but also how people can make a change and do right by them. We hope having them with us in the community will help remind citizens that it is possible to ‘begin the world over again’ and that we can do that for animals here in Indiana.”

Van Ostrand also says Indiana-PAW’s Board of Directors selected Waylon as the agency’s ambassador, in part, to give special positive attention to bully breeds, who are one of the most at-risk groups of animals in the state. Van Ostrand says Waylon has completed an in-depth obedience course, was professionally evaluated by a trainer who specializes in pit bull socialization, and has been deemed to be an appropriate and safe ambassador for Indiana-PAW.

To learn more about Waylon and Lexi, to see upcoming appearances, and to view a “Waylon and Lexi Kids’ Corner” page at the Indiana-PAW Web site, visit www.indiana-paw.com.

Contact information is also on that page if you'd like Indiana-PAW to put on an educational program (and bring Waylon or Lexi) at your school, business or community event.



Elizabeth Gist can be contacted at elizabeth.gist@rushvillerepublican.com or at (765) 932-3111 ext. 109. Add a comment to this story at www.rushvillerepublican.com.

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