Adoption campaign kicks off with a bark

With a smile on her face, Journey rolled over and enjoyed the belly rub given by Bloomington Mayor Mark Kruzan Monday evening at Tutto Bene Cafe and Wine Bar.\nJourney, an animal ambassador for the Monroe County Humane Association, wasn’t the only dog present at the “Bark and Wine” news conference that kicked off the Adopt Today campaign for the city of Bloomington Animal Shelter. \nAttendees enjoyed wine and were joined by dogs and cats from the Bloomington Animal Shelter. \nIn 2006, the animal shelter reported 5,255 incoming animals, but of those, only 54 percent were adopted, forcing more than 42 percent to be euthanized. \nThis educational awareness campaign focuses on increasing adoptions, reducing euthanasia of healthy, adoptable pets, along with enhancing the importance of spaying and neutering to help the Bloomington community curb the pet overpopulation crisis.\nKruzan also ensured that Tutto Bene worked with the health department to ensure the animals in the back were safe to be present.\n“We’re announcing it now because it is February and it is ‘be compassionate’ month,” Kruzan said.\nAs a dog owner himself, Kruzan spoke of his beloved Stormy and Echo, saying they changed his life for the better. \n“A pet owner knows that pets do so much that we can ever do to repay them,” he said. “Help adopt our animals.”\nKruzan said the human pet connection is meaningful and helps can help people relax, exercise and lower blood pressure.\nAppearing on Bloomington Transit buses and other places throughout the year, there will be posters advertising the event. Familiar faces, such as IU’s men’s basketball coach Kelvin Sampson and IU President Adam Herbert will be present on posters throughout the campaign with their respective pets.\n“The campaign short-term encourages the increase of adoption, but long-term it also encourages spaying and neutering,” Kruzan said.\nBloomington Animal Shelter Director Laurie Ringquist spoke as well, saying this is the first community wide effort to help the shelter. \nRingquist said she hopes this year, adoption will increase by a minimum of 10 percent, about 200 more animals than usual.\n“It’s ambitious but we can achieve it with the help of you,” Ringquist said. “There are great animals available.”\nMaria Heslin, Bloomington Communications director, said she didn’t know how many people to expect, but at the 5:30 p.m, start of the event, people were still pushing through the door to an already packed Tutto Bene dining room.\nIn addition to Ringquist and Kruzan, Monroe County Superintendent Jim Harvey spoke, telling of his personal experience with his adopted pets.\n“(My wife) isn’t my only nighttime companion anymore,” Harvey said, saying since he adopted his dog, she has slept by his bedside with him. \nPeople walked around the event enjoying wine and admiring the animals present at the event, including a dog named Mindy, who wagged her tail in affection as the people passing stopped to pet her. \n“I’m not just saying this as a mayor, but I am the proud papa of two pups,” Kruzan said. “I am proud to launch the campaign.”