Friends of Columbus, Indiana Animal Care Services website

Columbus, Indiana

Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services - benefiting the animals and community of Columbus, Indiana in alliance with Columbus Animal Care Services

General Donations >

What we do >

What you can do >

Columbus Animal Care Services Capital Campaign banner - building a better future for our animals

Please consider making a donation to our Capital Campaign to build a new shelter.

Capital Campaign >

Penny, adopted Aug. '25

Schmidt, adopted Aug. '25

What we do

Our organization's mission is to "benefit the animals and community of Columbus, Indiana in alliance with Columbus Animal Care Services." We are the not-for-profit fund-raising arm of Columbus Animal Care Services.Programs include The Adoption Medical Fund, Furry Friends Food Bank, Friends' PetFix, and Kitty Caravan. Fundraising includes Moonlight Loop bike ride, CATalina, Mardi Growl, direct mailings, and grant applications.Most programs are “alternatives to intake” at the shelter - to ensure the always crowded shelter is available for animals most in need.

programs

Adoption Medical Fund

The medical fund helps to offset the cost of providing spay/neuter procedures, vaccinations, micro-chipping, and exams for the adoptable animals at the shelter, helping us keep adoption fees low.

In 2024, Friends provided $120,00 to be used towards vet expenses!

Medical Fund >

Petfix : a low-cost spay and neuter service

For the owners of cats and dogs residing in Bartholomew County, our PetFix program transports those animals to clinics which provide high-quality, low-cost spay/neuter services to domestic and feral cats and dogs.

In 2024, PetFix volunteers transported and serviced more than 700 pets and drove over 12,000 miles!

Petfix info >

Furry Friends Food Bank

Furry Friends helps the local community keep their pets in their home with food assistance and was created as an “alternative to intake” at the shelter.

In 2024, Furry Friends gave away more than 60,000 pounds of pet food!

Furry Friends >

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Events

Moonlight Loop Bike Ride

A 19-mile ride that starts downtown and winds through the north side of Columbus, at night, after dark - you need to experience this one for yourself!Volunteers are needed to assist with this event. Interested? Email us at [email protected]

In 2024, the Moonlight Loop raised over $8,000!

Ride info >

Catalina wine mixer

The CATalina experience includes complimentary food, wine, spirits, craft beer, a live and silent auction, and a 50/50 cash raffle. Get ready to dance the night away with your friends for a great cause!Volunteers are needed to assist with this event. Interested? Email us at [email protected]

In 2023, the CATalina Wine Mixer event raised $240,000!!

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Learn more about us

FRIENDS BOARD MEMBERS
Nicohl Birdwell-Goodin, CACS Director
Wendy Elwood
Doug Evans, Board President
Colleen Herrick
Sandra McNulty
Christina Merritt, Board Treasurer
Karen Nissen

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

View Tax Form 990

POLICIES

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You can do a lot!

Donate

The needs are many and your donations make a powerful impact in the care we can provide our furry friends.

Donate now >

Volunteer your time

We love our volunteers! Here are just a few of the things that you could help with at the shelter:

Take a pet for a walk
Have ‘play time’ with a pet
Help feed the pets
Help maintain the kennels
Help with laundry

Please complete a volunteer application and a team member will be in touch to discuss opportunities with you!

volunteer >

We also need volunteers who can help with events that raise awareness or are fundraisers. Could you help out every now and then?

email us to volunteer >

Take home a new forever friend

Adopting from an animal shelter is a “win-win” proposition for all involved. Saving the life of a dog or cat is truly a noble cause, and we thank you, the animals thank you. And you will be rewarded with unconditional love from your new companion.It is not every day that you get to be a HERO!

Adopt >

Be a pet foster

You can make the world a better place by taking home a foster pet from our local shelter and fostering a pet can be hugely rewarding.Fostering is so important because Fostering creates more space in the shelter for other animals in need. A foster home is a safe, healthy environment for animals needing to heal, grow, or get some extra TLC.

And, fostering is great because your life becomes more full and more interesting when you welcome a fun-loving and grateful companion into your home! You literally can save lives - time and space in a loving home greatly increases the odds of adoption.

Foster >

We regularly post on social media to keep the community informed of all that's going on at Animal Care Services, and ways the community can step up and help the furry friends, so please join us on...

Be a Promoter!

Spread the word among your family, friends, and work friends about the opportunities above, and - thanks!

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HERE WE GROW!

If you would like to pledge online, click on "Campaign Pledge" below...

Campaign Pledge >

If you would like to donate online using a debit or credit card, please click on “Campaign Donations” below...If you would like to donate by check, please make it out to “FRIENDS OF ANIMAL CARE SERVICES,” with “Capital Campaign” in the “Memo,” then mail check to Columbus Animal Care Services, 2730 Arnold Street, Columbus, IN 47203If you would like to donate any other way (eg, cash, wire transfer, stock donation), please either call 812-376-2505 or email [email protected] to work thru the transaction.