Humane Society of Indianapolis
Founded in 1905, one of the oldest humane societies in the Midwest, operating a comprehensive adoption and community programs network out of Michigan Road in northwest Indianapolis.
The Humane Society of Indianapolis — operating as IndyHumane — was founded in 1905, making it one of the oldest humane societies in the Midwest and one of the older institutions of any kind in Indianapolis. The organization has been at its Michigan Road campus in northwest Indianapolis for decades, with the facility expanded multiple times.
It is independent — not affiliated with Indianapolis Animal Care Services (the municipal shelter) or with the Humane Society of the United States. IndyHumane is an Indianapolis-funded nonprofit with its own board and operational decisions.
How they work
IndyHumane adoptions begin online or in person at the Michigan Road campus. The application is short, the interview is conversational, and meet-and-greets happen for animals that look like a fit.
Adoption fees vary by animal and time of year. Fees include spay or neuter, age-appropriate vaccinations, microchipping, and a starter pack.
The shelter operates as no-kill in current practice. Animals are not euthanized for space, time, or treatable conditions.
Beyond standard adoptions, the organization runs:
- A spay and neuter clinic at the Michigan Road campus, providing high-volume low-cost services across central Indiana.
- Pet retention programs including the Pet Help Line — surrender prevention, behavior consultation, and resource referral.
- Foster networks handling puppies, kittens, post-surgery recoveries, and seniors.
- Behavior and training programs for dogs requiring rehabilitation, including public dog training classes.
- Humane education programs in Indianapolis-area schools.
- Pet food assistance for households at risk of surrender.
The Indianapolis context
Indianapolis's animal welfare landscape involves multiple organizations working in coordination — IndyHumane, Indianapolis Animal Care Services (the municipal shelter), and a network of breed-specific rescues. The Humane Society of Indianapolis has been one of the central pieces of that coordination for over a century.
The organization's transfer pipeline with Indianapolis Animal Care Services has been part of the city's increasingly successful effort to maintain higher live release rates than were possible a decade ago. The combined effect of the city's various rescue organizations has been one of the more notable American shelter-policy improvements of the 2010s.
The Michigan Road campus has, over its many years, become a fixture of northwest Indianapolis. The volunteer dog-walker rotation passes through the surrounding neighborhoods.
You can support IndyHumane in the standard ways:
- Adopt from the Michigan Road campus.
- Foster — the foster network is one of the largest in central Indiana.
- Volunteer — dog walking, cat socializing, medical clinic support, event work.
- Donate — IndyHumane publishes detailed financials annually.
Field & Era at IndyHumane
The Michigan Road coordinates appear in Companion Edition orders shipped throughout the Indianapolis metro and across central Indiana. If you adopted from the Humane Society of Indianapolis and want the address set on archival paper, see the Companion Edition. 10% of every Companion order supports a rescue partner.
Last verified May 29, 2026. Facts about hours, intake policies, and adoption fees can change. Confirm with Humane Society of Indianapolis directly before visiting.