The doors had been open for only two hours when 48 dogs arrived. Human Indiana, forced to evacuate amid storms and power outages, had barely resumed operations in Munster on Wednesday before another storm emergency reached its kennels.
The dogs had been living in a trailer in northwest Indiana in what was described as a hoarding situation. During the strong storms that struck the region last week, a tree fell onto the home. The dogs were rescued afterward and taken to the shelter.
By Thursday, all 48 were reported safe. Human Indiana was searching for new homes for the entire group while asking the public for adopters, donations and help from a bather. No individual details including the dogs’ ages, breeds, health findings or availability were provided, and there was no subsequent placement count confirming how many remained at the shelter.
That leaves the central task unfinished: finding suitable homes for dozens of dogs while the organization is still emerging from its own weather-related disruption.
Why a large intake demands more than kennel space
Taking in many animals at once can put pressure on nearly every part of shelter operations, from housing and laundry to medical assessment and behavior support. The ASPCA’s guidance for large animal intakes says these cases may involve specialized medical and behavioral needs, increasing the work required because of both the number of animals and the complexity of their care.
That guidance also stresses triage, beginning with urgent medical concerns and allowing more fearful animals time to settle. Animals arriving from hoarding environments can be fearful, so reducing repeated handling may support behavioral progress. Foster homes can also ease the workload on shelter staff while giving animals quieter surroundings and more individualized monitoring.
Those are general shelter-medicine principles, not findings about these 48 dogs. Human Indiana has not publicly detailed their medical examinations, behavior assessments or intake procedures. Prospective adopters should rely on information supplied by shelter staff about each dog rather than assume that every animal from the group will have the same needs.
How to adopt or help
People interested in adopting can begin with Humane Indiana’s online adoptable-pet listings, which are updated daily. The shelter cannot hold an animal, and interested adopters must meet a pet before submitting an application in person. A government-issued ID is required.
Appointments for a designated viewing time are strongly encouraged. The shelter also asks visitors to leave their current dog at home unless they have discussed bringing the dog with staff beforehand, favoring a slower introduction at home rather than a first meeting at the shelter.
Because the shelter has not identified which listings belong to the rescued group, anyone hoping to meet one of the 48 dogs should confirm current availability directly with staff. Published dog adoption fees vary by age and size: $375 for puppies six months and younger, $175 to $275 for adult dogs, and $125 for dogs older than seven. Featured dogs are listed at $50.
For those unable to adopt, the shelter’s official wish list includes unopened dog food, canned adult dog food, gas-station gift cards, trash bags, liquid high-efficiency laundry detergent and powder-free latex gloves. Needs can change, so checking the current list before purchasing supplies is the clearest way to direct help where it is useful.
Volunteer roles include dog walking, laundry, dishes, donation support, transportation and reception. Dog walkers must be at least 18 and complete formal instruction and shadow training, with additional experience required before handling dogs who need more support. The broader onboarding process may take two to eight weeks, making it different from the shelter’s immediate request for a bather.
For now, the one settled fact is also the smallest measure of relief: all 48 dogs made it to safety. Beyond that shelter door waits the slower work learning what each one needs, then finding the home able to provide it. Have you ever adopted a dog with a story like this? Share it in the comments.
By Jake Patterson — Freelance feature writer and former animal-shelter volunteer focused on rescue, adoption, and second-chance dog stories.
