Northwest Indiana Bird and Ferret Association

04/25/2025

04/25/2025

Adopt dont shop!

DO NOT BUY DOGS FROM THE AMISH

We get calls every week from dog owners that have purchased a dog from the Amish, only to find out that their new best friend has significant issues to overcome. Unfortunately, dogs that come from the Amish do tend to have significant, lifelong behavioral problems.

For a quick background, the overwhelming majority of Amish “breeders” are not properly breeding dogs. They don’t breed for health, temperament, or the betterment of the breed, they breed exclusively for money. They are PUPPY MILLS.

Let’s say for example that they are breeding French bulldogs. They find a male and a female, regardless of health or behavioral concerns, and make the breeding happen. No thought was put into the health or quality of life of the puppies that will come out. No health testing the parents, no behavioral/temperament testing of the parents, etc.

Once the puppies are born, they are essentially left in a room with the mother until they are ready to be sold. No enrichment, no health testing, no socialization, nothing. When a prospective buyer comes along and sees the dogs in these conditions, they either feel sorry for them, or they have no clue that this isn’t normal.

Because these puppies were never socialized or cared for properly, they develop significant fear and anxiety issues, as well as difficulty potty training and crate training. We are dealing with several cases of aggression towards people and dogs, and these dogs all came from the Amish.

This is textbook backyard breeding, but on a huge scale, and it has only grown and grown in recent years.

If you are looking to get a deal on a purebred dog, there is no such thing. If you don’t want to spend thousands on a well bred puppy from a reputable and ethical breeder, that’s totally fine. But buying a dog for a discounted rate from the Amish (in our experience) comes with significant baggage.

If you must have a certain breed of dog but can’t afford to go to a reputable and ethical breeder, do your research and find a rescue or shelter that has that breed of dog. They are still an unknown quantity because you don’t know anything about their history, but you won’t be perpetuating inhumane breeding practices.

04/23/2025

04/23/2025

Zelle: [email protected]
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Thank you!

04/22/2025

This isn’t a peaceful photo of a bunny in the woods, it’s a photo of someone’s pet, abandoned and left to die.

This rabbit was dumped here. Someone bought him, probably with good intentions, then left him in the forest when the reality of rabbit care set in. He was lucky. Someone spotted him and called our hotline in time. Most aren’t.

And heartbreakingly, this wasn’t the only case that week.

Just one day earlier, we were contacted about another domestic rabbit, this one in a public park. A bystander watched someone intentionally let their dog attack the rabbit. We have the photos. We won’t share them, they’re too graphic, but believe us when we say that what that rabbit went through was horrific. Thankfully, we were able to arrange placement for that bunny with a rescue, and they’re now safe.

But this feels never-ending.

We are a wild rabbit rescue. We don’t take in domesticated rabbits and yet we still receive hundreds of calls every single year. People looking to dump their rabbits. Good Samaritans finding them abandoned in parks, backyards, school grounds, sidewalks, woods. There’s no break from it.

Let’s be clear: domesticated rabbits are not wild animals. You cannot just set them free and hope they’ll figure it out. They won’t. They don’t know how to find food or evade predators. They will suffer. They will die.

If you got a bunny for Easter, please take time to really learn what it takes to care for them. They are not low-maintenance pets. They need space, enrichment, social time, and specialized medical care. They must be spayed or neutered. They should not be kept in cages. Unless you’d keep a dog or cat in a crate 24/7 (and we know you wouldn’t), don’t do that to a rabbit. At minimum, they need a 5x5 pen and daily time to roam.

While some shelters in Westchester do accept a small number of rabbits, the reality is this: there are far more being dumped than there are spaces available. Rescues are full. Foster homes are maxed out. Most of these rabbits have nowhere to go.

Please don’t get a rabbit unless you’re ready for the commitment. And if you are, adopt from a rescue that will support you in doing it right. Don’t buy from a pet store. Don’t support breeders. And please don’t contribute to this heartbreaking cycle we see every single year.

We don’t want another call about a bunny left in the woods. We don’t want another photo we can’t bear to post. And we don’t want to keep saying, “I’m sorry, we don’t have space.”

This rabbit ended up at Hop Along Hollow, a rabbit rescue based in Norwalk, CT. Please contact them if you are interested in adopting they have many bunnies in need of forever homes.

04/22/2025

We are also seeking fosters for Pregnant Dogs and Nursing Dogs.

04/22/2025

Meet (from left to right) Peggy, Bill, and Boomhauer! These cutie patootie kittens are around 2½-months-old, are spayed/neutered. Stay tuned this evening for individual details🐾🐾🐾

Here are our adoption policies and procedures: https://michianapets.org/adopt 💙

04/22/2025

04/22/2025

⭐⭐adopted⭐⭐

Meet Peggy! She is about two-and-a-half-months old, is spayed, and is available for adoption! She enjoys playing with feathery toys and is a very curious lil' lady.

Here is a note from her foster mom:

"This beauty is Peggy! This girl loves cuddles! She climbs up my leg when she wants to be held. She enjoys human interactions."

Peggy has done great with her furry foster-siblings. Her purrs are the sweetest and we adore her! She is at a great age to introduce to other friendly fursiblings. Stop by MHS and meet this princess!

04/20/2025

Happy Easter from The Coffee Besties™️😸🎨 💖☕️

04/19/2025

04/19/2025

04/19/2025

04/17/2025

Rabbits don't deserve to be given as gifts & abandoned after the holiday excitement fades 💔 Please don’t buy rabbits—or any other animal—for your children this weekend.