Nino
Nino was “rescued” by Humane Society of the Dunes in January 2023. He was originally at IACS Shelter Rescue Team (formerly called IACS Rescue) and Indianapolis Animal Care Services (IACS) before HSotD pulled him. The founder of Humane Society of the Dunes is Jane Hullsiek, and the rescue is based out of Chesterton in Northwest Indiana (NWI).
Nino was “rescue only” at the Indy shelter because he was limping and bunny-hopping. It was determined he had a cruciate ligament injury needing surgical repair, and mild hip displasia. He was a staff and volunteer favorite, described as very friendly with people. An IACS volunteer described him as a “big, snuggly chunk”. His rescue only post mentioned that he displayed some barrier reactivity to other dogs at the shelter.
After Nino went to Humane Society of the Dunes, IACS Shelter Rescue Team tagged people to pay their pledge donations to the AOL email address used by Jane for the rescue. Someone questioned it, and Jane responded from her personal Facebook page to say that the email address was from before the rescue had a name, over 25 years before. Someone questioned how to view adoptable animals from Humane Society of the Dunes, and Jane side-stepped the question and explained the adoption protocols instead. Humane Society of the Dunes has never had adoptable animals posted on their website, they’ve never had a Petfinder or similar adoptable pet site, and as far as we had seen had only ever mentioned animals available for adoption in a single Facebook post about two kittens “on the adoption list”.
A couple days after Nino left IACS, an IACS volunteer who had donated for Nino received an email from Jane thanking her for the donation and stating Nino “will be getting the meds treatment he needs”.
In October 2023, a volunteer who occasionally transported IACS animals up to Humane Society of the Dunes questioned Jane about her rescue’s practices. She stated that her nearly 70 foster homes advertised their own animals. If that is true, we have yet to come across a single post by any foster of Humane Society of the Dunes and none have yet come forward to give proof of whereabouts of any of the animals we’ve posted and claim the cash incentive we are offering for proof.
Jane also claimed Nino had been adopted by a single woman and he slept in the adopter’s bed with her every night. As with many other dogs including Nixon, Queso, Aric, and Harkness, she claimed she was going to adopt him but ultimately did not.
![message from someone who interacted with Jane. The message reads 'Nino: adopted by single lady (he forgets name - but she did tell him) and he sleeps in bed with her eveery night. [Jane] was goinog to personally keep him but he was resource guarding. She seemed sincere and story didnt seem made up. She said networks via a foster system of around 70 fosters and they usually advertise their dogs. Recently took a 3 legged dog and vet said he didn't understand why amputated because there wasn't a fracture in the xray. She is personally keeping that dog.](/updates/2025/04/nino/nino_2.webp)
Jane got Nixon from IACS on December 31, 2021. She already had IACS dog Misty as a pet, as well as Jack Dozer (a bulldog) and Greta (a pitbull). It was only two weeks after she got Nixon that she pulled Nino from IACS on January 14, 2023. At some point Jane “rehomed” Nixon. Neither dog was there when IACS “inspected” the facility in February 2023. Jane claimed Nixon was at a “spa day” and did not claim at that time to own Nino.
We are offering $100 for proof of Nino’s whereabouts today. He’d be about 4 years old now. Please share our posts and engage with them. We are trying to find answers but we can’t do it without your help. Nino is one of 110+ animals that Humane Society of the Dunes pulled from the city shelter in Indianapolis who we are hoping for updates on.
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