No Name - A306488

‼️We are offering $100 for proof of this cat’s whereabouts today. Have you seen him? If you fostered or adopted him, or if you know something, please reach out.‼️ Please share this post!

This cat was “rescued” by Humane Society of the Dunes on July 31, 2020. He was originally at Indianapolis Animal Care Services before HSotD pulled him. The founder of the rescue is Jane Hullsiek and the rescue is based out of Chesterton in Northwest Indiana (NWI).

This cat had no name. His medical records and notes, obtained from IACS through public records requests, only list him as a number, A306488. He was also listed as “New Pet” on one document, a list of animals rescued from IACS by Humane Society of the Dunes, apparently a designation given by the system when the animal is nameless.

Although “rescue only” animals are normally posted by the IACS Shelter Rescue Team page (formerly called IACS Rescue), there was no post made by them about No Name. Oftentimes the rescue coordinator at IACS would reach out to rescues privately without posting the animals publicly, so this was not an uncommon occurrence. Through public records requests to the shelter, we know that the Indy shelter’s medical team suggested No Name be “rescue only” because he had mydriasis (pupil dilation) in both eyes and would require additional diagnostics. His medical notes state iris degeneration/atrophy would be possible and due to this potentially becoming a severe/progressive condition, a rescue should be sought instead of a regular adopter.

Before coming to IACS, No Name was found in someone’s yard and wouldn’t leave, so finder brought him inside. Once he was carried inside uneventfully, he became aggressive with the finder although did allow some petting during feeding. An IACS Animal Control Officer picked him up and noted he may be blind (later medical notes indicate his vision seemed fine and he could track objects). Once at the shelter, No Name’s behavior was unpredictable. After a brief intake exam where the condition of his eyes was noted, staff at IACS tried to more fully medically examine him three more times over the course of a few days, twice unsuccessfully due to his behavior (one note described him as “angry” 😢) and the third time enough to determine he was a front-declawed, neutered male approximately 10 years in age based on a minimal examination of his mouth. Although he acted friendly at the cage front from afar, when the med staff approached, he recoiled, hissed, lunged, and swatted.

When No Name left for Humane Society of the Dunes, they pulled four other cats from IACS on the same day:

• 👉Kit Kat (four paw declawed, peeing on furniture, not able to be handled at shelter)
• 👉Starlight (emaciated, dehydrated, could barely stand, weak, severe dental disease and stomatitis)
• 👉Ellie (possible Horner’s syndrome, had an “episode” where she peed all over herself)
• 👉Carmine (“lots of gastrointestinal issues” /IBD)

It is impressive to us that a (supposedly) primarily foster-based rescue would have foster homes and funds available to intake five medical cats at once, two of whom were nearly or completely unhandleable, and whose issues included severe GI problems, elimination on furniture, severe dental disease, neurological disorder, etc. These cats had a cumulative total of $140 in pledges so it wouldn’t be unreasonable that the rescue would need to fundraise further to cover their medical needs.

Humane Society of the Dunes never posted any updates about No Name (or the other four cats they took that same day) and their Facebook page is now deleted. They never did any online fundraisers for the cost of these cats’ vet care, no fosters or adopters of any of these cats (nor any other IACS animals that went to HSotD) have come forward, and Jane Hullsiek has not been forthcoming with updates when asked previously.

Without public records requests we never would have known No Name existed and unfortunately he’s one of several animals Jane pulled with no posts by IACS or herself, or updates. Worse, the public records IACS supplied a few years ago with the “full list” of animals pulled from them by HSotD was incomplete, which we found by meticulously matching every rescue post to the list they sent. That’s why we say 110+ animals in our posts, because unfortunately we don’t know the true number. We hope to do right by these animals by telling what little is known of their stories and finding out what happened to them.

No Name’s story hit us hard. Although he was at IACS for 8 days, he was only ever given a number to know him by. Being declawed and neutered but not ear-tipped, and hanging around someone’s house and not leaving, it seems likely that at some point he was someone’s housecat. Was he in pain or scared at the shelter after his life was turned upside down, and that’s what caused his behavior? Would he have been more friendly with someone he trusted?

Did Jane Hullsiek find a foster or adopter for him? Did someone gain his trust and take care of him? Did they give him a name? 💔

We are offering a $100 gift to anyone who can provide proof of this cat’s whereabouts today. He could be about 15 years old today, give or take a few years. If you fostered or adopted him, or if you know what happened to him, please reach out. It’s never too late to speak up.