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In October of 2014 Cause 4Paws Gary began their quest to create an off-leash community dog park in the City of Gary.  It is a much needed amenity for dog enthusiast to exercise and socialize in the community.  We have searched every community in the City to find a suitable location.  It was important to us, to find a location that was centrally located so the everyone in the community could enjoy it.  

We wanted a location that was large enough for the giant breed dogs, like Mastiffs, Great Danes,St. Benards had enough room to exercies their big muscles and enjoy outdoor time off the end of a leash.  It was equally important to us to incorporate a space for dogs who may only be friendly with the dogs in their pack or household, as well as for dogs who have not learned to be social with other dogs, as well as working dogs.

There is ALOT of land to search in the City!  We searched defunct schools, parks, and lots everywhere.  We ruled out properties that had completely gone back to nature as it is EXTREMELY costly to remove trees, and we did not want to  desturb the existing ecosystem.  We searched the beach and every other location that we could find.  The defunct tennis courts South Gleason quickly became a favorite site as it met the criteria.  It was centrally located between Broadway and Grant Street.  It was close enough where travelers with dogs could also utlilize the park and enjoy the hidden beauty of our City.  Unfortunately, that location was thrown out due to a pending project.  So we continued to search. All of the school properties were a definite no, due the financial woes of the Gary School Corporation.  Many of the defunct parks were either extremely overgrown, too far off the beaten path, or they were experiencing flooding issues.  

At the Mayor's suggestion, we re-visited Jackson Park on the corner of 4th and Jackson.  There have been some changes that have happened in that community that were not in place four years ago.  We took a look with new eyes and WOW!  It would work perfectly for everything that we envisioned for our project!   Cause 4Paws Gary,Inc.  has known from the inception of this plan that the City of Gary is in no postition to fund, develop or maintain this dog park.  Our ONLY request then and now has been for the land.  We are patiently awaiting the Land Lease Agreement to finally at long last  breathe life into our vision for the improvement of the quality of life for the pets of the City of Gary. 

We ask for your continued support of the Jackson Memorial Pet Park! The first of it's kind in Gary, Indiana......Can U Feel It?

If you haven't heard we have joined the Best Friend's Society's ResQWalk!  This is a unique way to help raise money for the many lives that we save everyday.  Cause 4Paws Gary offers TNR (trap,neuter and return) for feral cat colonies with an identifed guardian, affordable spay/neuter/vaccinations services, and a monthly pet food pantry for qualified low-income residents. If you haven't heard we are still waiting for the land leash to begin work on the Jackson Memorial Pet Park!

In 2019 we have had three very expensive medical assists. Although we have received grants to support many of our efforts, it does not cover everything.  We still have to rely on the generosity of our supporters. The ResQWalk allows our supporters and their friends use their daily steps to raise money for our mission to save animals in our community.  Here is how it works:

Simply download the app:

https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/resqwalk/id889050235?mt=8" target="_blank"> iPhones

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.resqwalk&hl=en" target="_blank">Andriod

 Search and Follow:

Cause 4Paws Gary or Gary, IN

Click on the dog

Click"  New Walk

Make sure you see the dog!  

If not, hit the arrow in the lower right hand corner

Search Gary, IN

Click on Cause 4Paws Gary

Click Start Walk

You will see the picture of the Cause 4Paws Gary dog  and a notice stating that you are supporting us. (see below)

Walk with us everyday! You rack up healthy miles and we get an opportunity to be selected from a pool of rescues to support our mission. Make every step count. Whether you are just running errands or walking the mall. Start your walk in the morning and finish it at night. You will be surprised how many miles you walk everyday!

This is probably one of the hardest subjects that a pet parent could imagine.  The thought of not being able to care for their pet.  Whatever the reason, relocation to a medical facility, long or short term nursing home stay, death of a guardian or financial reasons.  There are occasions where a pet owner has no alternative, but to surrender their pet.  But to whom?  Where would you start?

First, we would like to discourage you from placing a "free to good home" ad on various social media sites and online market place listings.  Why, you ask? You have no idea who you are handing your beloved pet over to. Even worst, the person you met on a social media site on popular online site could sell your pet for market research or use them as bait for fighting dogs.  

You may decide to place your pet with a trusted friend or relative to only be disappointed that they would not treat your furry friend the same way that you do.  Please heed the story of "Mike."  He and his girlfriend had been dating for awhile.  Things looked like they were headed for something serious.  They moved in together and a few years later, decided to get a dog.  They both loved and cared for the dog,until Mike and his girlfriend had a nasty break-up.  Mike had to move back home with his parents, who were not animal people.  His now ex-girlfriend no longer wanted the responsibilty of a dog, so Fido was in limbo.  Mike had a buddy with whom he had been friends with for many years.  He asked if "Joe" would take his dog until he got back on his feet.  Joe agreed.  After a year Mike's situation hadn't changed, he was still at home with his parents and he was missing the companionship of his dog.  Mike would go by the local shelter and volunteer from time to time just to help out.  He was a HUGE animal lover!  

Somehow, Joe and Mike had lost contact with one another.  Things had changed for Joe also.  He relocated to another state for his job, and Mike assumed that Joe had taken Fido with him.  One day, while Mike was at the shelter.  He saw a dog that looked just like his Fido.  He thought to himself, that couldn't be him, Fido is with Joe, but everytime Joe went passed Fido the dog would go nuts!  Mike couldn't belived the connection he had with this dog.  Mike had never gotten Fido microchipped and this dog was picked up in a distant area as a stray, so it couldn't be his precious Fido.  Fido, had a distinct heart shaped mark on his front paws.  When the two paws were together the mark would make a heart, and Fido would smile.  Because he was a pitt bull, people often mistook his smile as an act of aggression, but that was not the case.  Fido was a gentle as a lamb.

After a few days of convincing himself that THIS dog was not his Fido. Mike did something that only his dog would know.  There was a special song that he would sing, and Fido would chime in on the chorus.  The next day Mike brought his guitar with him to the shelter.   As he began to play the dog began to brighten up and wag his tail furiously.  Mike began to sing the song, still not convinced that this was his beloved Fido when he got to the chorus, the dog howled with excitement!  There was no mistaking it.  THIS WAS FIDO!  

Mike learned through a mutal friend that Joe had gotten a promotion and moved to another state.  Fido couldn't go with him, so Joe thinking he was doing the right thing placed and advertisement online "Free to a good home"  Someone came, met Fido and took him away.  Joe had no idea what was happening this person and the first time something happened Fido was out on the streets.  Had Mike microchipped Fido and used the ReHome site from Adopt-A-Pet both Mike and Joe would have vetted a potential adopter for Fido for his new forever home.  Fido was lucky.  He and Mike were able to re-unite,but there are millions of others dogs and cats that aren't so lucky.  

If you need to find a new home for your pet click this link: ReHOME My Pet and contect with thousands of suitable adopters looking for you!  It is safe and easy.  No meeting strangers at your home or a parking lot, and you get to make the final decision as to who is the best adopter for your pet.  Remember, that sometimes rehomed pets expericence stress temporarily because they don't understand what is going on.  In some cases they may run away trying to find their family having your pet microchipped helps keep them out of the shelter and reunited them with you or their new family.  It is that identity tag that never comes off~