The Best Friends Pet Resort in Indianapolis hosted a "Find a New Best Friend" Pet Adoption Fest on Saturday, April 20th. Thirteen rescue groups and shelters from around the greater Indianapolis area took part.

Prospective adopters had the opportunity to meet more 120 available pets, ask questions of rescue group and shelter volunteers, and complete applications to adopt. Dozens of lucky adopters took home a cat or dog to join their families.

The adoption fest was designed to encourage shelter-pet adoption and raise awareness of the necessity of spay/neuter programs by providing visibility for the cause. Best Friends also provided adopters with a new pet "starter kit" of gift certificates good towards boarding, grooming or training services and pet products.

Supported by the Indy Pets Alive! Coalition, the event included the Humane Society of Indianapolis, Bartholomew County Humane Society, Golden Retriever Rescue, Central Indiana Lab Rescue, Indiana Sheltie Rescue, Poodle Club Rescue, WAGS Stray Animal Foundation, English Springer Spaniel Rescue, Southside Animal Shelter, Alliance for Responsible Pet Ownership, Animal Protection Coalition, Tails A-wagging Rescue, the Indiana Companion Animal Network and Spay-Neuter Services.

Animal lovers who want to help influence legislators' decisions on animal-welfare issues can learn the low-down on lobbying at workshops around the U.S. this spring.

The Washington, DC-based Alliance for Justice (AFJ) is offering Worry-Free Advocacy Workshops at cities around the country. AFJ's attorney-trainers will be on hand to teach the legal rules governing nonprofit lobbying and election-related activities, including ballot initiatives and voter registration.

The workshop schedule includes sessions in Denver, San Francisco, Portland, OR, Chicago, Atlanta, and Boston. Registration for a full-day session, including meals, is $20.

The Animal Poison Hotline is a 24-hour call center (888-232-8870) dedicated to the needs of animals that may have been exposed to a potentially hazardous substance. APH is staffed with licensed veterinary professionals as well as experts in toxicology and pharmacology and is available to veterinarians and their clients.

The incident fee is $35.00 per case and includes any follow-up consultations that may be required. A portion of this fee supports work for homeless animals. APH is sponsored by North Shore Animal League America (NSAL America) and PROSAR International Animal Poison Center.