Humane Society of Hamilton County receives Valentine’s Day gift

Every dog and cat at an animal shelter in Hamilton County received a special Valentine’s gift basket courtesy of Physicians for Wishes and Pet Supplies Plus, a donation that not only tugs at the heartstrings but may have broken the record books.

Both organizations teamed up to donate more than $20,000 in treats, toys and food to 231 dogs and 209 shelter cats in Hamilton County, making it “the single largest Valentine’s Day donation to a non-kill animal shelter in the state of Indiana,” according to Dr. Gregory Taylor of Physicians for Wishes.

“I was floored,” said Lily Darling, Community Engagement Manager for the Humane Society for Hamilton County in a video posted to Taylor’s YouTube. “I felt tears in my eyes just seeing all of the items brought in for us.”

A Hollywood actor contacted Taylor in Fishers, Indiana, to make the suggestion

Taylor said the suggestion to donate to the Hamilton County animal shelters came from TV and movie actor, Eric Winter, whose appearances include ABC’s The Rookie, Lifetime’s The Witches of East End, and The Ugly Truth.

“Hey Dr. Taylor, I love what you’re doing with Physicians for Wishes,” Winter said in a video posted to YouTube. “I have an idea. Why don’t you give back this Valentines something a little different. What are your thoughts on a giveback to an animal shelter?”

Taylor, who spearheaded efforts in December to provide Christmas presents to every student at an elementary school, got to work. He and others purchased pet supplies and created the gift baskets in time for Valentine’s Day.

Darling added that the no-kill shelter is over capacity and the donations meant the animals at the shelter would be “well loved and well taken care of.”

How to adopt a dog or cat at the Hamilton County Animal Shelter

You can begin the adoption process by visiting the animal shelter online at HamiltonHumane.com and filling out an application. If visiting in person to adopt, the shelter requires all family members, regardless of age, meet a potential pet. A waiver is available for some cat adoptions. The shelter asks you to bring a government issued ID with current address, animal vaccine records, and a copy of your residence’s pet policy.

Who is Dr. Gregory Taylor?

Taylor, 36, is an emergency medicine doctor in Fishers and the creator of Physicians for Wishes. One of its goals, he said, is to provide vacations to families struggling with severe illnesses. He launched a YouTube channel by the same name showcasing how the organization gives back to the community.

How is Physicians for Wishes funded?

The initiative is funded mostly by Taylor, but donations supporting its work can be made through GoFundMe, which gives deserving recipients a chance to get away from it all, including a bad diagnosis.

Donations to Physicians for Wishes can be made online through GoFundMe at GoFundMe.com/f/physicians-for-wishes. To nominate someone with a critical illness in need of a vacation, contact Dr. Gregory Taylor at physicians4wishes@gmail.com.

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John Tufts covers trending news for the Indianapolis Star. Send him a news tip at JTufts@Gannett.com.