BEST PLACE TO VOLUNTEER

Humane Society of Northwest Indiana

6100 Melton Rd, Gary, Ind., 219.938.3339, millercritters.net

The Humane Society of Northwest Indiana program's mission is to balance the health, safety, and welfare needs of the people and animals within the Northwest Indiana area; to provide shelter and care for the unwanted pets of the Northwest Indiana area until the time that a quality home is found for them; promote, motivate, and enforce responsible pet ownership; ensure the legal protection of animals from mistreatment; provide animal related services to the citizens of the Northwest Indiana area; educate the public through presentations and public relations; respond to the questions citizens may have regarding animals and refer them as necessary to the correct party; and provide a lost and found service for lost pets to owners.

"We care a lot about our animals. Our animals are well taken care of and all of them are fun and well adjusted and we have a large play area where volunteers and throw Frisbees to them, and consistently bathe them. We really appreciate our volunteers because we are a humane society in a depressed area and we rely on our volunteers to survive. We have some volunteers who come from far away just to walk the dogs because they like our shelter. We've been told we're one of the cleanest in the area. You walk in and it doesn't smell like there is even an animal in here," says Betty Clayton, executive director.

SECOND PLACE

Franciscan St. Margaret Health

24 Joliet St. (US 30), Dyer, Ind., 219.865.2141, smmhc.com

THIRD PLACE

Meals on Wheels of Northwest Indiana

8446 Virginia St, Merrillville, Ind., 219.756.3363, mealsonwheelsnwindiana.org