Indiana (April 23, 2008) -

Waylon and his mom, Gretchen, being interviewed by the ABC news affiliate in Indianapolis, RTV-6, for the 6 p.m. and 11 p.m. newscasts that aired on April 19, 2008. If you're having trouble seeing the photos above, click here.

As far as first days on the job go, they don't get much better than the one Waylon pulled off as Indiana-PAW's Canine Ambassador last Saturday.

The former shelter dog - who came within hours of being euthanized, but through an improbable turn of events, found a loving family and a "job" as the official "spokesdog" for one of Indiana's most active agencies serving animals - seized his new role with gusto! Saturday, he made his inaugural community outreach appearance with Indiana-PAW, and by day's end, he found himself on television for the 6 p.m. news (Indianapolis' ABC news affiliate interviewed Waylon and his mom), featured on a national animal welfare website (nationally renown Best Friends Animal Society), and invited to begin his own blog for Best Friends. Not a bad first day on the job.☺

Waylon defied terrible odds, and now he's seizing his opportunity to help shine a spotlight on how Hoosiers can end the tragedy of pet overpopulation in Indiana. His life nearly ended because of it, so it's personal for him. And for us.

Indiana-PAW will be back out in the community this Saturday and Sunday at four events taking place across Indiana, and we hope you'll come see us (and Waylon or his feline counterpart, Lexi, our Indiana- PAW Feline Ambassador), and learn how you can use your life to make a difference for homeless Hoosier pets:

1. Come see us at the Rally for Homeless Animals hosted by Indy Pit Crew, occurring this Saturday at 10 a.m. on Monument Circle in Downtown Indianapolis. Learn how you can bring attention to the homeless and stray animals in Indianapolis, so that Indiana shelters are not forced to euthanize thousands of healthy dogs, cats, kittens and puppies every month.
   
   
2. Come see us at Earth Day this Saturday between 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the American Legion Mall in downtown Indianapolis. Indiana-PAW will be out in full force, with more than 15 volunteers helping us canvass the event to find new foster parents and educate.
   
   
3. Come see us at the Valparaiso Be Kind to Pets Day hosted by the Porter County Animal Control unit this Saturday between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. at the Porter County Expo Center at State Rd 49 and Division Rd. in Vaparaiso, Indiana. Our Northern Indiana Representative, Angela Bickler, will be on hand with valuable information about how citizens can make a difference for Indiana's forgotten animals.
   
   
4. Come see us at the Humane Society of Indianapolis' Mutt Strutt this Sunday between 11 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Start your engines to support local animal welfare efforts!
   
   
5. And don't forget to contact us if you'd like us to put on an educational program (and bring Waylon or Lexi) at your school, business or community event. This Friday, for example, Jenn Williamson, our Southern Indiana Representative, will be putting on an educational program for 4th, 5th and 6th graders in Shoals, Indiana. Carolyn Valachovic-Monroe, our Education Director, is also willing to travel anywhere in the State to educate.