Photo provided Second Annual Moonlight Ride For Animal Care Services in Columbus, Ind. Saturday, August 1, 2015. Photo by Joe Harpring
Spaces are available for bicycle riders and volunteers for the 2025 Moonlight Loop, an evening fundraising ride for Friends of Columbus Animal Care Services, the 501 (c)(3) arm of Columbus Animal Care Services.
The ride will be held on today at 9 p.m. Modeled after the Indy N.I.T.E. ride in Indianapolis, the ride will make a loop around the City of Columbus, passing several architectural gems along the way. 2025 marks the 10th year for this ride. Since its inception, the event has netted over $90,000 to care for the animals of Animal Care Services.
Safety is our primary concern and weather will be watched. In the event that inclement weather is expected during the set up or actual ride, we will announce the cancellation on our website and facebook asap. Registration and additional information about the event are available at www.columbus.in.gov/animal-care-services/moonlight-loop. Day-of registration will be available for $40 per person.
For those interested in volunteering, you may come to the event as well for placement on the route Volunteers will receive a free volunteer t-shirt. Volunteers at the SAG/food stop need to be 13 to volunteer with a parent or guardian. On the route, volunteers need to be 16 and with a parent/guardian.
The Animal Care Services Department is operated by city tax dollars and through fines/fees and monetary donations. However, the general operating budget only covers basic services including wages, utilities, and maintenance of both the facility and vehicles. The Adoption/Medical fund does not use tax dollars and is supported by fines, fees, and monetary donations. Donations made to CACS are considered tax-deductible as Animal Care Services is a department within the City of Columbus, a political subdivision of the State of Indiana, and all donations will be used solely for public purposes.
