Staff Writer
A bill to create a new specialty license plate to raise money for animal welfare programs in Maine was signed into law last Monday by Gov. John E. Baldacci.
The new plate will be yellow and white with outlines of a canine, feline, bird, rabbit and horse, and the words “Respect. Love. Adopt.” at the bottom.
“Early on, supporters were told they would need to raise $50,000 to guarantee a minimum of 2,000 plates,” said Sen. John Nutting (D-Androscoggin County), who sponsored the bill. “Supporters raised the money and guaranteed the number of plate owners in just 78 days despite a down economy.”
The proceeds from the plate sales will be split between Help Fix ME, a program providing spay and neuter services to animals, and funding animal abuse investigations throughout the state.
“This is a great opportunity for those who want to support the animal welfare program,” Nutting said, “and support a good cause.”
Christine Cowett Robinson, president of the Central Aroostook Humane Society board of directors, said she’s very pleased the animal welfare plate will become a reality.
“I find it encouraging the support that people have shown to have this pass,” she said. “We need to continue to support the Help Fix ME program which helps people have their animals altered. That’s my biggest reason for supporting the license plate … to help the Help Fix ME program which is imperative to helping fight pet overpopulation in our area.”
Robinson, who has already purchased her new plate, said the grassroots effort lobbying for the plate was impressive.
“I’m a member of Maine Canine Rescue, which is a Yahoo group, and everyone in that group supported the specialty plate effort and bought one,” she said. “I encouraged my board members to do so, as well.
“It’s all about animal welfare and supporting the cause in Maine,” said Robinson. “It’s not just about the spaying and neutering of animals, but overall animal welfare and responsible pet ownership.”
Robinson said it’s good that a number of animals are represented on the plate.
“Horses, for example, are seen as a luxury,” she said, “and there are a lot of horses for sale right now. There are a lot of horses in rescues, which are full. Our humane society doesn’t deal with livestock, but with the economy as it is, more people are willing to dump horses because of the cost. We’re finding that with dogs, too.
“With people losing jobs left and right,” said Robinson, “we have a lot of animals being brought to us because of the economy. Hopefully the sale of these plates will not only raise funds, but also awareness.”
Last year, the Maine Adoption Leaders Team (MALT), comprised of the state’s Animal Welfare Program, Planet Dog, Happy Tails, the Animal Refuge League and the Animal Welfare Society, joined forces to initiate the specialty plate in Maine. Many other animal advocacy organizations, including the Maine Animal Coalition, which provided online and radio advertising for the plate, also supported MALT’s efforts.
The animal welfare plates should be available by Oct. 1. The plates will cost $20 for the first year and $15 each year thereafter to renew them.
