To the editor:
It isn’t that my favorite animal is a cat although I do find them to have a very complex and a greatly entertaining personality. They are my favorite animal because basically they are the most underserved animal by the state’s animal welfare system and for the most basic reason — money “The root of all evil.” Another reason I work so hard with them is that at this time and circumstance (old) in my life, they are a size and disposition that I am able to physically work with and I love watching them problem solve, laugh, love and tease. Yes, they are my very favorite animal and that is why Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Inc (HHPR) was established in January 2009 after a lifetime of helping stray and feral cats. Our animal welfare system has to work on a budget that leaves no room for any unwarranted spending on stray cats. This economic fact is because the majority of their budget comes from dog licenses. Therefore, the welfare department is able to pay an animal shelter $4 per day for up to six days for dogs and then the shelter is left to decide whether to dispose of the dog either by adoption or euthanization. Most shelters are able to keep their dogs longer than the six days if the dog has an adoptable personality and is in good health. As long as there is space available, shelter staff will not count the day as no shelter employee enjoys pushing the syringe. This is a heartbreaking task. But try to imagine how any shelter can function on $4 a day per dog. The cost of food and water for one animal is minimal. It is the cost of the building, heat, lights, insurance, medical care and employee payroll that is the real killer.
Now think about the cat population. The biggest issue in the cat overpopulation is the fact that we are not required to license our cat. Therefore, there is no money in the state treasury to assist shelter’s which aid stray/abandoned cats. We pay Zip and the animal welfare department pays us Zip back. Not because they are mean, but simply because there is no money. If we all (statewide) paid $1 a year to the state per cat to license our cats, think of how much protection that would give to shelters to provide for the stray and lost cats. I am all for this taxation, whether it be $1 or $5 for a cat license. This money would also increase the funding of the Help Fix ME program which helps low-income families spay/neuter their pets which, in turn, helps prevents unwanted littering.
I am thankful HHPR is an all-volunteer cat shelter and is housed in my home where it is not required to pay rent, utilities, or payroll, etc. Our largest expense is medical care for our animals and that averages about $1,000 a month plus any spay vouchers remaining.
The new Maine state license plates are a terrific way to help provide continuing funding for the Help Fix ME program. Ten dollars of every license plate sold goes into the animal welfare budget specifically allocated to the Help Fix ME program. If you don’t want cats to be licensed, at least help out the spay/neuter program by purchasing Animal Welfare license plates. Also, consider sending a donation to your favorite shelter — any shelter. $1, $5 or $10. Better yet, send that amount one time each month.
Halfway Home Pet Rescue is an all-volunteer, 501c3 non-profit shelter. When leaving a message on my answering machine, speak slowly and repeat the telephone number twice. We greatly appreciate your returnable bottles and cans at 88 Bennett Drive Redemption in Caribou and your help with the collection jars in Caribou businesses. Please watch for our huge garage sale on Saturday, June 19th at 11 Pioneer Ave in Caribou. Please email me at Milton@mfx.net if you wish to be on our newsletter mailing. Check us out on petfinder.com our ID is ME110. Our website is www.halfwayhomepetrescue.org Our legal corporate name is Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Inc. Our mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. “Thank you for being our friend.”
HHPR, Inc. Caribou
