When winterizing,
remember furry friends’ needs
PET BULLETIN
‘Mews and Yips’ from the Central Aroostook Humane Society
By Christine Cowett Robinson
I think Old Man Winter is knocking on our door. The temperatures are dropping and it is time to get ready for winter. What does that mean for your dogs? If they are outside they need an insulated dog house with plenty of clean, dry straw for bedding. I put out an igloo dog house full of straw for any kitties who may need it. You will find also that your pets may be eating more, getting ready for the winter months. If you feel an animal has been left outside without food, shelter and water, please contact your animal control agent or police department. We must be their voice.
Our shelter is still full to the brim with wonderful cats and kittens and we are extending our half-price offer on cat adoptions, trying to find homes for these poor, homeless animals. It is so very important to have your pets spayed or neutered. One male cat can impregnate multiple cats, producing hundreds if not thousands of kittens. It is not fair to let this breeding continue because there are just not enough loving homes for all of them. Most people I know do not have just one cat, they have multiple. I have a lot more than one; some have been dumped here, others come from the shelter, but at some point they were homeless and unwanted.
Thanksgiving is almost here, and at the Central Aroostook Humane Society we have much to be thankful for. We are very thankful to all of our supporters; because of you we can offer the cold, hungry and abandoned animals of our area comfort and a safe place to stay before finding them a permanent home. It gives us great peace to be able to do that. Each time I hear a person say “I can’t go to the shelter, it is too difficult,” I just want to look them in the eye and tell them that the ones at the shelter are the lucky ones; they are the ones who have a second chance at finding a forever home. There is no time limit on how long we keep them. They stay with us until they are placed. Last month alone we adopted out over 40 cats, and that didn’t even put a dent in the population we are housing. How sad is that?
Now is the time to say “this is not acceptable.” How can you help, what can you do? You can become an advocate for the animals, tell others why it is important to alter their pets. You can support local shelters, because then you can see the good your money is doing. You can volunteer your time and efforts at the shelter; there is always lots to do. I look at my own animals, each of them once homeless, and think about how they fulfill my life, what joy they bring to me. I wish everyone could feel that way about their pets — enjoy them, cherish them, let them be a part of the family.
Don’t forget to join us for “Toast to the Animals” on Nov. 18 at Freddy P’s; it is a wine tasting and silent auction to benefit CAHS. We are also selling tickets on a fully-furnished dollhouse. Tickets for both events can be purchased at the shelter.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please contact the Central Aroostook Humane Society. If you have adopted a pet from us and would like to share your story, please send it to Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St. Presque Isle, ME 04769. Happy endings are what keep us going.
