To the editor:
When we think it cannot get any busier, it gets busier. It has practically been a traffic jam at Halfway Home Pet Rescue (HHPR) with cats coming in. How did they survive the winter — not well. Most of them are in very sad shape.
I say this because we are the last door of hope for these little critters. When people call us, we first refer them to their own town’s contracted shelter and/or their local police station. If they are refused help for lack of space or any other reason, we tell them to call us back and we will help them, but that they will have to sign a paper saying they have tried these options first. Of course, this means when we get the callback — we know the little creature is in real deep trouble. So we step up to the plate and our first glance at the newcomer melts our hearts.
The nice part is that it seems as soon as the cat is healthy and fixed, there always seems to be a great home inquiring if Joe Cool is available. It is a wonderful satisfaction in knowing we have fulfilled our mission. This is why we are here. We are grateful we can help.
Of course, this means we have sizable medical vet bills. It is not uncommon to see $1,500 to $2,000 spent each month for necessary medical care for these darling cats. We are grateful for your help and we will ask another favor. On May 21and 22, HHPR will participate again in the Caribou City-Wide Yard Sale. This year we plan to hold it at two locations. One location is at Judy Robertson’s home at 8 Pleasant St., and the other location is my home at 11 Pioneer Ave. You may drop off nicely-used donations at either home before that week (can you believe that Judy has actually washed her garage ceiling to get ready for the sale — no joke). We are also doing a contest to see which location has the best financial results. It doesn’t matter who wins — the real winners are our cats. It’s all about the cats.
If you are low-income and need help for spaying and neutering, contact Help Fix ME at 1-800-367-1317.
I am pleased to report that our HHPR Building Fund $1 for $1,000 Challenge has now reached slightly over $4,000 toward our new future building goal. Thank you for sending all the beautiful $1 bills that still come in. It adds up to a house full of love for our cats.
Halfway Home Pet Rescue is a 501c3 non-profit state licensed animal shelter located at 11 Pioneer Ave., in Caribou. Our mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou; our website is www.halfwayhomepetrescue.org My email address is norma@halfwayhomepetrescue.org and our telephone is 492-1722.
Norma Milton, president
Halfway Home Pet Rescue
Caribou
