Special to the Star-Herald
Animal lovers and friends, save the date of Nov. 10 for the second annual Toast for the Animals! This wine tasting and silent auction event will be held from 6-9 p.m. at The Crow’s Nest. It is going to be a great time! So don’t miss it, the animals need you! The event is hosted by the Friends of CAHS group.
Who are Friends of CAHS? They are a group of animal lovers who want to help animals but do not want to be board members; they like a more casual format. This group was formed to assist the Board with fundraisers and, as you can see, have fundraisers of their own. If you would like more information about how you can become a Friend of CAHS, send an e-mail to friendsofcahs@yahoo.com. This group meets quarterly at the Presque Isle library. E-mail for more information.
Every day in this country a promise is broken — a promise to care and love our pets for the duration of their lives. The result is millions of dogs and cats are surrendered to shelters all over the U.S. each year. Researchers from The National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy selected 12 shelters from around the U.S. to observe for one year to find the answer as to why dogs and cats are surrendered. Their findings were that the reasons for surrender were very similar between dogs and cats.
The top 10 reasons for surrendering dogs: moving, landlord not allowing pets, too many animals in household, cost of pet maintenance, owner having personal problems, inadequate facilities, no homes available for litter mates, having no time for pet, pet illness and biting. The top 10 reasons for surrendering cats: moving, landlord not allowing pets, too many animals in household, cost of pet maintenance, owner having personal problems, inadequate facilities, no homes available for litter mates, allergies in the family, house soiling and incompatibility with other pets.
When I looked at the reason for surrender of the animals currently at the shelter, I found that most were there because their families decided that they no longer have time for the animal. Unfortunately, sometimes living situations change; there is an illness in the family or people realize that the dog or cat would most likely be better off in a different home. Most of the residents at the Central Aroostook Humane Society are there because they were strays — found by a kind citizen or an animal control officer and brought to the shelter. Our first obligation is to the strays, but we try very hard to help owners who need to surrender their pets as well.
In a study of relinquishment of cats and dogs in 12 U.S. shelters, 30 percent were purebreds, and the same study indicated that about 55 percent of dogs and 47 percent of cats surrendered were unaltered. With so many animals coming to our shelter unaltered, it puts the burden of this medical procedure on us. That is why we ask that you help us to do what is right by spreading the word about the benefits of spaying and neutering and by giving generously to the Central Aroostook Humane Society. All contributions are tax-deductible and greatly appreciated.
If you are looking for a friend for life, visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Our business hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. You can also give us a call at 764-3441 or visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociey.org or check us out on Facebook.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
