Shelter prepares for Santa Paws’ first weekend visit
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
`Santa Paws is coming to town! Santa Paws will be at the Central Aroostook Humane Society on Saturday, Nov. 26, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., and again on Saturday, Dec. 3, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Come visit our winter wonderland, bring the kids and your pets, and support this worthy cause. We will be offering free refreshments and all proceeds go to help the animals at our shelter. Every year this event gets better and better thanks to the hard work of our employees.
We are overwhelmed by the generosity of the public as of late. To see the support of the shelter from the community reminds us of why we are here and that support means a lot to us — not only financially but it reassures us that we are doing a very important job and that we are doing it well.
It takes more than a love for animals to run a shelter, although that is a good place to start. Our manager has many hours in education invested, as does our staff. There are pet medical issues to address, food issues and behavioral issues that need to be addressed daily. It also takes work to keep our shelter up to state of Maine standards and to know Maine animal welfare laws. It is about providing proper medical attention to the animals we house and providing vaccinations and making sure our animals are parasite-free.
Sheltering animals is much more than sticking them in a cage and giving them food, it is about putting heart and soul into the animals and making them the best they can be for the next family who adopts them. It is about promoting the pets in our care to find them a home so that we may make room for the next one waiting to come through the door. It is about cleaning feces, urine and vomit, and knowing when to call your veterinarian. I would encourage anyone who thinks this is easy to walk a day in the shoes of one of our employees — better wear your sneakers if you want to keep up!
Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for the wonderful things that we have in our lives, like our pets. We should all strive to be the very best pet owner we can be and going that extra mile for our pets. Unfortunately there is such a thing as “loving your pet to death.” By that I mean not considering your pet’s health. An obese pet is not a happy pet and there are a lot of health issues that can arise from your pet being obese. Talk to your vet about proper nutrition and your pets health.
During the holidays it is easy for pets to get into trouble. Here are some tips to ensure your pets are safe this holiday season:
• If you are serving turkey be sure never to give your pet cooked bones, they may splinter and become lodged;
• Rich holiday foods can also be very harmful, causing stomach upset;
• Be sure to safely dispose of your garbage and leftovers immediately;
• Make sure you dispose of wrappings properly (tinfoil, plastic wrap or wax paper);
• Do not over feed your pet, watch guests who may feed your pets treats from the table or appetizers;
• Keep all chocolate out of your pet’s reach, it is harmful to pets;
• The holidays are stressful to all of us, but keep your pets’ stress level to a minimum by putting your pet in a quiet, safe room with his favorite toy, a treat and his soft bed;
• Be sure your pet is wearing ID tags, he may get out the door when guests arrive; and
• Remember, the holidays are busy, but your pet needs you too. Spending time with your pet will help you deal with holiday stress a bit better.
Hope you and your pets have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Oh the wind and the cold — and it is only going to get worse! As I sit here today, I think of all of the animals left out in the cold, curled up in a ball trying to stay warm. I wonder what I could do to make their lives better. I also wonder what the point is of having a pet if they are not provided with good food to eat, fresh water to drink, a warm place to stay and the gift of being part of a family. My heart breaks for these animals. I look at my own, curled up on a warm, soft bed by my fire with full bellies. I think of where they came from: dodging traffic on the highway in Caribou, a dumpster, an unheated camp, lost in the woods.
I feel lucky to be able to provide my animals with all they could ever need; I do it with pride and a true sense of responsibility. Unfortunately, not all animals are so lucky; state of Maine animal welfare law requires these basic necessities of life (food, shelter, water). If you fear that an animal is not being provided with food, adequate shelter and fresh water, please contact your local animal control agent. If you don’t know who your animal control agent is, now is the time to call your town office and find out, not when it is 20 below and 10 p.m. at night. Your local law enforcement office can also provide you with the name and number for your local ACO.
If you are looking for a friend for life, visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are full to the brim with wonderful cats and dogs waiting for loving homes. We are begging you to please have your pets spayed or neutered because there just aren’t responsible loving homes for all of them.
Visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society Tuesday-Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or give us a call at 764-3441.
If you would like to send us a donation, send it to: Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769, or go to our website www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org and click “donate.”
