By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — Students of the Maine School of Science and Mathematics rolled up their sleeves on Feb. 4 alongside dedicated volunteers of the Halfway Home Pet Rescue to help re-paint each cattery room of the Caribou-based shelter.
Contributed photo
Students of the Maine School of Mathematics were among the volunteers and supporters who helped paint the Halfway Home Pet Rescue’s cattery rooms earlier this month. In front are, from left, Hayley Frank of Kennebunk, Josie Schande from East Orland and Andy Whitman from Clifton, holding HHPR’s mascot, Toby. Back row: MSSM Resident Instructor Cyndi Trapnell, Steph Jackson from Bingham, Victoria Danelli from Holdon and Eric Edgecomb from Ellsworth.
Shortly before Christmas, several cats at the rescue came down with a flu bug which, as HHPR President Norma Milton explained, is commonly known as URI. Though a great deal of resources were utilized in helping the infected cats overcome the ailment, four very young and weak kittens died.
“Now that the other cats and kittens are well, the pet rescue wanted to ensure that the nasty illness has been defeated by scrubbing the entire shelter from ceiling to floor and repainting each cattery room,” Milton said.
Cyndi Traphell, resident instructor at the Maine School of Science and Mathematics, and students Steph Jackson from Bingham, Victoria Danelli from Holdon, Eric Edgecomb from Ellsworth, Hayley Frank from Kennebunk, Josie Schande from East Orland, and Andy Whitman from Clifton helped pet rescue volunteers re-paint the facilities.
As Milton explained, the success of the HHPR mission is extremely dependent on volunteer activities.
“These students and other volunteers demonstrate what can happen when people work together for a good cause,” she added. “Without these students and other volunteers as well as the donation of supplies, this project would have cost the pet rescue shelter several hundred dollars. Instead, we completed the entire project without spending one nickel and those funds can now be used to help with our spaying and neutering costs of now very healthy cats.”
Also volunteering with the intensive scrubbing labor and donating paint and cat supplies were Kathryn Harnish and Rob Lawless from Houlton. Roberta Corp, Robyn Smith, Ellie Ring and Norma Milton (all of Caribou) donated paint. Mark Durinski of Limestone donated a large supply of brushes, rollers, pans and rollers. Judy Robertson of Caribou and Brenda Perkins and Sharon Mahoney of Presque Isle volunteered time at scrubbing and placing items back into the rooms after the painting job was complete.
Volunteers also helped save the lives of the animals infected with the URI. According to Milton, those who offered extra assistance with the pet rescue’s medical expenses for the illness were: Dr. David Connor and Roberta Corp, both of Caribou, and Anne Price and Brenda Perkins, both of Presque Isle. Milton also expressed her appreciation of the discounted services and intensive care the shelter cats received at the Presque Isle Animal Hospital during “this terrible time of need.”
Anyone interested in volunteering at the shelter or assisting in alternative ways are encouraged to call 492-1722. Additional information regarding the HHPR can be obtained by visiting www.countypetrescue.org.
