To the editor:
This has truly been the toughest year ever (and I mean of my 40-plus years of animal care). Halfway Home Pet Rescue has been blessed to help close to 300 cats that were not accepted by any other facility or police department for one reason or another they simply fell through the Maine animal welfare cracks. Almost all of these cats were very sick or terribly injured.
This was the type of year that can easily burn out the most dedicated volunteers. But again, we are blessed because our dedicated volunteers have stuck with us and encouraged others to join in the struggle. Cats are the most underserved animals in the animal welfare system. But we tell each cat that when they enter the door to HHPR, they are already halfway home. And I love it when I find a volunteer praying over one of our cats.
All shelters and rescues do the best they can with these terrible problems that accumulate daily — many of them heartbreaking. I cried all the way home today after having to request our vet to euthanize a beautiful little male cat who tested positive for FIV (AIDS). He was all torn up with scars which could have healed after all his testing and surgery was done, but with that horrible test result there is no other decision except to end his misery. He was so sweet that I had named him Everett after my late husband as I got him on Everett’s birthday, Dec. 4th. It seemed fitting at the time, but I should have known better as it is never a wise decision for me to name any cat before he had that snap-combo test. It is a very important test as FIV it is very contagious and always fatal.
Yes, it has been a difficult year. But we made it through the good and the bad and there have been many good situations too. Our wonderful volunteers and supporters hung with us and we saved close to 300 lives.
The returnable bottles and business collection jars are also a blessing as it enables us to provide our cats with the very best of medical care. We have good compassionate supporters who bless us every week. The shoe collection is going really well and is another blessing. We, the volunteers who work so hard for the cats’ welfare, could not do any of this without your financial help. They are a blessing as are all of you.
Our latest fundraiser is a drawing for a beautiful cat-themed Trollbead bracelet donated by Monica’s Scandinavian Imports on Sweden St., in Caribou. It has a value of over $650 and the winning tickets will be drawn on Dec. 21st, just in time for Christmas. Tickets are $5 each or three for $12. Call any HHPR board member or HHPR Mary Rowe at 999-1075 for tickets or information. The proceeds will benefit our medical and spay/neuter fund.
Norma Milton, president
Halfway Home Pet Rescue
