HOULTON, Maine — While there has been an outpouring of support for one of the town’s animal rescue associations after a devastating fire, the town’s other animal group is experiencing financial difficulties of its own.
The Houlton Humane Society is on the verge of cutting back hours or possibly laying off employees, due to extremely high heating costs this winter, coupled with a stark decline in donations to the group.
“To date, we have spent $5,000 in heating costs and we still owe $1,000,” said Heather Miller, executive director for the society. “Plus we only have about a quarter of a tank of oil left. It has been an extremely hard winter.”
Compounding the problem, the society ran into unforeseen expenses when the shelter’s chimney collapsed and took in several animals when the state’s Animal Welfare Program seized nine dogs, a rabbit and two chickens from a Houlton residence and another 12 dogs from a Monticello home. The state does not provide any financial assistance for those seizures, Miller added.
Miller said donations to the group have slowed as many in the area are struggling with their own high heating costs during this harsh winter.
Unlike the town’s other animal group, the Houlton Humane Society is required to take in stray animals as they are contracted with towns to do so.
“We receive $3,200 a month from Houlton, but our monthly expenses with payroll and oil run us, right now, about $5,300, not including other bills like electric, dumpster, payroll taxes and quarterly taxes,” Miller explained.
The Houlton Humane Society provides contract services for 12 towns, five of which pay less then $500 per year for strays. Some of those towns pay in April, while others pay in November.
“Some towns pay when they chose too, but we still have to take their animals in the process,” Miller said.
Miller said there is also a misconception around town that the group receives funding from the Humane Society of the United States. The Houlton shelter does not receive funding from that group, nor does it receive financial assistance from the state.
“We may have to do some layoffs or close for a few days,” she said. “We just don’t know at this point.”
For more information, or to make a donation, contact the shelter at 532-2862 or visit www.houltonhumanesociety.org or the group’s Facebook page.
