As I write this I am looking forward to my first official meeting as chairman of the board of directors of the Houlton Humane Society. It’s like “going home”, a familiar place, familiar faces, and yet at the same time, not stale in any way, with a lot of excitement about the future, a lot of plans for upcoming events and a lot of happy stories about critters who have found new homes.
I am especially pleased when we are able to help individuals who find themselves in situations that are beyond their control and they need to rehome their pets. This is a traumatic experience for all, your beloved family member moving on without you; I cannot even begin to imagine what it would be like if I had to give up my Scruffy, or Ellie, Boo or Holly. It would break my heart, and for those who find they must do this in the best interest of their animals, it is the most difficult decision.
At the same time I admire those who understand that making arrangements for good homes for their pets, before they are no longer able, is a noble gesture, so when someone is ill and knows they are not going to get any better, when someone has to go into nursing care and give up their home and their pets, it is my grand desire that the shelter treat these people with kindness, compassion and empathy, and that every effort is made to find a perfect home for their beloved four-legged children.
Often these pets are elderly and not as easy to place as a cute little puppy or kitten, and to those of you with a heart for the aging pet, I say bless you — it is a truly a gift.
If you would like to help the shelter continue to move forward so we can help these animals, the lost, the homeless, please join us. We need volunteers to bake for our May 21 bake sale at Tractor Supply, or stop by and purchase freshly baked treats, and also be sure to purchase a raffle ticket for our kayak drawing.
May 22nd is “Paint and Snack.” If you wish to sign up, seats are limited.
We will also need assistance with our open house on June 11. We will be having a ton of special features at this event, and if you would like to participate in any way, please call the shelter at 532-2862 after 11 a.m. and ask for Ramona. She will schedule you to help us.
We will be doing a yard sale, having a barbecue, a bake sale, face painting, live remove by WHOU and even more.
If you have a few hours to help over the weekend of the Fourth, we will have a booth at the fair. We also hope to be able to have a booth at Midnight Madness, and we will be planning a benefit supper for early fall (I hate thinking that fall is close enough to plan for but at my age time speeds by like crazy and fall will be here before we know it).
There is so much you can do to help the animals. Please join us, we look forward to seeing you.
