CARIBOU, Maine — All four second grade classes at Hilltop Elementary School watched a presentation from Halfway Home Pet Rescue President Norma Milton and played with kittens before teachers presented the guest speaker with a $337 check.
Milton emphasized the importance of cleaning a litter box and ensuring that cats are well-fed, and also explained why scratch pads can help dull cat claws and how regular brushing can prevent hairballs.
With the abundance of stray animals in the area, Milton also encouraged spaying and neutering, and how it can dramatically reduce the number of homeless kittens.
“We have eight kittens and only one available home up here,” said Milton, “so that means we’ve got to encourage people to spay and neuter so there are no more unwanted babies.”
Many of the stray cats housed at the local shelter are transported to Portland where they can find homes willing to take them in. The majority of pets in Portland are spayed or neutered, which means that their shelters have the extra room for cats from northern Maine.
“Everything we do is for the cats,” said Milton. “I hope that some day we’ll be like Portland and there won’t be any more unwanted kittens up here. If your cat isn’t spayed or neutered, you can talk with your teacher and we will help your family get them fixed. We’ll take care of the costs, all you have to do is drive them to the vet.”
