All too often we hear of a landlord going into his property after a tenant has moved out, only to find that the tenant left a mess — garbage piled up, dirty stained floors, and worst of all, animals left behind, sometimes with enough food and water to get them by a few days, sometimes with nothing at all. It breaks my heart every time I hear these stories and it’s not just now and then, it’s often.
I guess I just don’t quite get it. Most people know they are going to move in plenty of time to make arrangements for their animals. Not that long ago these pets were the pets they just “had to have.” Whether they found them in a “free to a good home” ad or they adopted from a shelter or rescue, there was something sweet and compelling about these bundles of fur that made these families just have to take them in.
Giving them the benefit of the doubt, maybe these families checked with neighbors, called their family members, or even made one call to one rescue. Maybe they were told this facility was full or that facility didn’t take owner surrenders, but in the state of Maine there are dozens of rescues and shelters. Do you know that there were 2,602 dogs and 6,601 cats surrendered to animal shelters in Maine in 2015? That number is only slightly lower than the stray animals.
There is a shelter out there that will help you. Please do not abandon your animals when you move.
This is the holiday season and it always makes me smile when we know an animal is not going to spend Christmas in a cage. One statistic that really cheers me is that in 2015, 7,075 dogs were adopted from animal shelters and 14,358 cats ‚Ä“ this is just in Maine and only in those shelters reporting to the Maine Department of Agriculture animal welfare program. In all, 21,433 animals found new homes.
How did that happen? Did 21,000 animals parade up Main Street with signs and dance a little jig? Did 21,000 animals put ads in the paper and sign up for Facebook and say, “Ooh, ooh, take me”? No, these animals were rescued, loved, vetted, saved and adopted from shelters who are committed to one goal and one goal only: no more homeless pets. Do you know that the live release rate in Maine for cats and dogs is 93 percent? Considering how many strays are brought to shelters that are sick, abused, injured in accidents, and die as a result of their illness or injuries, this means that Maine Shelters are doing an incredible job!
Who are these people? They are you and me. Those who donate, those who volunteer, those who are employed, those who attend fundraisers, those who adopt. WE are those people. We are the champions of the homeless, the voices of those who cannot parade up Main Street with signs. We are their hope. YOU are their hope.
Please join me. Let’s save just one more. Let’s find just one more home for one more cat and one more dog before Christmas.
Thank you for remembering Houlton Humane Society and the animals we serve.
