Seizures of nearly 50 animals in the past week have pushed the Central Aroostook Humane Society beyond its normal capacity.
In addition to eight pit bulls being rescued on Jan. 6 in Fort Fairfield, 39 cats have been removed as of Friday from an Easton home.
To have two seizures in a week is unusual in Aroostook County, which normally sees fewer large rescues than other parts of Maine, Shelter Executive Director Betsy Hallett said. Most recently, in October, two people were arrested and 13 animals seized in Belfast. An East Millinocket woman was charged with animal cruelty in August after 23 dogs were taken, and in 2022, more than 60 animals were rescued from a home in Alfred.
The humane society’s Presque Isle shelter usually holds 10 dogs and 25 cats, but the week’s influx has workers using every corner of the building.
“I’m keeping one of the puppies in my office,” said Hallett. “We’ve kept all of [the cats] isolated, and that’s hard to do because that consumes two whole rooms.”
The cats came from a single residence in Easton whose tenants were evicted, Hallett said. Animal control brought 37 in initially, and two more have been found.
Though infested with fleas, the felines are not in bad health overall, she said. They’ve all been vaccinated and treated for fleas and worms, and staff anticipate many will soon be available for adoption.
It’s the largest seizure Easton Animal Control Officer Denise Clark has seen.
She heard about the situation when the Aroostook County Sheriff’s Department contacted her during an emergency eviction at the home. The tenants couldn’t take the cats with them.
“I asked the sheriff’s deputy how many I was looking at. They said they didn’t want to count,” she said. “They had prepped me for the condition of the house, but I wasn’t expecting almost 40.”
Clark contacted Hallett to see if the shelter had room, and said Hallett was more than willing to accommodate the animals.
Inside the two isolation rooms at the shelter on Friday, Clark talked soothingly to the cats. A few appeared to tremble, but most were lying in beds or on perches. Most of them seem scared, but friendly, she said.
They have had fleas and some skin irritation, but don’t appear malnourished and seem in acceptable health, she said. None of them were spayed or neutered.
What concerns Clark is that if she hadn’t been contacted, the cats would still be living in the conditions they were in, and over time their population would only have increased.
It’s unknown if charges will be filed, and the tenants’ names are not being released yet, Clark said.
Fort Fairfield police seized the eight dogs on Jan. 6 from what Chief Matthew Cummings called “deplorable” conditions. Two puppies were dead and one was taken to New Brunswick for emergency surgery. Officers arrested Daniel Bernaiche, 50, and Christina Wilcox, 42, and charged them with 12 counts of animal cruelty.
Chrissy MacFarland of Houlton, District Humane Agent in Aroostook County for Maine’s Animal Welfare Program, was also involved in the rescue, Hallett said.
Some of the dogs are so frightened they are still hiding under their bedding, Hallett said.
Most of them are on antibiotics for skin infections. Some have abscesses from puncture wounds, the origin of which is unknown, and others have some fur missing, she said. They’re very thin and two of the females may be pregnant.
Staff are working to bathe them and treat them for fleas and worms. A veterinarian has been in to examine them all, and many community members are stopping in to try to comfort them.
The influx of animals has sparked an outpouring of support that has blown shelter staff away. Businesses and community members responded quickly and have been bringing a steady supply of bedding, cleaning supplies, food, litter and even toys, Hallett said.
“It has been so amazing. I can’t even begin to say just how awesome this community is,” she said. “And it’s not just people from our local area. People all over the state have messaged us and are sending donations.”
Hallett believes in the end the dogs will be able to be adopted. In fact, one may have already found a home.
The dog was near death and couldn’t stand or walk, Hallett said. It was taken to New Brunswick for emergency surgery. The dog survived the surgery and the veterinarian is going to foster and perhaps adopt him, she said.
Pet owners need to spay and neuter their animals, Hallett and Clark said, because uncontrolled breeding can lead all too quickly to a population that’s hard to control.
Anyone who suspects animal cruelty or abandonment should contact law enforcement or their local animal control officer.
