A region-wide project led by the county’s four hospitals and the County Federal Credit Union to support four animal shelters in northern, central and southern Aroostook will kick off on Halloween and run through the first week of November. Pitch in for the Paws is a coordinated collection drive for items to stock the shelves at the animal welfare organizations that take in stray and abandoned pets.
With the winter months fast approaching, area shelters face a critical need for supplies and food for animals that have been abandoned and are now in their care. The Houlton Humane Society, Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle, Halfway Home Pet Rescue in Caribou, and PAWS Animal Welfare Society in Fort Kent, each of which will benefit from donations collected through Pitch in for the Paws, have all seen a recent swell in the number of abandoned and homeless animals in their care.
“The County Federal Credit Union is pleased to participate in the 2014 Pitch in for the Paws campaign,” said Laurie Colton, assistant vice president, loan operations at CFCU. “We’re excited about the growth of this special cause and the involvement of all of our local hospitals. As part of ‘The County’ community, we take great pride in helping to support the needs of our local animal shelters.”
Employees at Northern Maine Medical Center, Cary Medical Center, TAMC, and Houlton Regional Hospital, along with CFCU, are spearheading the effort to aid local animal shelters in collaboration with a number of area businesses and organizations.
The Pitch in for the Paws program was first introduced at TAMC two years ago by the hospital’s Total Health Team after members of the group heard about the great need for supplies at the Central Aroostook Humane Society that was compounded by the coming winter months and associated general increase in expenses. In the fall of 2013, the well-received effort was expanded to assist not just one, but two shelters in the region. Halfway Home Pet Rescue in Caribou also benefited from the second annual drive.
“We are so pleased that the effort has expanded this year to include all four County hospitals, the County Federal Credit Union, and a good number of other locations throughout the area that have agreed to both hold their own drives and serve as drop-off locations for members of their communities who want to contribute,” said Eugene Curtis, co-chair of the TAMC Total Health Team and one of the originators of the Pitch in for the Paws drive. “Collectively, we will make a tremendous difference in the efforts of the four supported animal shelters to care for the animals and to serve the needs of their respective communities.”
Dedicated to the health and wellness of Aroostook residents, the four hospitals appreciate the important role that pet ownership can play in a patient’s care and overall quality of life. Owning a pet has been shown to reduce stress, improve recovery times, lessen symptoms of depression, reduce levels of anxiety and increase physical activity.
“It’s well-documented that the human-animal bond can improve physical, psychological, and social wellbeing,” said Kim Jones, Cary Medical Center Healthy You director. “We’re thrilled to be part of Pitch in for the Paws not only to help with the care of homeless animals in our area, but to also raise awareness about the many wonderful benefits of pet ownership. This project serves as an important reminder that a healthy society includes the humane treatment of animals.”
The animal welfare organizations require a great many supplies in order to meet the needs of displaced pets throughout Aroostook County. This is the first year that shelters in the St. John Valley and southern Aroostook, and the hospitals that serve those respective regions, will take part in the project.
“Houlton Regional Hospital is very pleased to be involved in the Pitch in for the Paws project to help assist our local animal rescue agencies. All donations received will help the community animal shelters during the winter months,” said Melissa Little, MA, of Houlton Regional Hospital. “We encourage all to support this worthy cause by teaming up with your local hospital and helping to collect the much needed pet supplies.”
The four hospitals, health centers and other locations affiliated with the medical providers, all branches of the County Federal Credit Union, and a good number of other locations throughout the region will have collection boxes available onsite from Oct. 31-Nov. 7. Items donated in each region will be gathered and brought to the nearest hospital Nov. 7. Once all donations have been collected, the animal shelters in each region will go to their closest hospital to pick up the items.
Among the items needed at the animal shelters include bleach, hand soap, laundry soap, hand sanitizer, paper towels, garbage bags, air freshener, scoopable cat litter, Purina Cat and Dog food, Purina Kitten Chow, cat treats, blankets, leashes, cat carriers, small cat beds, cat toys, dog kennels, treats, toys and puppy pads. A variety of office supplies such as paper clips, pens, scissors, staplers and note pads are also needed.
Monetary donations will also be gladly accepted at any of the collection locations. Because the PAWS Animal Welfare Society in Fort Kent and Halfway Home Pet Rescue in Caribou only care for cats, and any stray or abandoned dogs in those areas would likely be taken to the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle, donations of items specific to dogs collected in the St. John Valley and Caribou area will be given to CAHS. All items collected for cats and any cash donations will remain with the local shelters.
County businesses and their employees interested in taking part in the effort by making a donation or serving as a donation site can contact any of the four participating animal shelters or the community relations office at any of the four County hospitals for more information.
In central Aroostook, people can drop off donated items in Caribou at Cary Medical Center, County Federal Credit Union, Beaulieu’s Garage, Daigle Oil Co., Pines Caribou Health Center, S.W. Collins, TAMC’s Caribou Health Center and United Insurance Keiffer Agency; in Fort Fairfield at the County Federal Credit Union, Kimball Community Health Center and TAMC’s Fort Fairfield Health Center; in Mars Hill at Aroostook Health Center and TAMC’s Mars Hill Health Center; in Presque Isle at TAMC’s A.R. Gould Memorial Hospital, Clukey’s Auto Supply, County Federal Credit Union, County Dialysis Center, Daigle Oil Co., Dead River (corporate office), North Street Healthcare, Pines Presque Isle Family Health Center, Presque Isle Recreation Department and S.W. Collins; and in Washburn at Pines Washburn Health Center.
In southern Aroostook, donations can be dropped off in Houlton at Houlton Regional Hospital, County Federal Credit Union and Daigle Oil Co.
