Pet Talk

    I don’t know when it happened, it was like a bolt of lightning, I never saw it coming, I had no warning, but the fever hit. Yard sale fever. Don’t I love yard sales. And the funny thing is, I’m not much of a buyer, I just like to look, and every once in a while I find a treasure. Isn’t that what we all love about yard sales?  That “aha” moment when we find the match to our Avon cat trivet,  it’s just like your first ice cream at the Dairy Bar for the season or your first sip of hot coffee in the morning, there’s just nothing like it. Loving yard sales the way I do, you probably already know that yard sales are my favorite fund raisers for the animal shelter. I not only get to shop, but I get to help set up and tear down and this year we are so excited because we are going to set up in the big building out behind Northern Musical Supply on the Calais Road (almost across from the bowling alley) and we’re going to stay set up all summer.
    Our first yard sale is scheduled for Saturday, June 19. If you would like to donate, please plan to hold onto your items until Friday evening June 18. Then bring them right out to the Humphrey’s (Northern Musical Supply) from 5-7 pm. Yes, we’re fussy, we don’t want clothes, and we apologize for that, we just don’t have the room to store and display clothes, and if you have electronics that are outdated and/or don’t work, please donate those to your local landfill, but we’d love to have anything else that you can spare.             Recently Northern Musical Supply was the site of a fun event as Travis James Humphrey, our very own Houlton-raised extremely talented musician, kicked off his tour with a hot dog fest and music and just some down home fun. Many thanks to Travis for donating $500 of his sales to the Houlton Humane Society.  Your momma raised you good Trav, and we love ya!
    Also, a huge thank you to Lynn York for the loan of the tent, Ken’s store for the donation of ice, Tim Horton’s for the coffee and Ellis IGA for the hot dogs and rolls!
    As you know, the shelter has been under quarantine for some time and the expense of the ringworm outbreak has been a tremendous financial burden so you will likely see many fund raisers this summer just so we can pay our bills. Your support and participation is greatly appreciated.
    And, while I’m saying thank you, I just have to continue to thank all of you who are sending in cards and letters of support to boost the morale of the Shelter staff. We have, without a doubt, the best group of volunteers and employees and they have been through so very much. Unless you’re out there and doing the work, you have no idea how difficult it’s been. Your letters have meant so much to everybody. We could literally wallpaper an entire wall with notes of encouragement and trust me, it has made a huge difference, just knowing that you’re with us and you care.
    This is truly a remarkable community, and we are blessed to know that you are hanging in with us and looking forward to our reopening, hopefully very, very soon. In the meantime, if you have lost a pet, continue to call the shelter at 532-2862 as we are still taking strays, we are just keeping them in foster care. If you would like to adopt, call the shelter and Heather can tell you what’s available and meet you somewhere to deliver your new companion.
    If you would like to help by fostering a few animals for just a few weeks, call Heather and let her know, we could use about 10 more foster homes just through the summer months.