HOULTON, Maine — A change in leadership is underway at the Houlton Humane Society, after several members of the board of directors stepped down for personal reasons.
According to Heather Miller, executive director for the shelter, new members have been elected to the board, which she hopes will breathe new life into the group. The board now features Barb Murray, Laura Marley, Monica Gray, Nancy Waldron, Melanie Greaves and Ramona Conrad. Additional board members can still be added.
“We actually did a job application for the new members to see what they could contribute,” Miller explained. “We wanted to know that the person is here to help out this place.”
Miller is the longest standing member of the Houlton Humane Society, having been with the group for the past 10 years. But she wants members of the public to know that the shelter is not just her.
“We have six board members and four employees who are all part of the decision-making process,” she said.
Shelter officials are also in the process of changing bylaws for the organization. Those rule changes have been sent to the group’s attorney for review.
“It used to be that the board president did everything,” Miller said. “We have opted to delegate different jobs for different people. That is what works best for us. We still have positions, but this way if one person can’t do everything they need to, everyone can help out.”
“We want to function more as a team,” Murray added.
The shelter recently won $1,000 in a “Shelterchallenge.com” contest and received $500 from Dunkin Donuts. An anonymous donation of $1,000 was also received. All of those funds have been set aside to cover heating costs at the shelter.
Another change at the shelter will be welcome news to taxpayers as the group is lowering the amount it charges communities to take in stray animals. Presently, the shelter charges $6 per capita, but that figure could drop by nearly $1. The group also sent out letters to municipalities it serves, to let them know monthly payments can be made instead of lump sums.
“We want to keep our towns happy,” Miller said.
The Houlton Humane Society services the communities of Houlton, Littleton, Monticello, Orient, Weston, Amity, Cary Plantation, Moro Plantation, Reed Plantation and Wytopitlock. The group recently lost Ludlow, whose leaders chose to send their stray animals to Presque Isle.
The fee went up six years ago when the shelter was struck with a case of ringworm. The fee went from $4 per capita to $6. By reducing the fee, the shelter will receive less revenue, but Miller said they could make cuts to their budget by reducing electricity expenses and by asking for food donations. Many of the small communities pay less than $500 per year.
The shelter has seen a spike in the number of owner-surrendered animals lately, Miller said, and currently has 55 cats and 10 dogs. Because of the increase in owner-surrendered animals, the shelter is no longer importing dogs from Georgia.
A fund-raiser/pet adoption event is planned for Saturday at Tractor Supply Company in Houlton from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Miller said the shelter always welcomes volunteers to come and spend time with the animals, either walking dogs or playing with kittens.
For more information on the shelter, call 532-2862 or visit their Facebook page.
