By Connie Tucker
Special to the Aroostook Republican
I just received an e-mail from Norma Milton, president of Caribou Pet Rescue, Inc. Board of Directors last week. Norma is most concerned about a Caribou family that found itself in the unenviable position of having to choose between family and their pets.
Larry and Harry, beautiful tabby brothers, were fostered for a month before finding their new owners at an adoption fair. Because of Caribou Pet Rescue’s stringent health program, the boys got a great, healthy head start on life.Their ailing pet, adopted from Caribou Pet Rescue a short time ago (with a condition undetected at adoption time), needs over $300 for medical care. They cannot afford the substantial vet bill facing them at this time. A second family has over $200 in vet bills and cannot afford needed surgery.
Sometimes we must make exceptions, choosing to help those who have adopted from us, but whose pets have developed serious medical conditions that are outside the family budget. We search and pray for sponsors to help us with this needed care.
Unfortunately, we are seeing more of these hardship situations. We try our best to help them outside of the shelter facility in order to save our dollars for operating and medical costs of the stray population. Just as the homeless shelter and the food kitchens are finding an increase in the need for services, humane shelters are seeing the same effect, and the family pet’s needs often are considered last
Caribou Pet Rescue (CPR) serves the stray animals in seven communities—Caribou, Washburn, New Sweden, Stockholm, Westmanland, Limestone, and Cyr Plantation. Because kennel and cage space is limited, we must reserve units for each community’s strays brought in by their animal control officers.
We often help people place their owned animals by referral to our network of others looking for a certain types of pets. This way, animals are served without ever having to come into the shelter, and even though we do not get an adoption fee, we can help these families in times of hardship. It is our mission, and one we hope you can believe in as deeply as we do.
CPR goes the extra mile to save lives. For two months, we’ve dropped our adoption fee to $25 to help increase adoptions during these tough economic times and, even though we are hurting financially, to save the lives of as many animals we can.
Can you help even with just a few dollars? Can you take up a collection at work? Every cent helps. Then send it to us at Caribou Pet Rescue, P.O. Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. Please mark your donation as a sponsorship for “needful owned pets.”
Our ongoing summer tent sale features “Make an Offer” through June month during National Adopt-a-Cat month. We have a variety of very nice items on sale, and they can be viewed and purchased any time during our public hours. Please call the shelter.
June is Adopt a Shelter Cat Month. To celebrate our furry feline friends, Caribou Pet Rescue is keeping the low $25.00 adult cat (over six months of age) adoption price throughout the month of June. But on July 1, the price for all felines will revert to $75.00. Where else can you save fifty dollars and make a loyal, happy and loving friend? This special $25.00 price includes our cost of a leukemia test, treatment of all parasites including ear mites, worms and fleas, spay/neuter surgery, rabies and age-appropriate distemper shots. That’s about $130.00 worth of medical care for only $25.00. Remember, the price goes back up the first of July.
Also, both North Country Animal Hospital and Presque Isle Animal Hospital offer CPR adopters a free wellness health appointment within 30 days of adoption of any pet from Caribou Pet Rescue.
CPR is currently experiencing a shortage of cat litter, Purina Kitten Chow, and laundry soap. We use plain litter for kittens and clumping litter for adult cats and economical store brand laundry soap. Please drop off your donations at the shelter during our public hours. For your convenience, you can also purchase items at Paradis Shop ’n Save and drop them in our donation cart by the front door.
We are always happy to see returnable bottles dropped off at our shelter as this is a great help to our ongoing expenses. Thank you for all you do.
Thank you for your support through donations and volunteerism. Our shelter is located at 6 Richards Road in Caribou. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. Our telephone number is 498-3800. Caribou Pet Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
Please visit www.petfinder.com/shelters/ME67.html to see our adorable, adoptable pets. And our success stories!
Thank you for your support through donations and volunteerism. We are always grateful for your help through our returnable bottles and cans drive. Our shelter is located at 6 Richards Road in Caribou. Our mailing address is P.O. Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. Our telephone number is 498-3800. Caribou Pet Rescue, Inc. is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. Donations are tax-deductible.
Visit our Web site, www.cariboupetrescue.org, for shelter news and photos of our adorable, adoptable pets. Remember—Neuter and Spay! It’s the ONLY way!
