Special to the Star-Herald
Everyone wants to know how the beautiful little calico cat is doing that was on TV, so badly frost-bitten. Well she spent some much-needed time at the vet and her condition did improve from listless to alive. She surprised us all.
Her condition was still guarded when she returned to the shelter. After careful evaluation, we made the decision to humanely euthanize her. It was a tough decision, but this kitty was obviously in a lot of pain and would lash out at those trying to help her. Her feet were swollen, breaking open and oozing, she was blowing blood from her frost bitten nose and she could not stand on her front paws. Her condition was the worst we had ever seen. So it is with heavy hearts that we had to say goodbye to this beautiful little girl. We had hoped to find her owners before having to make such a decision to let them say good-bye, because she appeared to be a well-kept cat and may have escaped from her home. When the temperatures are this brutal, it isn’t safe to let your pets outside, especially cats. Dogs you can control, but cats are another story. Let this be a lesson that nobody wants to learn this way. Again, this was a choice we made in the best interest of the cat; we did what we felt was humane. It was a very sad day indeed.
It is very important especially in the winter that we all be on the “look-out” for animals in distress and call your animal control officer (call your local police department) if there is any question about an animal’s well-being. If it is a livestock-related concern, please call the State Department of Animal Welfare (287-3846 or 877-269-9200 toll free) and file a complaint. I know it is a hard thing for some people to do, but one phone call could mean the difference between life and death of an animal. We see it all the time, dogs tied to houses and left with no bedding for warmth, struggling to survive. The Central Aroostook Humane Society is not the place to call to report such things. The person who witnesses the animal has to be the one to call and report it. So please do the responsible thing and report it.
We have had some awesome things happen recently – children forsaking their birthday presents to bring items we need to the shelter, cats being adopted (Malcolm) after being with us a long time and dogs finally finding their forever home after being brought back numerous times. We are always delighted to find someone the perfect match for a pet. It is very important to us. When I look around at my own dogs, I wonder if anyone could love them but me – Zoe with her issues of separation anxiety and having to be the queen bee and Tucker with his bi-polar attitude. I can put up with these behaviors because I love them and I would never part with these guys; they are a part of my family. The animals who come to us are not perfect no matter where you get them from; none of us are perfect. We all need to be taught how to cohabitate with others, because everyone has different expectations. Through patience and kind teaching it is possible to shape behaviors and to manage your pets. Yes, I said ‘manage.’ You have to be the consistent leader of your pack, being firm but fair. Dogs respect that. Understand that when you bring a dog into your home, he has a whole new set of rules to learn and things to experience like “where is the door, how do I get outside, which bed is mine and what do you mean no singing at midnight?” Cats, on the other hand, will teach you and ‘manage’ you, so be prepared!
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society because we have many wonderful animals available for adoption. Visit or give us a call at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
Preschool students from the Fort Fairfield ACAP branch recently visited the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle where they donated bedding for dogs, newspapers and treats for the cats. They also made dog biscuits.
