By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Aroostook Republican
Happy New Year everyone! Last year brought the Central Aroostook Humane Society many trials and tribulations, but we have endured and are here another year to serve the communities of central Aroostook County and provide a safe haven for the unwanted and abandoned animals of our area. We have laughed and cried, we have celebrated victories and mourned our defeats, but we have persevered and gotten even more determined to make a difference in the lives of animals.
Contributed photo
The University of Maine at Fort Kent’s Student Teachers Educational Professional Society (STEPS) education club recently held a bake sale on the campus to raise money to purchase holiday gifts and needed items for children. The gifts and monetary donations were presented to Pam Pennington, a representative for the Project for Hope and Justice. STEPS continues to work toward providing community service to the local area and appreciates the public’s support in their endeavors. From left are: Dr. Doris Metz, STEPS advisor; Ashley Oostvogels, Matthew Oostvogels, Pennington, Project for Hope and Justice representative; and Anthony Brain.
You know you’re a dog person when:
• You have more dog beds, chew toys, collars, leashes, harnesses and dog crates than you have dogs;
• You meet other people with dogs, and remember their dog’s call name after 30 seconds, but don’t get the owner/handler’s name until you’ve met them two or three times;
• You don’t think twice about trading licks of an ice cream cone with your dog;
• Your parents give up on grandchildren and start to refer to your dogs as “your kids” or “your children” (bonus: they start to call them “our granddogs”);
• Ninety percent of your Internet connection time goes to the dogs (seeing what’s new when you enter your breed into the browser, reading up on multiple lists, checking out photos, sounds and FAQs, etc.);
• You have hundreds of pictures of your dogs on your desk at work, in your wallet, etc., but none of your family or yourself;
• No one wants to ride in your car because they know they’ll get dog hair on their clothes;
• You reach into your pockets for change, and liver treats, dog kibble and pick-up bags fall all over (bonus: you’ve done this in a classy establishment);
• You’ve had long, meaningful discussions with your friends on the best way to trim your dog’s nails but have never had a manicure or pedicure in your lifetime;
• Books and movies are ruined for you if the dog references are incorrect;
• The highlight of your day is spending time with your dog;
• You watch simply awful movies because your breed is either featured in a cameo scene or there’s a three-second camera shot during a crowd scene;
• All of your clothes have dog hair on them, even when they come back from the laundromat or dry cleaners;
• The only thing your friends, colleagues and passing acquaintances say to you when they see you is “How are the dogs” or “How many dogs do you have now;” and/or
• Your photo Christmas cards features your dogs (humans optional). Author Unknown
I will admit, all of my Christmas cards had my dogs on them and, of course, my kids. I share my home right now with seven dogs; it isn’t always easy and some would call me crazy, but we love our animals like family. So we share our home with seven dogs. And what about cats?
Top 1- signs that you are A “Crazy Cat Lady”:
• Your colleagues no longer ask how your weekend was. Instead ,they ask how your cats are doing;
• People at work have stopped offering you their lint brushes.They realize it’s hopeless anyway;
• When you get your latest roll of film developed, there’s not a single human being in the pictures;
• You have more cats than the local pet store and there are several kitty litter boxes in every room of your apartment;
• Your personal motto is: “You can never have enough cats;”
• You buy more than 60 pounds of cat litter a month;
• You’d rather watch hours of boring infomercials than disturb the cat sleeping on the remote;
• You choose your friends based on how well your cats like them;
• The only time you leave your apartment is to feed the stray cats in the neighborhood; and/or
• You introduce your cats by name to the pizza delivery guy. (Cat humor from KittyKondo.com)
I think I am in trouble!! We have cats too!
Let’s hope this New Year starts out on a positive note. If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or you can visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
