CARIBOU — Halfway Home Pet Rescue will re-open their thrift store, Second Chance, at 31 Herschel Street in Caribou, right next door to the Presque Isle Animal Hospital’s Caribou clinic.
Volunteers have been working hard to get everything ready so that they could reopen Saturday, March 29. “We are excited about the store and look forward to offering the public some very nice items at bargain prices — and all profit will continue to go to the medical bills of HHPR-rescued cats,” said President of the HHPR Norma Milton.
The name, Second Chance, was picked because the recyclable items donated by area residents are the foundation for the “second chance” HHPR gives to the cats they rescue and rehabilitate.
Five years ago, HHPR opened a small gift store “Toby’s Treasures,” named after the shelter’s feline mascot, Toby; the store had to close after six months due to lack of consistent volunteer help.
Milton said she is certain the pet rescue will find enough volunteer staffing for the store this time around. “We were a new rescue in 2009 and we had far too many tasks and training classes to do for our direct cat care volunteers before we could concentrate on the thrift store; our time was limited and when you start something you need to be ready to jump in with both feet or you can expect to fail,” Milton acknowledged. “We had to make a choice between training volunteers for direct cat care or the store and the cats are, of course, our first priority.”
The pet rescue has specialized in recycling projects for several years in order to subsidize the rescued cats’ medical care. To date, the programs have been returnable bottles and cans for redemption, nicely used shoes redemption and empty name brand ink cartridges.
“The store is a continuation of the recycling image that HHPR projects as a way to save our cats and at the same time help to save our environment,” said Milton. “We save the cats, save on the landfill problems, offer low-cost nicely used items for low-income and/or thrifty families. It’s a win-win situation for making the most of what is already available — cut out the waste,” she added.
The store is situated at 31 Herschel St., Caribou in the building owned by Gary St. Peter. Second Chance hours will be on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. As volunteers sign up as store salespeople, the store will then be open on Thursday and Friday afternoons. Persons interested in becoming a store volunteer are encouraged to call Mary Rowe at 999-1075 to receive an application.
