By Norma MiltonSpecial to the Aroostook Republican
It all comes down to money. It costs an average of $5.64 per day for every CPR animal. This cost is figured with an average of 50 animals in the shelter per day which breaks down to a cost of $282 per day to simply open our doors. Our budget for 2008 is $90,300.
Contributed photo
Faith, the last feral kitten born of Stan’s of Madawaska Lake feral cat colony, is now 3 years old and proof that feral kittens can be rehabilitated into lovely, mellow housecats. Faith, who is always available for a belly rub, has a permanent home with Everett and Norma Milton of Madawaska Lake.
Anything less than 50 animals and the daily cost per animal goes higher. The fuel company doesn’t charge us less on days when we only have 47 animals in the shelter, nor does the electric company lower the number of kilowatts used, nor does our landlord charge us less rent. It rates out at a flat $282 per day to open our door and say “Good morning.”
Love costs money. Some of you have seen me get excited over a pick-up truck of returnable bottles. Our Ford pick-up can hold approximately $45 to $50.00 worth of bottles on a bottle drive. That comes to one day of shelter care for 9 animals per load of bottles. It is worth getting excited about. Last week the Hilltop School second graders presented CPR with $75.00 from their bottle drive. I came close to trying to do cartwheels down their hallway. Please keep the bottles going to 88 Bennett Drive for Caribou Pet Rescue, to DoDo’s Market and Presque Isle Redemption. It is a painless way for you to help CPR animals.
Our biggest expense is medical and surgical. This year, it will probably run us over $40,000 for vet bills, vaccines, and testing supplies. This is our most necessary item and we have no safety zone to decrease our cost without decreasing the quality of care. Decreasing care is not an option for CPR. We know that if we don’t do it, it might not get done. We have not accomplished our goal if we don’t do the job right.
Even though our regular adoption price is lower than our cost of medical care for each pet, we have to accept that we have to go even lower to get older animals placed in a good home. By older animals, I mean those over 6 months of age. The elderly animal (over 10 years of age) is offered for adoption at a charge of only $1. We generally have from $130 to $240 in each animal and may have to charge $25 per adult cat and only $75 per dog. It’s a fast way to hurt, but priority one is (1) help the animal, and (2) adopt the animal to a good home. We realize that this past winter has been financially tough on families so we accept our loss in order to have the home.
Our next highest bill is wages as well as the taxes and insurance that goes with this expense. We are fortunate to have good people who truly love these animals and work hard to maintain a clean and healthy environment. They still find time to squeeze in some kissing and hugging for each animal.
Volunteers are always needed. As well as animal work, we need dog walkers, people who will brush and love both cats and dogs, and people who will give hours straightening up our tent sale and who might help out for the tent sale on Saturdays. We also need people to rake our yards and mow our lawn.
Right now, we need volunteers to help with a Poker Run in June. If you are able to help with this fundraiser, please contact Paula DeMerchant by leaving a message for her at the shelter.
Please continue to donate nicely used articles for CPR’s Tent Sale. We will keep this fundraiser going throughout the summer. We appreciate your donated items. If you shop at our tent, please go to the shelter to pay for your purchases. We will continue to collect bottles year around. Your bottle change spays and neuters many precious animals.
Caribou Pet Rescue,the Emergency Management (EMA), C.E.R.T. personnel, Caribou Police Department, Caribou Fire and Ambulance are joining “Caribou Cares about Kids” week. We are adding in “Caribou Cares About Pets” as well as kids. We are planning a big shindig on August 9th. Please mark your calendar.
Call 498-3800 for information or check out our pets at Caribou Pet Rescue is located at 6 Richards; and the mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736 Neuter and Spay – It’s the ONLY Way.
