Special to the Star-Herald
Just a friendly reminder, Halloween is a scary time for our critters, so keep them inside, safe and sound. Give them their own space away from the masked ghouls, and be sure to keep them out of the candy. Boy, being a pet owner is a big job, isn’t it? The Central Aroostook Humane Society is selling VIP tickets for the Aroostook Centre Mall’s VIP night. Tickets are $3 and all proceeds go directly to the shelter to help the animals. In return, you get entrance to VIP night and all of the special bargains at the mall. Visit the shelter or give us a call at 764-3441 for more information. It is a good deal for us and a great deal for you!
We have also been offering microchipping for quite some time now, but I wanted to remind you that it is available. We offer microchipping prior to adoption. Once you sign that paperwork and the animal becomes yours, you will need to go to your veterinarian to have it done. Microchipping is $15 per animal, but it gives you the peace of mind knowing that if your pet is lost, it can be identified and returned to you. I personally think this is especially important with cats. There is no leash law for cats and they tend to wander, but if your cat is chipped and comes into our shelter, we can scan it and find you to reunite you with your beloved pet. This is a great identification device too if you travel with your dog because most shelters and veterinary offices have scanners to read the chip.
If you own a pet, you know that occasionally accidents happen. It is very important to quickly clean any accidents properly. Be sure to remove solids and blot any liquids. One trick is to keep club soda on hand; the bubbles in club soda help to lift the stains and salt in the beverage help to prevent stains from setting. It is just as important to remove the odor, so use a pet odor remover found in the pet department of your local store. It is important to get the smell out completely or your pet may choose to soil there again. Baking soda will also neutralize the odor, but be sure to blot up any excess liquid first.
Having pets can and, for the most part, is a very rewarding experience. If your pet begins to soil your home, first look at yourself; have you changed your litter box lately? Does your dog go out often enough? Then check with your veterinarian to be sure to rule out any medical condition. The answer in the end if both of those check out ok is to retrain your cat or dog. I would suggest putting your cat into a cage with a fresh, clean litter box and retrain it to use the litter box and not your carpet. In the meantime, have your carpets professionally cleaned. The same goes for your dog; retrain or re-housebreak your dog. Some get lazy.
Remember, there are ways to help the Central Aroostook Humane Society that only cost you time. Log on to www.theanimalrescuesite.com/clickToGive/. The Animal Rescue Site is awarding $100,000 in grants to eligible Petfinder member rescue organizations. The grand prize is a $25,000 grant. Just imagine how many animals we could help for $25,000!
You can also log on to www.zootoo.com/makeover and help us to win a shelter make-over. And www.searchandgive.com is a search engine that allows you to earn a penny a search. So please, think of us the next time you are on your computer.
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 give us a call at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered!
Happy Halloween! Be safe and have fun.
