We are pleased to welcome back the towns of Washburn, Caribou and Stockholm. Our promise is to provide you with the best possible service for your stray and abandoned animals. Our staff is dedicated to the care of the animals, and the quality of care they provide is top notch. We have served these communities in the past and will do it again. We have been in business since 1966 and years of experience and dedication have made the Central Aroostook Humane Society a steadfast icon in the County. If you have any questions regarding our shelter, please call us directly and get your information from the source. We can be reached at 764-3441. Better yet, stop by the shelter and meet our friendly staff.
With winter definitely here, there are some pet-related items that need to be addressed. If the roads are horrible, do you have enough pet supplies – dog food, cat food, litter? What about water? Do you have extra warm bedding and maybe a warm blanket for your pet in the car? How about a supply of any medications your pet may need? It isn’t very often that the roads close completely, but there are definitely times when you should not be driving, so think ahead for your whole family.
Some pets are better suited to survive outside than others, but the bottom line is any pet outside needs a warm shelter from the wind and cold and warm bedding. Pets should not be left out for long periods when the weather is cold. Just like humans, our pets can suffer from frostbite and hypothermia. Fresh water must be available to your pets and you need to consider increasing their food; and be sure to feed a good-quality food. The best place for your pet is inside.
If you and your pet do a lot of walking outside in the winter, you need to be aware of the snow that accumulates and forms ice balls in the fur between your dog’s toes. It can be uncomfortable and cause your dog to limp. It is best to trim the fur between their toes a bit to prevent ice from sticking. Some recommend dogs wearing booties. I honestly could not get my dog to wear booties on a bet, they would be chewed off and destroyed in seconds; but if you walk your dog a lot, it might be something to consider. Also be careful as to where your pet walks; salt and chemicals can burn your pet’s pads or cause them to lick their feet and that may cause tummy upset.
One very sad casualty of winter is antifreeze. Years ago, I had a beloved kitten named Tatty Ann Marie. She was a lovely yellow and white kitty with beautiful orange eyes. Someone had driven into my yard with an antifreeze leak apparently and she got into it; I didn’t realize what had happened until it was too late. Your pet does not have to drink the antifreeze to be poisoned, just a few licks of their paws can be fatal. For cats as little as a quarter of an ounce can be fatal – according to Pethealth.com.
Antifreeze poisoning occurs in two stages: In the first stage, the ethylene glycol in the antifreeze causes a drunken appearance in the animal within about 30 minutes which may continue for several hours. After passing through stage 1, the animal appears to recover. Stage 2 begins when the dog’s liver begins metabolizing the ethylene glycol, changing it into more toxic substances. Within 12 to 36 hours of ingestion, these metabolites have reached such a level that the dog’s kidneys stop functioning, and the animal slips into a coma. It is very important to get your pet to your vet within nine to 12 hours following the ingestion. Unfortunately, the signs are rather hard to detect, so if you notice your pet acting strangely, don’t wait, get to your vet. When changing your antifreeze, switch to a propylene-glycol-based antifreeze that is less toxic; these products can still cause poisoning, it just takes more to be fatal.
Being a pet owner is a huge responsibility, isn’t it? One to be taken very seriously; their lives are depending on you.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We have many wonderful animals just waiting for loving homes. If you would like to make a donation to the shelter, we are looking for non-scoopable cat litter, bleach, laundry detergent, paper towels, office supplies, Odo-ban, Wal-mart gift cards, donations made to DOC for fuel and any other creative item you would like to donate. We are very thankful for all of them. One item that is priceless is your time. If you have time to donate, come over and talk to our manager about becoming a volunteer.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
Winter a dangerous time for pets
Santa Paws came to town and what a time he had! The Central Aroostook Humane Society decided this year to do pictures two weekends in a row. Well, let me tell you, it was well worth it. We had so many festive people and their pets come into our winter wonderland. Our staff outdid themselves again this year with decorations; it was truly magical. All proceeds go to help the animals of the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
