Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
    Several months ago the ASPCA granted the Houlton Humane Society $2500 for the purpose of putting together a low cost spay/neuter clinic.   Area Veterinarians are so swamped that setting aside a day or two to do non-stop surgery just was not possible, so what we did was we put a program together that would grant $50 to any low income individual who needed financial assistance in getting their pet altered.     To date, we have had only 7 animals go through this program.  We have enough money in the program to assist with the fee on 40 more animals.  
    This is how the program works.  If you are on a fixed income, social security, unemployment, if you are eligible for food stamps, TANF, Medicare, Mainecare, any of these programs, then you are eligible for this $50 grant.   If you have a male cat, this might be enough to pay the entire neuter fee, if you have a female cat, this won’t pay the entire cost of the surgery but it will cover a lot of it.
    All you have to do is call the shelter and ask for an application.  We’ll mail one out to you, you mail it back, and we mail you a voucher that you give to your Veterinarian when you have your pet altered.  The Vet will mail the voucher to me after the surgery and we send our check directly to the Veterinarian.
    All the local Vets support this program so you shouldn’t have any trouble using the vouchers.  And you don’t need to pay the money back.   If someday you get rich and want to put money back into the program so we can help someone else, that’s great, and if you can’t, that’s fine too.   There is no need to repay this.
    The point is this, the most urgent and pressing issue in animal welfare today in Maine and across the country is too many pets, not enough  homes.  The only way, and I mean the only way, to address this issue is to spay and neuter.   
    There is no reason to let Fluffy have a litter of kittens.  There is no wonder in the miracle of birth that is worth having thousands upon thousands of unwanted animals abandoned year after year for lack of good homes.   There is no medical benefit in allowing a cat, or a dog, to go through one heat cycle or to have just one litter.  In fact, studies show that spaying and neutering your pets is beneficial to their long term health and survival.
    So, we have this grant money, this is the only thing we can use it for, and if you want to do your part in reducing the pet overpopulation problem, then call the shelter at 532-2862 and ask for a spay/neuter grant application.   If you qualify and you have four cats, I will approve four vouchers, so long as the money is there.  This is not limited to one animal per household.
    And please don’t forget that you can now sponsor a pet, or “virtually” adopt a pet at the Shelter.  For just $20 a month you may pick out a beautiful animal that is waiting for a new home and we will provide you with a photo of your pet, updates, and your financial support will pay for food, litter, medical care and maintenance of this animal until it is adopted.  At the time of adoption you will be notified and you may either discontinue your support or choose another pet to sponsor.  If you are interested in this program, please call the shelter and we will send you an application for the program – merely an information gathering form so we’ll know where to send your new pet information etc.
    These are exciting times!  Our membership drive is coming up, Box Lunch is right around the corner, the Walk-a-thon is May 1st and trust me, before you know it May 1st will be here.  Let’s keep the momentum going, let’s push forward and do everything we can to save every animal we can.
Contributed photo
FURRY FRIEND — Fourth-grade students from Mill Pond School in Hodgdon recently held their annual “Pennies for Paws” change drive to benefit the Houlton Humane Society. The fourth-graders raised nearly $300 for the shelter thanks to charitable donations.  The group of 34 students visited the shelter in late-December to present their donation and to play with the animals. Jordyn McKissick of Mill Pond School in Hodgdon was one of the many youngsters who visited the shelter in late-December. The fourth grade class at Mill Pond School raised nearly $300 for the shelter. McKissick enjoyed her visit so much, she adopted one of the dogs at the shelter.

Contributed photo
CAT’S MEOW — Morgan Bolling of Mill Pond School gives a hug to one of the many cats at the Houlton Humane Society during a visit to the shelter in late-December.