By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Aroostook Republican
There are so many wonderful cats and dogs that will be spending this holiday at the Central Aroostook Humane Society, we would much rather they were in a loving home of their own. These animals ask for nothing and some are just so thankful when we show them a kind hand. It is so unfair that people continue to breed while animals pine away in shelters.
When you adopt a “recycled” pet from a shelter or rescue, it will take time for that animal to acclimate to its new surroundings. They do not come automatically programmed to know what we are thinking or what the rules of the house are. With consistent and fair treatment, they will in time learn, but it is up to us to teach them what we expect of them, and to give them time and a chance to understand. We have some animals that go out of the shelter and they are returned in less than 24 hours. A lot of times when this happens, it is because a dog has messed on the floor. In a new home, they are nervous and do not know where the door is. If it is a cat that is messing, maybe they don’t know where you keep the litter box. You have to give them a chance to figure everything out.
We have been very fortunate this holiday season; our Pictures with Santa Paws was again a huge success, our dollhouse raffle was successful, and we have received many donations under our tree. This all makes our job a bit easier and your support keeps us hopeful that the communities we serve are behind us all the way! We have gotten a lot of calls from people looking for 8-week-old kittens for the holidays; we have some young cats, but no tiny kittens ready to go. So then people tend to look elsewhere for their kittens unfortunately instead of coming and looking at the adult cats we have available for adoption. An older cat makes a wonderful addition to any family; you can see what their personality is like, and most are already litter box trained and used to being handled. If you get a kitten from a barn, do you know that it isn’t full of worms? Or worse yet, feline leukemia positive! Our cats and kittens are healthy and used to being handled daily, plus they are already litter box trained and vaccinated.
The holidays may not be the best time to bring a new pet into your home. Although we never discourage responsible adoptions to approved homes, the holidays are a busy time with lots of excitement and stress. Bringing a new pet home is not just stressful on people, but on the animal, as well. Strange smells and objects, a brand new environment … your pet will need your attention and guidance. It might be better to wait until after the holidays and come to the Central Aroostook Humane Society as a family and pick a pet. We want every home we find for our animals to be a “forever home.” Please don’t wait until Christmas Eve to go to the shelter; like many businesses, we close a bit early on holidays. In years past, I have gotten phone calls on Christmas Eve with people really upset that the shelter was closed early. PEOPLE work at the shelter – people with families – and they deserve to go home a bit early because they will be at the shelter on Christmas Day to clean and feed. So plan accordingly if you are going to adopt a pet.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. The shelter is open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441, or visit us on line at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
From all of us at the Central Aroostook Humane Society, Merry Christmas!
