Fund-raising deadline extended
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
The Board of Directors of the Central Aroostook Humane Society are so thankful for our wonderful staff and also for the many volunteers and members of the Friends of CAHS group.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
VOLUNTEERS AND STAFF were honored at an appreciation luncheon on Feb. 20 at the Nordic Heritage Center in Presque Isle for their many contributions to the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Board members organized and hosted the event. Board members who helped plan the festivities included: Karen Carmichael, Hollie Gowan, Vi Belanger, Allen Salo, Carolyn Cheney, Christine Cowett Robinson and Gloria Towle. Staff in attendance included: Betsy Hallett, Sharon Brown, Heather Storey and Crystal Patterson. Pictured are volunteers, from left: Clare Kierstead, Janet Durgin, Hollie Gowen, Brad Wolverton, Liz Farley and Jason McArdle. (More volunteers will be pictured in a future edition.)
In appreciation, we as a board decided to have an appreciation luncheon for them. We all met last Saturday at the Nordic Heritage Center. The facility is absolutely amazing and the atmosphere was welcoming and warm. We had a nice lasagna lunch with salad and garlic bread; our friend Sammy Day was there to give massages to members; and we finished our celebration with cake and a couple of door prizes. I sure had a wonderful time. It made me realize that we are all there with the same goal but each with something different to offer. All I can say is it was an amazing feeling.
The Friends group has done so much in supporting us as a board; they meet quarterly, support the board with our fundraisers and have had fundraisers of their own to benefit our shelter. For more information, e-mail FriendsofCAHS@yahoo.com. Then there are the volunteers who work regularly at the shelter, cleaning, socializing animals or whatever tasks need to be done. Both groups are priceless in our quest to help the animals of our area. We just couldn’t do it without you.
Our goal of reaching $5,000 by Feb. 22 (Spay Day) to alter animals in our shelter is now at $1,900 and we are going to extend it until the end of February. Now is the time to give. Each animal we alter before it leaves our shelter is one more we will know for sure will not be breeding. If you would like to make a donation, please go to www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org and hit the “donate” button. Or you can send a check to CAHS, 26 Cross St., Presque Isle, ME 04769. We recently had a long-time supporter come to our shelter with a $500 check; he is challenging one local business to match his donation. I will keep you posted as to how that goes.
Recently I was at the shelter looking at all of the cats available. I found one little orange kitty in a cage, his ears swollen and flopped over. I asked Betsy Hallett, our manager, what was wrong. Apparently this cute little orange kitten had been found in the middle of the road; he was cold and lifeless, they did not hold out much hope for him. But this little guy is a survivor because when they came to check on him later in the day, he was up and eating and is now doing fine, except he is expected to lose the tips of his ears due to frostbite. I am so thankful that he found his way to our shelter and that someone cared enough to stop and pick that kitten up from the road. He is still in recovery and not yet available for adoption. Let’s hope he continues to improve and finds a forever home!
As the weather begins to improve, we would love to see more dog walkers. The more our dogs can get outside and out for walks, the happier they are and the better pet they will be. If you are looking for a walking partner during your lunch break, come to the shelter and grab a dog. The Industrial Park is a great place to walk; it is quiet and there isn’t much traffic. Speak to our manager for more information.
If you are looking for a friend for life, 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.
