Shelter cuts adoption fees through August
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
The Central Aroostook Humane Society is again full to the brim with cats and dogs, or maybe it just has not ever ended all summer.
Photo courtesy of Christine Robinson
DONATION BENEFITS PETS — Mountain View Lodge 144 was sold and the money given to various community organizations. A check for $750 was donated to the Central Aroostook Humane Society in Presque Isle. Art Coffin, DDGM, Independent Order of Odd Fellows of Maine, of Ashland, said this was the last of the money and members felt that there was no better place than to help the animals and support the folks who so lovingly care for them. Pictured are: Art Coffin, DDGM; Christine Robinson, president, CAHS; with Zeus, a wonderful 12-year-old, neutered and declawed cat who needs a wonderful loving home! Half price off all adoptions through the end of August, including Zeus!
It seems the more we try, the more unwanted animals come through our doors. We have many kittens!! We want to see these animals in the wonderful homes they deserve, so we are offering half off on all adoptions until the end of August. We were already losing money on each adoption at regular price but are willing to almost give them away at almost no return to us to get them into wonderful homes. It is definitely not about making money, it is about finding homes, and we are willing to do what needs to be done to help these animals.
I hate to sound like a broken record, but yes, our shelter is full and yes we are getting cats, kittens and dogs in by the dozens every day. They are coming in the doors on a steady basis but being adopted out very slowly. Almost every cage in our shelter is full. What part of spay and neuter your pet are people not getting? I do understand that times are tough and there is a financial responsibility when you bring a pet home to have them altered and provide them with food and medical attention, but that is something pet owners need to think about before adopting or getting a “free” dog, puppy, cat or kitten.
I recently saw, a person advertise that they were looking for a Pug to breed with their Boston Terrier, so they could breed “Buggs” which are designer dogs. This person tried to make this sound like a sweet deal by saying “you can make money by offering your dog out as a stud to make designer pups.” Sorry, but they are still a mix- breed dogs — mutts, if you will — and will be no better or worse a dog than a dog you adopt from your local shelter; they will just cost a whole lot more! Why would anyone breed anything right now? Shelters all over the country are saturated! Maybe we are doing it all wrong and should be marketing our dogs as “designer breeds.” For example:
• Collie and Lhasa Apso = Collapso, folds up easy for transportation;
• Spitz and Chow Chow = SpitzChow, throws up a lot;
• Terrier and Bulldog = Terribul, makes awful mistakes;
• Bloodhound and Labrador = Blabador, barks a lot; and
• Pointer and Setter = Poinsetter, good around Christmas.
Each time I walk into the shelter, I leave there feeling sad and discouraged. How could things get so bad? What can I do to make it better? I don’t have the answers, although I wish I did.
Have you ever considered getting a guinea pig as a pet? Well About.com has some interesting information regarding these cute little fuzzy creatures. Their life span is around five to seven years typically, although up to 10 isn’t too unusual. They grow to be approximately 10 inches long and weigh 2-3 pounds. They have a rounded, stout body and no visible tail (a few tail vertebrae can be felt under the skin). They come in a variety of breeds with different coat types and color patterns.
Just like pigs, males are called boars, females are called sows, and the babies are called piglets. Hairless varieties of guinea pigs have been bred and are sometimes called “skinny pigs.”
Guinea pigs are quite hardy and calm, so they do make good family pets. They are social and will interact with people well. They will do best kept in same-sex groups, although males may fight (especially if unrelated or not raised together). They may be nervous at first but are easy to handle and tame and rarely bite. They need a fairly large enclosure but aren’t much for climbing or jumping so it is easy to improvise luxurious guinea pig housing.
They come in a variety of interesting colors and coat types, although the longhaired (Peruvian) type needs a good deal of grooming and coat care. While they can vocalize quite loudly, they are fairly quiet and calm pets. They may wake at night but are not nocturnal — they have repeated sleep/wake cycles throughout the day.
Guinea pigs are unusual for rodents as the piglets are born with a full coat, eyes open, and the piglets are weaned at a very young age and the babies fend for themselves early on. (Many other rodents are born hairless, blind and virtually helpless.)
We get all sorts of interesting creatures at the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Each one has their own special needs, so please, educate yourself before you bring home a pet. Evaluate the time and money you have to spend on making your pet’s life full. At this time we do have a guinea pig and fancy rats!
If you are looking for a friend for life, visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are located at 26 Cross Street in Presque Isle. Our hours of operation are Tuesday-Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. or you can visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
