Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
    As the excitement winds down from Rockin’ the Doghouse, we want to take a few minutes to thank all of those who donated or volunteered to make this event possible.  Any time you start a list you risk forgetting just one name, so my apologies in advance if I overlook any of our dedicated valued friends.
    Patty Burpee, Lauren Burpee, Katrina Altsmenburger, Jan Chandler, Shirley Oliver, Lori Saunders and daughter, Cara Maples, Jonathan Maples, Chris Loucka, Chuck Loucka, Linda Sewell, Shelly Chavonelle and her grandson Logan, Dorene Humphrey, Betsy Humphrey, Jon Miller, Heather Miller, Luanne Tucker, Jonathan Williams, Bob McGuire, Houlton Fire Department – DJ Norton and Mike Beals, Houlton Police Department, WAGM TV, Ruth Suitter, Becky Day, Diane Flewelling, F.A.Peabody, Houlton Farms Dairy, State Farm Insurance, Peerless Insurance Company, Aroostook Print Shop, Joan Logan, WHOU, Houlton Library, Hogan Tire, Houlton Port-a-potty, Schwans, McDonald’s, Joe Marley, Tasha & Liz for doing the face painting, Steve Rogers, Randy Carmichael, Michelle Sullivan & son, Mellow Endeavor, RFD Gang, Kathleen Miskelly, Marsha Willett, Laura Marley, Dorene Conlogue, Janice DeLong, Jean’s Serendipity, Gemma Bartley, Esther Orr Faulkner and our wonderful friends from Delaware who made and donated the beautiful baskets to raffle.
    We are blessed to have such amazing friends, all of these people do what they do for the animals, not for Houlton Humane Society, not for me, not for Jon or Heather, they do it for the animals. That’s our passion and many of you share that passion with us and we are grateful that in these tough economic times you still find it in your hearts, and in your wallets, to support non-profit causes.
    I hear it everywhere I go, in the grocery store, in the meeting rooms, non-profit organizations are hurting, funding is down and bills continue to go up. Just when the cost of oil is at an all time high and heating season is upon us, each of us are worrying about our own heating bills at home, and wondering how we’ll make it through another winter. So to have you spend your hard earned dollars baking for us or attending our functions or just outright donating so that these animals can be taken care of until new homes are found for them, well, it continues to amaze me.
    I know that personally I have had to cut back, I have a dozen favorite charities that I support, but in the past couple of years I’ve had to spend less and choose my favorite few. These decisions are not made easily and I know that each and every one of you that continue to support animal welfare causes along with your other causes has had to struggle with the same issues.
    This is my long-winded way of saying thank you, not just to the people above who have given of their time and money and resources, but to all of you. You are our strength, our backbone, you keep us going and you allow us to do everything that we possibly can for each and every animal that comes to us for care.
    The Houlton Humane Society has been actively working for animals for 60 years. If you take the combined experience of the board and employees, we have 121 years of experience in animal rescue and welfare. You don’t devote that much of your time and effort, you don’t put that much heart into a cause, if you aren’t totally dedicated and committed. We are solidly united for one cause, and if we sometimes fail, and in life that does happen believe it or not, we pick ourselves up and keep on going forward. We don’t walk away, we don’t give up. There are bad days, no doubt about it, when you bottle feed itty bitty baby kittens from the moment they are born and then to have them die weeks later from a fatal and contagious disease passed on from their mother, the staff cries, and they mourn, and they wonder how they can ever let their hearts get so attached again, and then someone walks in with an injured animal and everybody goes into action to save one more life, to do everything that we can to make a difference to one more animal. No, we can’t save them all. The sad fact of life is doctors can’t save all patients, and shelters can’t save all animals.  Compassion fatigue is the number one reason people give up and walk away from animal welfare, because when people realize that it isn’t all roses, it isn’t always perfect and the end result isn’t always what you want it to be, it hurts. Your heart aches for those baby kittens, your heart aches for every loss, but you look at the animal to your right or the animal to your left and you realize you can’t give up, you can’t slow down, you can’t quit.
    We keep going because in 60 years we have helped over 20,000 animals find new homes, bringing love and joy and companionship to thousands of households and animals. With your help, we will continue this work. As you can see above, it takes a lot of people, it takes a village and more, and each and every one of you are precious to us. Thank you from the bottom of my heart, every volunteer, every donor, every board member, every employee, thank you for caring and have a great week.
    Cathy Davis is a longtime volunteer for the Houlton Humane Society. She can be reached at houltonanimalshelter@gmail.com or 532-2345.