Paws for the Cause raises over $3,000
Staff photo/Kathy McCarty
MAN’S BEST FRIEND — Mike Chasse, of Presque Isle, and his guide dog, Caleb, joined over 100 other owners and their pets for the Paws for the Cause Walk on Saturday, May 19, to benefit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Chasse has had Caleb for about a year now and says he doesn’t know how he managed without his furry companion prior to that. Great weather combined with food and fun to make this year’s event a huge success, raising over $3,000 for the agency.
By Christine Cowett Robinson & Gloria Towle
The weather was great and the so was the turnout! This was the Central Aroostook Humane Society’s 14th annual Paws for the Cause benefit walk and it was bigger and better than last year. The prize for the most money raised went to Colby Willette; he raised $573.16 all on his own. We had a total of 120 walkers and 75 dogs — out of the 75 dogs, 30 had been adopted from the shelter. I thought that was just amazing! We raised a total of $3,300 to help the animals. Those numbers are amazing. It takes a lot to make a fundraiser like this one come together, but staff, board members and people from the Friends group made it all come together.
The Adoption Fair put on by the 7th graders last weekend at the Aroostook Centre Mall was a huge success. The students were all dressed in their bright orange T-shirts promoting the shelter animals, spaying and neutering, and mostly, being a kind and responsible pet owner. There were games for the kids, tables full of homemade treats for dogs and cats, face painting, balloons, merchandize for sale and some really awesome raffle items. There were shelter cats available to see and play with, along with a wall full of all the available pets at the shelter.
Each student chose a shelter cat or dog and created a colorful flyer with information and photo to best “showcase” their pet. Each student had their own part to play in making this Adoption Fair a success. A visit to the local vets resulted in a discount for spaying/neutering for any pet adopted during the Fair. These students raised $300 from their sales and donations, with all of the money going towards caring for the shelter animals. This was truly a wonderful effort from not only the students and their teachers but also from the many folks who stopped by and showed their support for this event.
Sharing your life with a pet is a true gift. It was great to see so many wonderful, much-loved pets at our walk. Unfortunately, not every animal is so fortunate. We must be the voice for those who cannot speak. It is important to keep your eyes open and to report animals in distress. As the weather gets warmer, it is dangerous to leave your dog in the car. Even with the windows open a little, the temperature in your car can rise quickly, leaving your pet with brain damage or worse, dead. Also, dogs left outside must have protection from the elements, including sun, and must be provided clean drinking water. It is common sense, but some people just don’t get it and need to be educated. That is the job of your local animal control agent, so give him/her a call if you suspect neglect or an animal in distress.
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. All of our adoptable pets are up to date on shots and altered. We have many wonderful cats and dogs waiting for loving homes. The Central Aroostook Humane Society is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441. You can also visit us online at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
