By Christine Robinson
Special to The Star-Herald
Because of the many cats and kittens that are still with us at the shelter, we are waiving the adoption fee for “one” day only! Saturday, Oct. 13, the shelter will open their doors and allow all cats and kittens to be adopted for free. Yes, that also means the cats already spayed and neutered! This is a drastic measure, but we will not euthanize for lack of space — we want these beautiful animals to find a loving home! For those unaltered animals the state still requires a $100 deposit, which will be returned upon proof of spaying/neutering. All applications for adoption will need to be approved.
Our new Toyota vehicle is due to arrive at York’s of Houlton on Thursday, Oct. 11, at 2 p.m. If you are in the area, stop by and join in our excitement!
“10 Simple Ways to Green Your Pet” by Jane Harrell, at Petfinder looks at “Do you take any earth-friendly steps to help reduce your pet’s carbon pawprint?” and include the following:
• Prevent pet overpopulation — “Spay or neuter!” All pets have some environmental impact, but spaying and neutering keeps the pet population in check (and unwanted litters out of shelters);
•Buy in bulk — Buy the biggest bags of pet food available. That saves on gas back and forth to the store and it also cuts down on packaging waste (and is easier on the wallet);
• Scoop poop — Unscooped dog poop can pollute water and spread disease. Some will go as far as to compost. Pet poop should be kept separate from the compost you put on your vegetable garden. Check out Cityfarmer.org’s guide to making a dog waste composter;
• Buy reusable supplies — Some pet owners will house train dogs with machine-washable puppy pads. One reusable pad can keep hundreds of disposable pads out of landfills, and save you money in the long run;
• Recycle what you can’t reuse — It’s important to recycle dog food cans — but many other types of food have recyclable packaging, so be sure to check;
• Use earth-friendly pooper scoopers — Use biodegradable poop bags. Petco has a wide selection of biodegradable pooper scoopers. Paper bags works too;
• Make your own pet toys — Birds play with junk mail and cardboard boxes. Our kitties at home love wwhen a delivery is made; they will spend days playing inside a box;
• Use eco-friendlier cat litter — Many corn- and pine-based cat litters are flushable, and as Treehugger.com points out in “How to Green Your Pet,” the clay in traditional litter is strip-mined. Worried your cat won’t like a new litter? Set up a “litter cafeteria” so he can choose his favorite;
• Harness cuddle power — One dog owner says she keeps the heat really low, but “warms up with dogs,” [it’s] the true meaning of a ‘three-dog night.’ In the winter, turn the thermostat down and let the pets snuggle; and
• Adopt a homeless pet — This brings us back to our Number 1 point: Pets, like humans, inevitably impact the environment. But buying from a pet store or breeder just encourages more breeding, while adopting a homeless pet doesn’t add to the pet population. Pet adoption is the original green option.
Visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society, 26 Cross St., Presque Isle. Our hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday thru Saturday, closing 12 to 12:30 p.m. for lunch. You can also check us out at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org or on Facebook.
Please be responsible, spay/neuter your pets!
