To the editor:
I visited my sister in Florida for five weeks. We had a wonderful time together resting and relaxing, and I loved the sunshine and the hot tub in her backyard. The fantastic Halfway Home Pet Rescue volunteers exhibited their dedication by doubling up on responsibilities. We had planned to close the rescue for adoptions while I was away, but another reason was added when a cat came in with the cat sneezing flu which was very difficult to manage as some eyes need medication six times daily and oral antibiotic two times daily. Not one volunteer complained … until I was safely home and then I was told, “If you had stayed one more week, you would have had a mutiny.” When I consider my surgery in January and then a full month’s rest in February, I feel ready to tackle the kitten season which is just around the corner.
Drs. Nick and Andrea Pesut of Presque Isle Animal Hospital were a godsend as they medically supervised the pet rescue with daily communications and took the two or three worst flu cases into their hospital isolation room. This flu, known as URI, is a constant fight in shelters and pet rescues.
Last Saturday was the first Adoption Fair since my vacation because I am closely involved in the adoption process and also because of this flu. We had five adoptions of beautifully, happy and healthy cats with two other possibilities for later this week.
The shoe recycling is a big success. Cubby’s sent in about 500 pairs of re-usable shoes. Several others brought in good used shoes leaving them in my garage at 11 Pioneer Ave., Caribou.
HHPR has spayed/neutered, leukemia/AIDS tested, shots and wormed over 50 cats since Jan. 1, 2013. How do we do it — spend $150 to $200 on a cat and ask only $25 for an adoption fee? It is because of the dedicated volunteer labor.
The shoe recycling fund along with our bottle recycling, other fundraisers and our business donation jars creates a win-win situation for the community on curbing cat overpopulation and making neglected cats healthy and ready for good homes. We follow adoption guidelines to find good homes. Why would we want to rescue and rehabilitate a cat and then adopt it out to a man who “needs cats to feed his snake.” Eeuuuwwww!
If an adoption does not work out, we welcome our cat back. HHPR sterilizes every cat that comes though our door. Shelters and rescues need to serve as an example. Why criticize a family because the money they saved for spaying their pet had to be used to buy little Joey new eyeglasses. Our mission is to curb the cat overpopulation through spaying and neutering. HHPR makes sure our cats do not litter by doing the surgery before they are adopted.
HHPR is a 501c3 state of Maine-licensed pet rescue. Our Adoption Center is 489 Main St., Caribou. Our mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. Check us out on Facebook. Website is www.halfwayhomepetrescue.org; cell phone to Mary at 999-1075.
Norma Milton, president
Caribou
