With all of the craziness going on in the world today, sometimes we just need to take a step back and breathe. We need to realize what is really important like human compassion and love and the willingness to help each other.
We all have the capability to love, care and nurture, but whether we use that capability is totally up to each individual. The Ark, as well as other rescues, have been deeply affected by what is going on in the world and life has suddenly become, I want to say difficult, but instead I guess I will opt for different.
We have had to change our thought process in so many ways and learn to adapt. Yes it is harder to fundraise; yes donations are down; and no the number of unwanted litters and animals in need has not gone down. They are still there and we are trying to deal with it as best we can.
What we are up against is little to no vet care. The border is closed and we cannot go to our vet in Canada. Try as we may due to pandemic protocol we cannot get into a vet here in the states. I have made phone calls as far as Caribou and Bangor. That means no neuters or spays. The litters of kittens keep coming. I am confident that we will figure it out. We are remaining optimistic.
The sanctuary is open by appointment only. Only one person at a time is allowed in and face masks and gloves must be worn. We are choosing to be very careful and safe and for the most part no one has had any issue with it.
Bake sales at this time are on hold indefinitely and we have shifted to an online auction once a month which so far has proven successful.
In the midst of all of this, we have had so many awesome people decide to adopt some of our special needs kitties as well as socially challenged kitties. These are cats that have been at the sanctuary for years and have been passed by because they were not a cute little kitten or because they had some special needs.
Piper, Spice and Issac all of whom have feline AIDS were adopted together and now have the best life ever. Piper had been at the sanctuary about five years and Issac and Spice a little over a year. Their new mom opened her heart and home to three very special cats and in return she gets head butts, a multitude of purring and three very special cats who love their very special mom.
Charlie Brown was adopted. He was another one of our AIDS kitties. He had been at the Ark for about three years. He didn’t like the other cats, so he stayed in the laundry room. Charlie Brown loves humans and attention and he found the perfect home. The love and attention are endless.
Braveheart was one of everyone’s favorites. He is another AIDS kitty and had been at the sanctuary for five or six years. Braveheart could never get enough attention. He loved all the volunteers and wanted to be with them all of the time. Braveheart was also adopted and he is living his best life ever. He has his own human 24/7. This is the life he was meant to live.
Milo, a beautiful black cat with white tufts coming out of his ears, was live trapped at the sanctuary three years ago. Milo is very shy and change can upset him. At the sanctuary, Milo loved treats and humans to a certain degree, but if something changed he would hide for weeks. Because of this Milo was always overlooked until last week. Milo went to a new home where his new family has all the time and patience and love a cat could ever need. I get updates every day and I can tell you that progress is being made.
These are the stories that touch our hearts, they are the stories that restore our faith in humans. They are the stories that show there is love and compassion in the world and they are the stories that show what we as humans are capable of when we open our hearts. We need more of these stories. I encourage everyone to reach deep down inside their hearts and make a difference not out of convenience but out of love. Open your minds to a whole new world. Be compassionate, be understanding and make a difference. The rewards will be tenfold.
The Ark is in need of Purina cat chow, canned pate and scoopable litter. We also need bleach and paper towels if anyone would like to donate. Since we have started on line auctions if anyone has new items they would like to donate to help us raise money please contact Lorraine at The Hollywood Pet Salon 532-7387.
Thank you for your continued support and as always thank you for reading our column.
The Ark Animal Sanctuary is located on 101 Old Woodstock Road. To contact Lorraine Monfils call 532-7387 or check out their Facebook page.
