To the editor:
A new volunteer group called Cats: Fixing Their Future recently hosted a low-cost spay and neuter opportunity in Caribou, where area pet owners received low-cost pet care including spaying and neutering services for family pets.
I am pleased to report that we (the volunteers, medical team and myself) saw a huge success with last week’s clinic. We also have passed our state inspection, so our new license is forthcoming.
We had advanced a donation of $2,500 to the Protectors of Animal Life Society (PALS) medical team of Winthrop to ensure that they would not have a loss by coming up here to help our pet families. Because of the distance, most mobile vets do not want to take a chance coming to Aroostook, and some families can’t afford veterinarian fees. In addition, the state’s Help Fix Me is not providing vouchers.
A special thank you to Bill Kelley of Fort Fairfield for donating the advance fee. Because of that payment, PALS lowered the surgical fee by $50 for each cat: down to $150 for females and $125 for males.
Cats: Fixing Their Future also paid out $2,769 for the colony cats from 23 Hoyt Road in Fort Fairfield to have updated care, surgery and testing for any contagious diseases.
There were also other rescues during the week of five kittens and three adult cats. Two have new homes and three cats from the Fort Fairfield colony will soon go to their new families. Two 2-week-old kittens found under an abandoned trailer are recovering well.
Thank you to all of the cat lovers throughout Maine, Caribou and surrounding communities who donated to this expense and for all you have done for these cats, their families and your community. The veterinary service was impressed with our community spirit and the desire to work together for this mission. Three cheers for Caribou and Gary Marquis at the Recreation Department.
Norma Milton
Caribou
