Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
    The Houlton Humane Society is pleased to announce that we are the recipients of a $2500 grant from the ASPCA for the purpose of aiding low income and elderly families with the cost of spaying and neutering their pets.   Initially it had been our hope to host a “clinic” where one or two days were designated at a local Veterinarian to do spays and neuters all day long for a low fee, which we would pay, but the fact of the matter is, our local Vets are so busy that it’s just about impossible for them to put aside a day to do this.  
    So instead of an all day spay/neuter event, what we propose is that we will take applications at the Shelter from all those who need help with the cost of spaying and neutering their pets and all qualified applicants will receive a voucher worth $50 toward the cost of the spay/neuter surgery.
    Once approved, you must call your Veterinarian for an appointment, let them know you have a voucher to make sure they will accept it, because not everybody uses the same Vet and your Vet may not be familiar with the program, and then once the surgical sterilization of your pet is complete, your Vet will mail the voucher to the Shelter and the $50 reimbursement will be mailed directly to the Veterinarian.
    We have a brand new spay/neuter loan application and we are going to use that same application for the grant.  
    This is an exciting award for us.  As you know, the most urgent and pressing issue affecting our companion animals today is over population.  Way too many kittens and puppies are being born and there are just not enough homes for all of them.  Right now there are close to 200 cats at the Houlton Humane Society animal shelter waiting for new homes, and we are one of hundreds of rescues throughout the state.  
    I am an advisor to the Maine Federation of Humane Societies, every month I attend meetings and every month we go to a different Shelter in the state.  Every month I hear the same thing, shelters that are overflowing with homeless animals, especially cats. The only way to stop this is to spay and neuter our pets.
    There are so many health benefits to this procedure; I don’t know why it isn’t routinely performed.  Actually I don’t know why it isn’t the law that everybody has to have their pets altered, but that’s another story.   Some day I hope there is a solution for this problem.  I would like to see it mandatory that all pet food include birth control medication, that’s a first step.  We can put men on the moon; certainly we can lace the Friskies with a little birth control powder.   That won’t solve every problem, as there are thousands of feral cats that never see real cat food, but it would be a start.
    But let me climb back down off my soap box and just encourage you to include spaying and neutering your pet as part of his or her medical routine.  Shots, wormer, flea medicine, regular check ups and spaying and neutering, all to make your pet healthier and happier and to make the world just a little better.
    I know I will never live to see this, but wouldn’t it be wonderful if all the animal shelters had to close down because there weren’t any more homeless pets?  Over SIX MILLION companion animals are euthanized across the country every year.  Wouldn’t it be just heaven if we became a no-kill nation so that not one single healthy adoptable animal would ever have to die for lack of a good home?
    You can do your part today, spay and neuter your pet, and if you need financial assistance, call the Shelter at 532-2862 and ask for an application.  One will be sent right out to you.
    Remember, funds are limited, so call now.