By Norma MiltonSpecial to the Aroostook Republican
Last week, we discussed how creating an identification record for your pet could save his life as well as being the only way you and your pet can ever be reunited. It will take about an hour to create a paper trail for rescue workers to not only save your pet, but to be able to reunite you with your pet.
• You need to have a sturdy and safe collar with an ID tag attached (a cat collar should have a safety release).
• You need to create a photo sheet showing your pet from several different angles to alert rescue workers to any special markings or color that would clearly identify your pet from another with similar looks.
• You need to create a package of medical records with vaccinations, rabies tag number and any special diet or medical problems.
• You need to create two extra copies of these items and enclose one in a see-through gallon size food bag to keep it safe from water damage.
• You need to keep on hand a 5-day supply of special diet and water source in case you must evacuate your home suddenly.
• Keep a plastic enclosed copy of records in the pet’s area, a copy for you and an additional copy in the house of a friend or relative – just in case of fire or flood.
Caribou Pet Rescue (CPR) is working in cooperation with the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT), trained under the guidance of Chief Roy Woods, to create a local emergency system. The goal is to protect you, your family, your property and your pet in case of any community or area disaster such as fire, flood or terror. But the CERT team and CPR can only do their task effectively if you do your task of identification.
In case of a multiple family disaster (flooding or apartment fire), the CERT team would quickly and effectively provide shelter, food, water, emergency medical needs and communication services to residents affected by the disaster. Working in cooperation with the CERT team, CPR would provide these same services for your family pet. If you have provided the CERT rescuer workers with pet identification, we can easily reassure you that little Fido is safe and well cared for.
I am looking at my little Polly Pocket right now as she hangs from halfway up the curtain and yells for me to disconnect her toenails. A sudden disaster and being lost would destroy that sweet, trusting little imp’s personality. Polly has no concept of fear right now, and Peanut Butter who is presently all stretched out on the window sill looking with mild interest at Polly’s hanging dilemma. Well, I just cannot image Peanut Butter’s terror at being stranded and his feeling of being deserted.
Heaven forbid if I had no way to identify them and bring them safely home again. CPR and CERT are creating a responsible and humane way to provide safe shelter and food for area animals due to disaster situations. This effort will include helping, not just cats and dogs, but all pets including horses, rabbits, and hamsters (I have not asked about snakes or skunks and I am not sure I want to know).
On Saturday, December 1 from 1-3, Santa Claus will be available for Pet Photos with Santa at the Caribou Lions Building located near the Fire Station. Girl Scout Troup #240 is providing the Santa opportunity to you as a fundraiser for CPR. All proceeds will go to the care of CPR pets. CPR will also have a table of Sheila McKenna’s World Famous Fudge and Lynn Collins’ Awesome homemade pies for sale. I have already placed my order, if you are late, they will be sold out.
Caribou Pet Rescue is located at 6 Richards Rd in Caribou. Mailing address is PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736 Neuter and Spay – It’s the ONLY Way. Please continue to donate your returnable bottles and cans to Caribou Pet Rescue. This week 18 Bennett Drive Redemption had another $28.00 waiting for us. This is a huge help and we are grateful to you. With so many of you helping, we hope to keep that fuel tank filled.
Call 498-3800 for information or check out our pets at www.cariboupetrescue.petfinder.com
Contributed Photo
The Caribou Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) partnered with Caribou Pet Rescue (CPR) recently to sponsor a Pine Tree Chapter Red Cross training program for first aid for the family pet on November 13, 2007 at the Church of Christ. At the afternoon program were: (left to right/front) Cheri Caudill CPR employee, Pauline Woods CPR & CERT volunteer, Lauren DeMerchant CPR volunteer, Penny Kern Red Cross Trainer, Nichole Bourgoine CPR employee; (2nd row left) Paula DeMerchant CPR board member, secretary and volunteer, Ellie Ring CPR employee, Judy McDarby CPR volunteer, Chelsey McEwen CPR employee, Kyle McEwen CPR volunteer, Paige Nadeau CPR volunteer, Megan Nadeau CPR employee, and Judy DeMerchant Red Cross Instructor; (Back row left) Chief Roy Woods, Caribou CERT team leader, Larry French Red Cross trainer, Jean Nadeau CPR employee, Sherre Belanger CERT team, and Ron Lavatola CPR employee. The CERT team, CPR pet shelter and the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross (Presque Isle) are pleased that the groups will be working together to establish a communications network of well-trained volunteers to effectively respond to any type of community emergency.
