To the editor:
On Sunday, five more babies came in and it was a busy day attacking their flea problem, doing the regular duties and trying to find time for family. Two more babies are due in tomorrow. Wow, just when I was getting excited that we had the blessing of adopting out nine kitty/cats in just the last two weeks making 14 for the month. I actually thought we might get just a little bit of a rest and relaxation time for ourselves. Doesn’t happen. Isolation units and foster homes do not remain empty over night. I repeat, if there were 10 more shelters in Aroostook County we would all still be really busy. But just think of the many beautiful lives we would be saving. For those of us who do the work of saving abused or abandoned animals, our best and generally only reward is that wonderful satisfaction of seeing a job well done.
Today was another special day. Along with everything else, our Donald, our dear adorable, independent, Donald of the attitude, went to a great home. Donald will have a mission in life. There will be no mice in his barn. He will be the king of a large farm with many animals and two big barns with cattle and horses and many mice to hunt. Donald has been neutered, leukemia tested, all shots, wormed and defleaed. He will be well sheltered and fed daily.
When we met the new owner today, that look of pure admiration on the face of the new owner for Donald and Donald’s attitude was worth all the special demands that Donald made on us. Adults cats are free to a good home and Donald has really lucked out. Donald will reign, not as a prince, but the King of Kings in his new home. Donald just adores the outside and he demanded full and total use of the outside exercise pen during all the nice days.
Poor, peaceful, friendly Zak who also loves the outside — found that he had to spend some hours caged inside as Donald “does not share” his domain. We solved the problem by making them take turns, but it became very tricky and we learned to adjust our skills to Donald’s attitude. All Donald required was time and love and he responded clearly by quickly letting us know what he required from us. Humans should be so straightforward and honest.
September has been a full month. We give thanks to Judy and Jon Roberson for hosting our giant yard sale and donating the profit of $1,352 to Halfway Home’s Spay/Neuter program. I can’t began to name all the volunteers who pitched in to make this fund-raiser such a huge success. Please know you are appreciated.
We have adopted out 14 kittens/cats so far this month. What a beautiful blessing. Our emotions are also conflicted by the grief of the family of David and Ruby Bickford. We mourn the loss of our faithful volunteer, Clarissa Bickford, who died this month. Clarissa, at 93 years of age, still faithfully created bookmarks and many knitted articles for our arts and crafts booths. Her son, David Bickford, is the force behind the food delivery for the Free Pet Food Pantry. This month offered us many opportunities to teach good, responsible pet care to several young families.
Now as September ends, we look to preparing for the October Caribou Arts & Crafts Fair. We are already seeing new little faces who need our little shelter and we will be there for them. Please, if you are able, plan to bake or create a craft for the Caribou Fair on Oct. 17th and 18th. We also need volunteers to help service the book for two- or three-hour shifts. But we really need for you to bake, bake and bake. I am not a good cook. Only a little below average cook and then only once in a while when I get really lucky on a recipe. So we really need you.
We will have to slow our activities shortly and we will work through the foster home system only this fall while we prepare to buy a new home and move to Caribou.
We do our best, and when we succeed, we know it was because of the help of our dedicated friends — all of you. Thank you. God bless.
Halfway Home Pet Rescue
