To the editor:
Our friends see the crises and perform the miracle for us to meet the need. The Caribou Arts & Craft Fair netted a grand total of $996.00. All this from items ranging from 25 cents to $7.00!! How do you do it? Last month, our vet bill was $1342.14. The yard sale of Sept. 12, brought in $1352.00. This month we expect another vet bill of over $1,000.00. You saw the need again and gave us a path via the Caribou Arts & Craft Fair. We have constant miracles.
We adopted a total of 5 kitten/cats from the Feline Adoption Fair. We plan an adoption fair each month, but if you miss it, call for an appointment.
It was a busy month preparing for the Craft Fair, but we had so many willing volunteer workers that other people commented on it. Your help was a blessing because as well as the current feline residents who required spaying and neutering and the youth vouchers coming in for payment, we had several animals with severe medical needs. Three of our babies succumbed to exposure issues. But we saved three others. An approximately 15-year old kitty had to be euthanized due to multiple severe illnesses. But we stopped her pain. We try to put things in perspective by telling ourselves, “thank you for the 6 kittens/cats we have been able to help this week.” We have made a difference to 150 animals (3 dogs and 147 cats) since January 2009. That is no small matter.
This weekend, a few people asked, “Is this for Norma’s cats?” This is an abandoned, abused and forgotten cat’s Halfway Home until a Permanent Home becomes available. We take the kitties for which no other help has been available. Our volunteer network forges a path to recovery from illness, fear, starvation and pain, so that the cat can become a healthy cat in a happy home. It is a series of small volunteer miracles that make a larger miracle possible for one special kitty at a time.
We still have 6 kittens available for adoption. We are also working with several lovely young feral cats that are about 5 to 6 months old and they are doing really great as they learn to trust people. These beautiful cats should be available for adoption by Christmas or shortly after. I hope you will recommend them to your friends and consider them yourself if you wish to add another family member.
While I write this letter, little foster Chi Chi (a former feral) allows me to share her favorite chair, but constantly rubs against my back and arms to let me know that she would prefer my full attention. When we watch the news, Betty purrs on Anne’s lap while Cuddles cleans her ears. Betty’s ears – not Anne’s. While Ev watches his ballgame – 3 little 7-week-old kittens rest on his shoulder and belly. When I go to bed at night, I have to position my legs and body around the lumps of 4 or 5 cats who have crawled in bed with me. In the dark, I can reach out and know that it is Cuddles by my chest, Chi Chi by my neck, Faith on the left leg and Charity by my right knee and it is Polly Pocket who is squeezed by the small of my back. My best friends wear fur.
We are an all volunteer shelter. Your donation goes directly on the medical needs of the cats. When leaving a message on my answering machine, speak slowly and repeat the telephone number twice. Our friends at 88 Bennett Drive Redemption continue to turn over your returnable bottle money. Please email me at Milton@mfx.net if you wish to be on our newsletter mailing. Our correct legal name is Halfway Home Pet Rescue, Inc. Our mailing address has changed to Halfway Home Pet Rescue, PO Box 488, Caribou, ME 04736. “Thank you for being our friend.”
Madawaska Lake
