Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
    Since Feb. 11, 1952, the Houlton Humane Society has operated under the following mission statement:  “The Houlton Humane society is a benevolent, charitable and social organization whose mission is to prevent cruelty to animals; encourage humane treatment toward animals; to aid, give relief and comfort to lost, strayed, neglected and abandoned animals; and to provide shelter in which care, aid, relief, treatment and temporary food and shelter for suffering, injured, disabled, maimed, diseased, abandoned, neglected or lost animals is given.”
    The Houlton Humane Society is a no-kill facility.  The definition of no-kill is as follows (this is directly from Wikipedia):  no-kill shelter is an animal shelter where animals are only euthanized if they are too sick to be treated or too aggressive to be suitable for adoption.  No-kill shelters reject euthanasia as a means of population control.
    Reasons for euthanasia, again from Wikipedia, would be:  terminal illness, rabies, behavioral problems – e.g. aggression, illness or broken limbs that would cause suffering for the animal to live with, deterioration of or  loss of major bodily functions which lead to severe impairment of the quality of life.
    The Houlton Humane Society subscribes to this philosophy.  Animals are never euthanized for convenience, financial reasons, or space.  They are not euthanized “just because” they are old.   A Veterinarian is involved with every difficult decision to euthanize, when the occasion arises, such as a full and complete assessment of a long-term chronically ill animal.
    Sometimes we engage, locally, in sharing stories with our friends and neighbors and sometimes those stories get stretched a little, just for the dramatic effect I guess, and before you know it, there are full-blown rumors flying around.  A rumor is an unverified account or explanation of events circulating from person to person and pertaining to an object, event, or issue in public concern.  
    Misinformation is false or inaccurate information that is spread unintentionally.
    If you have any questions or concerns regarding the welfare of the shelter animals because you have heard a rumor or have been given some misinformation, please call me directly.  You can reach me at home at 521-0142 most evenings, or you can reach me at work 532-2345 during the day.  You may ask me specific questions about anything you may have heard or any concerns you may have.
    I assure you, there has been no change in the philosophy at the Houlton Humane Society.  We have over 211 healthy adoptable animals, desperate for homes, and we would love to place every one of them for the holidays.  Ordinarily our adoption rate is around 30 animals a month, but they are coming in faster than they are going out.  My personal goal is to find homes for 100 animals by Christmas, that’s what we’re focused on.
    We don’t have time to get all upset over rumors and misinformation, that’s not who we are, that’s not what we’re all about, but we do want to lay your concerns to rest, so call me any time, day or night, and let me know if you have any questions.  Or ask any board member, I’m sure you know one of them – Dorene Humphrey, Cyndi Folsom, Brenda Wright, Lois Jeffery, Heather Miller, if you see them on the street, in the grocery store, at Church, just walk up to them and ask them any question you may have.  Our doors are open, there are no secrets.  Or join us, become a member, come to meetings, visit the shelter, do some fostering or volunteering for us, there is no better way to ensure the quality care of the animals than from the inside.