Special to Aroostook Republican
How about this for a happy ending story. We had an Australian cattle dog come into our shelter as a stray. She was so unique, we thought for sure she would be claimed by her owner, but nobody ever came. As time went on, she became sort of a favorite of our manager. Poor, sweet, little Ellie just craved attention. She would stand in her cage and curl around your arm if you stuck it into pet her. For some reason, she has pined away at the shelter much longer than we ever thought she would, so I put out feelers on my “network” of dog people from around the state. One day I got an e-mail from Rhode Island. This man has a cattle dog and had been looking for another. He came highly recommended from the National Cattle Dog Rescue. So we went to work, had the dog spayed, shots updated and made arrangements for her to go to her new home.
When last I spoke to her new owner, he was at a dog park with his own dog. I am so very thankful for the network of doggie people who help us to place the dogs we have at our shelter. Rhode Island is a long ways away, but for the perfect forever home, it will be worth it.
I recently had the opportunity to visit with a friend of mine who is a groomer. He showed and explained to me the “art” of grooming a poodle. I was amazed. I love to touch a dog that has just been groomed; their fur is so soft. It made me realize that I will definitely leave the grooming to the professionals because there is so much more to what a groomer does than just tossing them in the tub and giving them a bath.
Groomers also deal with a number of parasite issues and sometimes find problems that we may overlook, due to long, thick coats or lack of grooming. If you ever get the chance, spend some time with a groomer. It is very interesting. Grooming takes time and patience and the knowledge of dog behavior. When you are looking for a groomer, speak to someone who already uses that person and get a reference, then build your own personal relationship with them. We are fortunate to have a number of good groomers in our area.
It is only going to get colder as we work our way through January. Please be sure to bring your pets inside when the temperatures drop below zero. We are lucky to have Ted at WAGM remind folks of this when the weather is bad. I can’t tell you how it makes me ill to think of animals outside struggling to stay alive. It doesn’t have to happen. If you suspect an animal is in distress, contact your animal control officer, local law enforcement, the sheriff’s department or the state police. It could be a matter of life or death.
We had an “issue” lately where someone called the shelter wanting a particular dog. This person was rude and disrespectful to the shelter manager when she tried to explain the situation. They did not want to talk to her but to her supervisor. I am not sure what this person thought; that by speaking rudely and disrespectfully to her supervisor that it would change the situation? We do our very best to be as professional as possible, and in no way deserve to be hollered at or disrespected.
Unfortunately the people who usually do things like this are the people who do not know the animals, and have no idea how the process works. Let me explain: You visit the shelter and pick an animal, then you will be asked to fill out an application. We will review your application (not always possible the same day) and then you are notified as to if you can have the dog/cat or not. The Central Aroostook Humane Society owns these animals. We put money into them to care for them and WE decide who the best owner will be for the pet from reviewing your application, speaking to you and knowing the animal.
There is no amount of bullying that will change our minds. We understand that everyone has a bad day, but must consider that if you will holler at someone over the phone when you don’t get your way, how will you treat an animal? Makes us wonder. For the most part, the people we meet are very kind and respectful, because they know that our job is a tough one.
Something else you may not know about the shelter is that we are in no way obligated to take in your owner-released pets. We have a contract with the towns and our first obligation is to take in the strays. We try to do our very best to take the owner released animals, but are paid by the towns, so room must always be available for the towns to bring in their strays. We fit owner-released animals in as there is room available. It is unfortunate, but we are only so big.
If you find an animal, the law of the state of Maine says that the animal must be brought to the shelter that the town contracts with, that being the Central Aroostook Humane Society. An animal taken anywhere else is a stolen animal. It makes it very difficult to reunite owners with their pets if they are not being brought to CAHS because people come to us to look for their lost animal.
25-A. Stray. “Stray” means off the owner’s premises and not under the control of a person. [1993, c. 657, §11 (NEW).]
7 § 3913. Procedure for stray dogs
1. Persons finding stray dogs. A person finding a stray dog and taking control of that dog shall take that dog to its owner if known or, if the owner is not known, to the animal shelter designated by the municipality in which the dog was found. [1993, c. 657, §14 (RPR).]
7 § 3919. Seizure of stray cats
1. Definition. For the purposes of this chapter, a “stray cat” means a cat on the premises of a person other than the owner of the cat, without the consent of the owner or occupant of the premises, on a public street or on other public property, except under the physical control of the owner. [2001, c. 363, §3 (NEW)]
2. Seizure by animal control officer. An animal control officer or person acting in that capacity may seize a stray cat and deliver it to an animal shelter as provided for in section 3919-A or to the owner, if the owner is known. If ownership cannot be established, such a cat may be handled as a homeless cat for the purpose of acceptance and disposition by an animal shelter. [2001, c. 363, §3 (NEW).]
3. Person finding stray cat. A person finding a stray cat and not knowing the owner or residence of the cat may take that cat to the animal shelter designated by the municipality in which the cat was found. [2001, c. 363, §3].
If you are looking for a friend for life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441.
