Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
    I love this time of year, when the days are a little longer, the sun has more strength in it, the snow is receding like an old man’s hairline, ice shacks are coming off the lake, talk of “ice out” permeates conversations, and you start to see the first of the yard sales.
    Yes, I admit it. I am an avid yard-saler. I don’t go to all of them, and I don’t buy a lot, but some of my most valued treasures are yard sale bargains – the match to a set of Avon cat trivets, a brand new lighthouse blanket, a few pieces of beautiful pottery, all found at yard sales.
    Coming up on April 9, there are two huge yard sales you just can’t miss. The Greater Houlton Christian Academy will be hosting an indoor yard sale and Houlton Humane Society will also have an indoor sale at the Congregational Church on High Street.
    This coming weekend is the perfect time to go in your attic, or your basement, or look around your house to see if there are some things you’re just plain tired of. Maybe you’re changing your décor over from country to modern and have a lot of pictures or shelves you are going to replace; perhaps your kids have gone off to college and it’s finally time to give away their super hero bedspread; maybe you’ve decided to just plain down-size and simplify your life and you no longer want to dust around all those nick-nacks. Whatever the case, this coming weekend is a perfect time to box those items up and either donate them to Houlton Humane or the Christian Academy.
    Yard sales are excellent fundraisers, to a point. The cost to the organization starts at zero, but works it way up from there, as there is a cost to haul away those items that do not sell and probably will not sell at future events. So please keep this in mind when donating. If an item is broken or so outdated that nobody else would want it, please just put it in the trash.
    Non-profit organizations have really felt the brunt of the poor economy this year, especially with the County still reeling from the recession and then being hit with gas and oil prices close to $4 a gallon. People just can’t afford to support their favorite charities the way they once did, so the non-profits are struggling a little more than usual this year. Anything you can do to help them, all of them, is very much appreciated.
    While you are busy going through your attic and basement, you might come across several bags of winter soda bottles that need to go to the redemption center. If you want, you can bring those with you to the yard sale at the Congregational Church and we’ll return them for you. You could also bring your used ink cartridges or cell phones, as this is an ongoing project, which brings in over $1,000 a year for the animal shelter. That buys a lot of kitty litter.
    If you can drop off your yard sale items at the animal shelter or the Varney Agency (across from Tim Horton’s), we would appreciate it. And don’t forget to mark your calendar for April 9, 9 a.m. to noon, at the Congregational Church. Come sort through some lovely items, I guarantee you there will be some brand new items there as well as “gently used” items, and we will also be having another “Saturday night supper” sale, with Cara’s famous baked beans, bread, chili, and perhaps some other surprises.
    Come shop, come visit, and remember that these sales are all on a “donation only” basis so you get to set your own price on items!
    All of the money raised at this event will go toward animal care, veterinary bills, food, litter, cleaning supplies, etc, to help care for the animals at the Shelter. If you would be interested in adopting, please check out facebook, our website, or petfinder.com where you will see photos and a short comment on a pet’s disposition and any special needs.
    And to all of you who responded to last week’s plea for financial assistance, thank you so very much. You have filled the gap between what was in the bank and what we had for bills. Your constant support, your moral support as well as your financial support,  is what keeps us going. We do it for the animals, but we can’t do it alone; thank you for your partnership and your friendship. We’ll see you on the April 9.