By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Aroostook Republican
It is getting colder out and just yesterday, a cat was found and brought to my house that had been dumped in the woods. She will be brought to the shelter but was obviously starving, probably wormy and ready to fight any dog that might come near her; she is a survivor, one of the lucky ones. If nobody had cared and everyone turned a blind eye, this cat would be dead. She is not so different from many that come to the Central Aroostook Humane Society; they all have a story to tell if we just take the time to listen. The ones who find their way to the shelter are the lucky ones; they don’t have to worry about being cold, hungry, abused, lost, dirty or eaten. They are warm, fed and their medical needs are addressed. That is why shelter employees, board members and Friends of CAHS members work so hard trying to raise money and awareness. We want to be able to continue our work, saving lives, but we cannot do it without you!
Many people are very confused as to what to do when they find a stray animal. It is state law that every town contract with a licensed animal shelter and all towns in our area contract with the Central Aroostook Humane Society. That means that your tax money pays us to take stray animals — not owner-surrendered ones, but strays.
What do you do when you find a stray dog or cat? 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).]
Seizure of stray cats: Definition —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)
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) .]
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 (NEW).]
Part of the purpose of these laws is for a stray animal to have the chance at being found by its owner. The animal will not be claimed or found by its owner if it is at your house or at another shelter or rescue. If you have any questions regarding stray animals, contact your animal control officer, town office or the state of Maine Department of Animal Welfare (287-3846 or 877-269-9200).
The Central Aroostook Humane Society will have a table at the Fall Craft Fair at the Forum on Oct. 8-9 and we will also be at the Caribou Craft Fair Oct. 22-23. We will have some great items to sell and we will also be selling tickets on a handmade dollhouse and a beautiful ‘welcome’ sign. On Nov. 10, Friends of CAHS will be hosting a wine tasting and silent auction at The Crow’s Nest to benefit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. Please help to support the shelter by attending these functions.
We are getting many calls from people who have animals that need to be euthanized but say they can’t afford to pay for it. While our hearts go out to them, we are not in the business of taking in animals only to put them down; that is not what we do. Sometimes it is difficult to have to choose between paying bills and veterinary help for your animal. Times are tough and that means planning ahead for the unexpected. Veterinarian Lori Pasternak, of Helping Hands Affordable Veterinary Surgery and Dental Care, www.helpinghandsvetva.com, says “When people can’t afford health care, they self-treat their colds and flus and ignore serious symptoms until they eventually land in the ER. With pets, the same takes place, but in many cases, it leads to the pet winding up needing expensive treatments or surgical procedures that the owners cannot afford. The result is that they end up allowing the pet to be euthanized, simply because they cannot afford the much-needed treatment. What’s even more tragic is that it can be avoided with a few simple and affordable steps.”
Pet Healthcare Plans — Many pet clinics and veterinarians offer some variation of a pet health care plan in which the owner pays a nominal monthly fee of $20 to $30, which entitles them to a number of free checkups and wellness visits for their pets. Some plans even include a limited selection of prescriptions and diagnostic tests in that plan, or they discount them deeply. Routine checkups can catch some serious illnesses before they become serious and prevent a situation in which the treatment is not affordable.
Preventative Dental Cleanings — The most common way for dogs to get infections is through their mouths, so keeping their teeth and mouth clean is a great way to prevent disease. Keep in mind one of the most expensive procedures for dogs is dental work. What’s worse, because your pet doesn’t know how to complain, you won’t know how bad its teeth are until after your dog stops eating. Just because they are eating does not mean they don’t have tooth pain. They will eat until they cannot stand it anymore. Then it may be too late. Routine dental cleanings will go a long way to improve your pet’s health. Most infections are introduced through the mouth, so keeping the mouth healthy will help keep your pet healthy.
Pet Your Pet — Pet and rub your pet often and all over. Not only will they enjoy the attention, but it will enable you to easily determine if they have any bumps or lumps that could be indicators of infection or disease. These growths are much easier and less costly to remove if taken off when smaller than a quarter, so actually petting your pet can help your ability to detect these anomalies early.
Being a pet owner is not only rewarding, but it’s also a responsibility. Our pets depend on us for everything and ask for nothing in return but our love and attention. Keeping them healthy is a lot easier and affordable than letting them to get sick.
If you are looking for a friend for life, visit the shelter; we are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday. You can also visit us on line at www.centralaroostookhumanesociety.org.
Be responsible and have your pets spayed and neutered.
