By Hollie Gowan
Vice president, Central Aroostook Humane Society
Special to the Aroostook Republican
A week ago today, the board members, staff, volunteers and supporters of the Central Aroostook Humane Society were on pins and needles as the shelter went against four other charities in an online contest for a new vehicle.
Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good contest on Facebook let anyone cast a vote for their favorite charity right up until 11:59 p.m. on June 20. Many of us stayed up trying to see if we would win.
CAHS led the unofficial vote tally all day. It looked like we were still ahead when voting ended, but none of us dared celebrate until we got the official results. We didn’t have to wait long. By mid-afternoon Thursday, Toyota had made the announcement that we won.
A brand new Toyota Sienna van will be given to the shelter!
We couldn’t have done this without our wonderful supporters. We got votes from California, Kentucky, Florida, New York and many other states, in addition to our friends and neighbors right here in Aroostook County. The news that we won the contest set off a cascade of positive comments on the CAHS Facebook page.
For example, when Janice L. Wright heard the contest results, she commented, “That is AMAZING!!!! So happy for you! Dux (the miniature schnauzer we got from you a couple of years ago) is happy too! Yay!!”
Cassie Colton McQuade wrote, “So glad I voted and am a part of you all winning! Well deserved. Congrats!!!!!!!!!!!”
To see all the comments, just click “like” on the Central Aroostook Humane Society’s Facebook page.
The contest prize — the new van — will be a huge boon to the Humane Society. Our staffers need reliable transportation to get dogs and cats to local veterinarians when they are ill or ready to be spayed/neutered. In addition, a few times a year, a Bangor facility will alter animals for us for free. This is a big savings, but we have to have a safe way of getting the animals there and back.
Adoption fairs are another time the van will be utilized. We try to hold a couple of these each year at a location away from the shelter. These give us an opportunity to reach people in the community who might be afraid coming to the shelter will be too sad or who don’t yet realize they need a cuddly kitty in their life until they see it that day. Not only do the animals have to be transported to these fairs, but so do cages, supplies, signs and staffers.
The shelter staff also takes animals to visit nursing homes and veterans’ homes to help cheer residents, as well as into schools to help educate children about pet ownership and the humane treatment of dogs and cats.
In addition, the van will be handy for picking up pet food, supplies and donations around town.
The shelter’s current van is old, has a lot of miles on it and rust has eaten through the metal in places. A replacement is badly needed. Now, thanks to Toyota and our Facebook supporters, purchasing a vehicle is one expense we won’t have to try to squeeze into an already tight budget.
While we savor and celebrate this win, we are also continuing the daily work of trying to find loving, forever homes for the animals in need in central Aroostook County.
There are still a few days left to take advantage of our “Name Your Adoption Fee” promotion on cats. A minimum of a $10 fee is required, and if you can give more, wonderful. If not, you can still adopt a furry feline for just $10. This runs through the end of June, which is Adopt-A-Shelter Cat Month.
The shelter is currently caring for more than 100 cats and about a dozen dogs. If you’d like a friend for life, please visit us. The Humane Society is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
