By Lorraine Monfils
When we first started the Ark we knew that we couldn’t be everything to everyone so we put a criteria in place. We wanted to help the animals that had absolutely no other alternative, with that being said we have still had to make some very difficult decisions on who we can and cannot help. We have come to the conclusion that we have to hold pet owners responsible for their decisions. When you walk through our front door asking for help be prepared to answer some tough questions.
The story I am about to tell you is a hard story to tell. It could have been prevented with responsible pet ownership. I can sit here and preach about not getting an animal if you can’t afford it and about neutering and spaying your pets, but read the story and draw your own conclusions.
Last Tuesday, a woman walked through my front door and asked for us to take her three kittens, I asked where the mother cat was and her response was the kittens are 7 months old, so the mother is not around. She said she could not take the kittens back home because her children would be upset. I explained to her that we get no town or state funding and that everything we get goes into foster care, as we don’t have an actual facility yet. I also explained that her situation was the fourth one so far this month that we have tried to deal with. I don’t think she heard any of this information because she was so mad she stormed out yelling, “You guys are absolutely useless.”
I had a sinking feeling that she had no regard for the kittens and she was angry at the world for not bailing her out. As adults we can chose to do the responsible thing and make the right decisions which might take a little bit of effort and time or we can take the easy way out and do the unthinkable, she chose the latter. I can only assume she chose to let the kittens out in downtown Houlton on the coldest night of the year.
The next morning a father and his two children were downtown and they could hear a cat crying. They went to the alley where they found two kittens about 7 months old. One had froze to death and the other was scared, cold and hungry. They brought the kitten to me and asked if I could watch it until they went home and got a carrier and they also told me about the dead kitten and asked if someone could go and get it. The children were clearly upset after seeing the frozen kitten. I knew there had to be a third kitten out there, so we started searching and putting food out. The people came back with the carrier and adopted the kitten who they have since named Miracle. It was kind of ironic the person that left the kittens there couldn’t take them home because she didn’t want to upset her children but in the end a total stranger’s children were upset. The difference was the total strangers chose to do the right thing and be a part of the solution. A few days later the third kitten was found. Sadly it was too late as this kitten had also frozen to death.
Three young kittens with no survival skills, never exposed to the outside elements for any length of time abandoned in downtown Houlton on the coldest night of the year, minus-18 degrees. Their fate was sealed the moment the car door opened.
While I realize these stories are difficult to hear, they must be told. Everyone needs to understand that when the shelters and rescues are full they cannot accept any more animals, and shelters and rescues will always be full as long as people do not alter their pets. When you get an animal ask yourself, “Can I really afford this animal?” Do you have enough money to get it neutered or spayed? If the answer is no, do not get a pet.
Don’t think that you can save the money eventually because that almost never happens. First and foremost do not count on others to fix your mistakes and take responsibility for them. Ask what your alternatives are and do not wait until the last moment to try and find homes for your unwanted pets. These things take time. There is a reason the shelters are full. Too many people are getting pets that they can’t afford to take care of.
In 2012, the Ark helped place 43 dogs and 68 cats all of which were altered and fully vaccinated. Between donations and fundraising we took in $38,182.87. Our expenses were $31,287.52. Considering that we do not have an actual facility and that we receive no town or state funding and that we are run strictly on a volunteer basis I think that what we accomplished in 2012 is pretty amazing.
The one surviving kitten is enjoying her new home where she is warm and loved and will never have to worry about being mistreated again.
For the month of Jan., the Ark took in two dogs and adopted two dogs. We currently have two dogs. We took in 12 cats and adopted 13. We currently have 37 cats. We took in $735 in donations and fundraisers. Our expenses were $2,893.80
Please join us for a bake sale outside Hollywood Pet Salon on Saturday, Feb. 16, and Saturday, March 2 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. We will be at Tractor Supply on Saturday, Feb. 9, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. for an adopt-a-thon. Thank you for your continued support and as always thank you for reading our column.
