Fundraiser to benefit animals
By Christine Cowett Robinson
Special to the Star-Herald
The second annual Toast for the Animals is right around the corner, so mark your calendar!
This event will be held Thursday, Nov. 10, at The Crow’s Nest in Presque Isle. It is a wine tasting and silent auction, with music and a 50/50 drawing; it is sure to be a lot of fun! We already have some awesome auction items lined up. Last year’s event was huge; we are hoping this one will be even bigger. What better cause than to help the unwanted, homeless and neglected animals of Aroostook County.
Don’t forget to buy your tickets on our beautiful hand-crafted dollhouse and scrolled “welcome” sign. All the proceeds go directly to help the animals. At only $1 per ticket, what do you have to lose? Winners will be drawn in December, right after Pictures with Santa Paws. Tickets can be purchased directly at the Central Aroostook Humane Society.
Being a strong leader does not mean whacking your dog or kicking your dog. It means standing tall and making your expectations clear, for example: “I expect that my dogs come to me when called.” How about: “I expect my dog not to jump on me” or “I expect my dog not to get on the couch.” Not unrealistic expectations.
If you are considering getting a dog, discuss with your family your expectations before getting one. Some people come to us with unrealistic expectations, such as: “I want a puppy who is less than 6 months old, leash trained, good with cats, good with kids, housebroken, can cook dinner and wash windows.” Silly, I know, but sometimes, some potential dog owners would be better off getting their next pet at Walmart, because they want the perfect dog to be born that way and don’t want to put anything into training them. Shaping the behavior of your dog takes time; each of us has different expectations and each dog has a different personality. These are all important things to think about before bringing your next dog home.
Are you ready for winter? Temperatures are dropping and that means that we must be more aware of the health and well-being of our animals. Dogs need a warm shelter out of the wind. The warmest and most recommended bedding to use is straw, although I prefer having them inside my house. Be sure your outside cats have a place to get in out of the wind as well. Now is also the time to start feeding a bit more if you have animals that are outside a lot and, of course, it is very important that animals have fresh, clean water at all times. Keep your eyes open, be aware of animals in need and call your local law enforcement if you feel that animals are being neglected, especially during the cold winter months.
If you are looking for a Friend for Life, please visit the Central Aroostook Humane Society. We are open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., Tuesday-Saturday, or give us a call at 764-3441.
Please have your pets spayed or neutered.
