Pet Talk

by Cathy Davis
www.houltonanimalshelter.com
    Anyone who knows me, and my devotion to the animal shelter knows I am at every fundraiser. I have served strawberry shortcake and brownie alamode. I have walked in parades, and painted children's hair and their dog's too. I have served box lunches and even dressed in a bow tie. But with my last couple of experiences, I have to tell you, I have found my favorite fundraiser: adopt-a-thons. I absolutely love to do them. I have done a couple lately, and have one coming up this weekend. I always have so much fun. Yes, they do involve a lot of work, but to me, it's all worth it. You have to fist get everything ready – paperwork, tables, chairs, cages, litter and of course, cats. Then you load all of this in the shelter van. And I must say, I have mastered the "stuffing" and "restuffing" of the van.
    You then drive to your location, sometimes half an hour or more. Then comes the fun part of unloading and setting up. Now before you think I am superwoman and do all of this myself, I have to mention my helper, my husband Jon. Now he may not always go "willingly" but he always puts a smile on his face, never complains, and goes with e. So with his help, we get it all pulled off. We set up, get cats in cages, food and water and litter boxes. Then, we set up the tables with information, pamphlets and the donation jar. Then, we sit and wait, which we don't do long, because it seems like the cats know we are sitting and they always do their "duties" the first 10 minutes we are set up. And then it starts – the smiles and the laughs and the "Mom look, cats!" This always puts a smile on my face. People start coming over, looking and touching and enjoying the cats we have.
    I always call our table the kid magnet, because if there are children in the area, you can guarantee they are at our table. The smiles on their faces say it all. These are special people. These are animal lovers. We answer questions, let people hold and pet the kitties, and hand out information about our programs. And with our fingers crossed and hopes up, adopt a few to their forever homes. To sit there and see these people interact with the cats is amazing to watch. To hear stories about their own pets, their rescues, their friends, is the best part of the day. These people, the animal people, are one of a kind. They know love and they know heartache, because anyone who has loved a pet has lost a pet. They know friendship, because these pets become our best friends. They know unconditional love, so in turn, know how to give it. They are amazing and I thank them for being animal lovers. We need more of them in this world.
    After a day of smiles, laughs and hopefully adoptions, we restuff the van and head home, tired and exhausted, but still happy because we met new people, heard their stories and saw their love for animals. It is a wonderful feeling. So please join us in our next adopt-a-thon. I know you will enjoy it as much as I do!
     One other thing – a volunteer of ours has found the cat pictured here in the area of Dow's Market on July 20. She says it is extremely friendly and looks taken care of, so we are thinking it must be lost.
    So, please, if you are missing this cat, call the shelter at 532-2862 and let the girls know. We are really hoping to find this cat's home.