To the editor;
Oh my gosh, 2013 is finally over. We, at Halfway Home Pet Rescue are all praying that 2014 will be ever so much better. We saved lives – almost 300 feline lives that could not find help elsewhere. We did the best we could and we did not compromise on our health standards and the bills got paid. I like the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going” because we did a lot of going power and we survived the toughest year yet. We are now left with a couple of nickels in our pocket for that day when it again will rain cats and kittens and our miracles will start all over again.
This is only January 8th, and we have already taken in 11 cats and kittens from this freezing rainy cold. Six more are due in tomorrow, then one on Saturday. That only leaves 26 more on our waiting list for cats needing help.
It has been our luck this winter to find good people who agree that when the “Inn for Cats” is full, they will keep the cat safe for a few days or even a couple of weeks until we again will have space available. Although this may be a bit inconvenient for them, they take the time to care for the helpless. These people are our angels. We had several angels helping us this week, and a couple I would like to mention are Brittney Thibodeau of Caribou for rescuing a young 7-week-old kitten, Tammy Ennis and Kristy Tracy, both of Caribou, who both trapped young feral cats and brought them to us. Chief Bill Campbell of Fort Fairfield and his officers who go out of their way to help us with any cat situation in Fort Fairfield — they are so pleasant to work with. Sally O’Neil brought in Cass and Shane and Kaitlyn Belanger rescued Pearl. These are the people who have helped HHPR rescue. They came right to the front lines and said, “I can help.”
So many nice people remembered our cats over Christmas and this was a huge blessing.
I think of the many beautiful people who bring HHPR used shoes, used ink cartridges, returnable bottles and cans and we so greatly appreciate the donations of food and litter supplies. We, in turn, have been able to help several families with pet food over the holiday season, our elderly or disabled shut-in pet owners and especially this season, we were able to help out the Houlton Humane Shelter with dog and cat food as they were over-loaded with pets and short of food supplies. We were overloaded with cats and several downstate shelters pitched in to help us. David Bickford, Sheila Conroy and I provided the transport. The businesses that have the collection jars accomplish at least two spays and two neuters per week – sometimes more. We are making a difference in stopping cat over-population.
HHPR has so many gracious and hard-working volunteers. We could not do any part of this without them. Everyone cooperates and gets their assigned job done.
For the next three months we will keep the stray and lost cats our priority because of the terrible danger of frostbites. We will only take “owned cats” that need to be given up if space is available. Frostbite hurts, it can kill and it is a very painful death.
For owned cats needing placement, HHPR insists that you show proof that you have advertised your pet and tried to place it yourself before coming to HHPR. The strays and lost cats have no warm shelter so they must be first to come into our door.
We currently are in need of minutes for our Tracfone. HHPR cannot afford the usual business phone prices so we use this type of cell phone. The 30- and 60-minute cards are a wonderful help.
The food left in the basket at Paradis Shop ‘n Save is a big savings. We always need postage stamps, litter and salt for our driveway. Please call Mary Rowe at 999-1075 for a special appointment to view our cats.
Norma Milton
Caribou
