Humane Herald - Humane Society Waterville Area

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Humane Herald
Late Fall 2015
100 Webb Road
Waterville, Maine 04901
Tel: (207) 873-2430
Fax: (207) 873-1266
adoptions@hswa.org
While visions of forever families danced in their heads....
100 Webb Road
Waterville, Maine 04901
HSWA.org
Tel: (207) 873-2430
Fax: (207) 873-1266
info@hswa.org
Humane Society Board
of Directors
President:
Michael Brown
Vice President:
Jessica Marin
Treasurer:
Russell Danner, DVM
Secretary:
Deborah Packard
Directors:
Kathryn Petley
Bob Woodbury
Mary Kay Adams
Kelly Couture
Towns We Service
Albion
Belgrade
Benton
Burnham
Canaan
Clinton
Detroit
Fairfield
Freedom
Hinckley
Knox
Mercer
Norridgewock
Oakland
Palmyra
Pittsfield
Rome
Shawmut
Sidney
Smithfield
Swanville
Troy
Unity
Waldo
Waterville
Winslow
FROM THE DIRECTOR
Experiencing “Kitten Season”
at an animal shelter is a bit
like surviving Mr. Toad’s
Wild Ride: you strap yourself
in and hold on for the
adventure. As fall gives way
to winter, we find ourselves
thinking, “Gee that was fun,
Lisa Smith
but
where did they all go?!”
HSWA Director
As I write this, only 70 cats
reside in the shelter, along
with a handful of kittens and a dozen dogs. Oh
yes, more will most certainly come– but what
happened to all of our summer visitors?
This was my first summer in my new post
as the Director of HSWA. In summers past, lack
of resources meant the shelter had to deal with
overpopulation and illness with euthanasia of less
adoptable animals, meaning those who became
ill, were older, or under-socialized. But recently,
everyone has come together, eager for change
and ably putting in place measures that save
more lives.
We began with improved sanitation protocols
put in place by our newest hire, veterinarian
Dr. Abby Arena, to keep illnesses at bay. With
the help of committed volunteers, we created a
program to find permanent homes for feral (wild,
under-socialized) cats that arrived in Havahart
traps. We began to call these cats our “Barn
Friends.” With this new program, feral cats are
finding homes in outdoor shelters such as barns
after being altered and vaccinated, instead of
spending months and months in a small cage.
(Organic rodent controller, anyone?)
Then came the biggest challenge: finding
homes for some 2,000 animals! With 11,000
followers on our Facebook page, we put social
media to use like never before. The term “it
takes a village” became our mantra. Families
opened their homes to foster animals; volunteers
came forward to combat mountains of laundry;
local businesses and generous citizens brought
supplies we desperately needed. I could not
have been more amazed at the power and
generosity of our community and its love for
animals.
Lily got a new lease
on life over the
summer at HSWA.
Read her story on
page 2.
We also looked outside our community to
find homes for our many cats. Animal Refuge
League of Greater Portland took in over 400 of
our cats when we were at peak capacity finding
forever families for every one of them. Together
we formed our “Litter Share Program” which
relocates kittens to the Southern part of the state
where demand for them exceeds supply. In
return, ARLGP provided spay/neuter for kittens
being adopted out of our Waterville shelter.
So how did our “wild ride” end? I’ll share
some numbers to give you some perspective.
At this time last year, HSWA had a Live-Release
(placement) Rate of 69%. Today, our Live Release
Rate stands at a whopping 96%! My heart is
warmed as I think back on the helpless, injured,
abandoned, and abused animals we saved. Such
a successful season has been unprecedented at
HSWA, and we owe humble gratitude to each
and every one of you who has contributed in
some way, large or small.
We hope this newsletter will give you insight
into the day-to-day of our “Wild Ride.” Winter
will afford us a little time to develop some of our
other projects, and to prepare for our next wild
ride, coming Spring of 2016!
I encourage you to find ways to celebrate
and support these deserving animals right along
with us by volunteering, fostering, or donating to
our Annual Fund. For being part of the “village”
that makes our work possible, we thank you.
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ANIMAL TAILS
Second Chances for Animals in Need
Lily the Shih-Tzu came to the shelter
when her owner died. Not knowing
where else to turn, relatives surrendered
her to HSWA. Lily’s fur was so matted,
she could hardly move her hind legs.
After a trip to the groomers and a checkup, she was ready for the adoption floor.
(See her “after” photo on page 1.) You
can guess this sweetheart found a loving
new family in no time at all.
Buffy came in from Thorndike as a
weak, 5 week-old kitten who was best
described upon intake as “a furry
skeleton.” He had an eye infection
so bad he couldn’t open his eyes. He
needed round-the-clock care which
was provided by three different foster
families. With treatment and plenty
of love, his fate turned around and he
blossomed into a plump, friendly kitten!
NEW TO OUR TEAM
Caesar the Saint Bernard had an unlucky
encounter with a porcupine in Troy in
August. We are happy to report that
after some TLC in
foster care (and the
removal of over 800
quills!) he’s doing
wonderfully!
GOOD MEWS
Relocation Saves Lives!
Grants
Our Transport Program has taken off—literally—thanks the work
of many dedicated volunteers. Jean Simmons (behind the wheel
in the photo below) takes our rescue van everywhere from local
shelters, to Logan Airport, and beyond, helping to save pets from
high-kill shelters across the country. Behind the curtain is Karen
McCauley, who partners with animal shelters across the country
when HSWA has the space to take in dogs in need. She also helps
the dogs settle in with a foster famiy after they arrive in Waterville,
so the transport dogs spend as little time in the shelter as
possible. She gets to know every dog that comes our way, writing
the dogs’ bios, too, that appear on our website when they’re
ready for adoption.
People and Animals Together (PAT) is a new HSWA
initiative made possible through a partnership with the
Community Spay Neuter Clinic. Petsmart Charities
granted funding for this program that will bring basic
vet care and spay/neuter services to low-income
households in the North and South Ends of Waterville.
Daniel (right) was one of many dogs HSWA
rescued in our Transport Program this summer.
He came from Puerto Rico, where “satos”
(street dogs) roam the streets in high numbers.
POWER DUO
FROM OUR COMMUNITY
Special Thanks
Featured Volunteers
Abby Arena, D.V.M is our newest
hire, working in our clinic two days a
week performing surgeries and doing
exams of our animals.
Central Maine Motors Auto Group of Waterville
held a drive to collect supplies for our shelter
animals and filled up one of their trucks with food,
kitty litter, toys, treats, and many other supplies.
Monitor of Maine also pledged that with every
purchase of a bag of pellets from their store, they
would donate one to the shelter to be used as kitty
litter. We’ve received two tons so far!
Karen Hilton and Joette Marks are our new volunteer
coordinators! They are volunteers themselves and are working
together to manage our Volunteer Program.
While not at HSWA, she splits her
time between Maine Greyhound
Placement Service in Augusta, New
England Animal Hospital in Waterville,
and Ridge Runner Veterinary Services
in Winterport, in addition to seeing
her own large animal patients in her mobile veterinary service.
Her non-veterinary interests include, gardening, cooking, and
sewing and taking her dog and steer for long walks. She currently
lives in Stetson with her cat, Blitzen, her beagle, Artie, and her
Jersey steer, Granger.
In our next issue, you’ll hear more from her. Have questions for
her? Write to info@hswa.org with “DEAR ABBY” in the subject line.
HSWA and Central Maine
Motors Auto Group staff
The Elmina B. Sewall Foundation awarded HSWA a
capacity-building grant in the amount of $30,000.
Barn Friends is our new program for feral cats that aims
to provide food and shelter to outdoor cats at HSWA.
Five thousand dollars was given to our shelter by animal
lovers Janika Eckert and Robert Johnston to create a
fenced-in area containing kitty safes, food, and warm
shelter. We’ll be building in the spring, and we’d love
your help! Call 873-2430 to learn more.
Collaborating to Save Lives
Meet our Vet!
Dr. Arena received her B.S. in Animal
Science from the University of
Maine and her D.V.M. from Atlantic
Veterinary College of the University of
Prince Edward Island.
2
TRANSPORT PROGRAM
Joette is our most
tenured volunteer with
12 years of outstanding
dedication to the HSWA
family. She is retired, and
the mom of a HSWArescued Maltese named
Fluffy. Karen, new to our
team, is an accountant
and proud mom of two
Chihuahuas and a HSWA
adoptee named Rocky.
HSWA has been able to attain a 96% Live-Release
(placement) Rate in part because of collaborations
with other shelters. When HSWA approached capacity
for cat housing in our busy summer months, the Animal
Refuge League of Greater Portland accepted over 400
of them throughout the summer, finding homes for
every last one!
Thank You to our Veterinary Partners
Unending gratitude is extended to our friends at
Hometown Veterinary Care, New England Animal
Hospital, and Animal Hospital of Waterville.
Our Wish List
Joette and Karen make a great team as our
new Volunteer Coordinators!
Get to know Karen and Joette... Volunteer with us!
If you’ve ever wondered about volunteering, now is the
time to get involved! Walk dogs, care for kitties, help with
administrative tasks... there are many ways to make a difference
for shelter animals. For more information about our volunteer
program, call our wonderful volunteer coordinators at 873-2430.
Cat and dog food (both canned and dry; no dyes)
Pine wood pellets (used for cat litter)
Bleach
Jars of all-meat baby food (beef or chicken)
Dog & cat toys
Timothy hay
Flea/Tick preventive
Gift cards to: Target, Walgreens, Walmart, CVS,
Home Depot, Staples PetSmart, Petco, Pet Quarters,
Hannaford, Shaw’s, Sam’s Club, gas stations
Paper towels
Dish soap
Trash bags (55 gallon size, heavy duty)
Copy/multi-purpose paper
“Forever” postage stamps
Pens, markers, sharpies
Cat scratch posts / climbs
Dog and cat beds
Leashes, collars and harnesses
Blankets, towels, washcloths
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