Keeper of Animals

Essential Pieces Tribute Dinner 2-18-12

2012-02-19T10:50:00.000-08:00

On Saturday February 18, 2012, during the Essential Pieces benefit dinner, we honored two very special Friends of Ark's animals: Karen Stairs who materializes like an Angel from above when we need an animal rushed to the vet, among her other wholly unselfish deeds she does for us and the feral kitties of our community. And Chelsea Green, a remarkable, loving & compassionate young woman who is unselfish with her time & energy when it comes to helping animals. We're so very fortunate to have these Ladies as friends and co-volunteers, and the only ones that can possibly appreciate Chelsea & Karen more are the animals they help. Here's the presentation of Appreciation Award to Chelsea:

BAKE SALE February 4th

2012-02-01T11:56:00.000-08:00

February 2012 Sanctuary News

2012-02-01T11:54:00.000-08:00

The past 2 months have been very busy for us at the Ark. We have had so many rewarding experiences we thought we would share a few of them with you.

Last spring we had taken in an 8 year old Australian shepherd named Tasha. She was in deplorable condition when she arrived. She was missing most of her fur and she had a yeast infection, not to mention she was 8 and had not been spayed. Tasha went into foster care where she received the medical treatment she needed and deserved and was spayed. After 5 long months of hard work and medications she was ready for adoption, but there were drawbacks. She was 8 years old, very nervous and hated to ride in the car.

Finally after 8 months of waiting Tasha's dream finally came true. She was adopted just before Christmas to a very loving, kind, patient and gentle woman. Tasha now runs and plays in big open spaces; she now gets regular vet care and regular grooming. If her mom sits in the back seat with her, she will even take a very short car ride as long as mom holds her. Tasha acts like a puppy sometimes at 8 years young. Life just couldn't get any better.

Dutchess is a 13 year old arthritic cat that came to the Ark and we all had our doubts that someone would adopt her. The first few weeks she was miserable, she cried all the time. Her cries were heard by a very dear lady who offered her a home. Once Dutchess was in her new home, her new owner called to tell me she was fitting right in and she even held the phone up to Dutchess so I could hear her purring. For Dutchess and her new owner 13 is just a number, not a reason not to adopt.

Manny is a 7 year old Dachshund, his story broke my heart. He belonged to a small child who passed away and was surrendered to the Ark about a year ago. Manny had been adopted twice and returned both times thru no fault of his own. Manny is one of the sweetest, kindest dogs I have ever met. After being returned the second time, I promised Manny that he would never be adopted out be returned again, even if that meant keeping him myself.

Finally about 3 weeks ago the phone rang. Someone was interested in Manny! They came to visit with him and decided they wanted to give him a home. Manny has been in his new home for about 2 weeks now. He has been back for a visit and he is so happy. He gets to sleep in bed with his new mom and dad, but, more importantly, they have a grandson that has filled the void in Manny's heart, and in return Manny has filled the void in Hannah's heart . Hannah is another Dachshund the family owns. Hannah was grieving the loss of her canine playmate Cricket. Manny saw Hannah and went and curled up in the bed with her and took a nap. Hannah and Manny are now the best of friends.

Everyone at the Ark is touched by each and every animal that we take into our care. We love seeing our babies get a second chance at life. We simply make the connection; it is the wonderful caring people who open their hearts and their homes to these special animals and give them the lives they deserve. You are all Angels.

Every week we receive pictures and updates on the animals we have adopted. They always brighten our day and remind us of why we are here. Keep the pictures and updates coming, we love it!

For the month of Jan. the Ark took in $450.00 in donations and fundraising. Our expenses were $1392.32.

We took in 2 dogs and 1 cat.

We adopted out 8 cats and 3 dogs.

We currently have 49 cats and 2 dogs

Please join us on Sat Feb.4 outside Hollywood Pet Salon for a BAKE SALE. We will also be serving, soup, chili, baked beans and pulled pork. Our volunteers will be armed with hand and feet warmers and electric blankets.

Join us Wed, Feb. 8 at the Horn of Plenty for lunch and dinner; reservations are recommended.

We will also be having our annual Essential Pieces Tribute Dinner at the Elks Lodge on Feb. 18th. Details for all our fundraising benefit can be found on our website: www.ArkSanctuary.com.

Thank you for your continued support and thank you for reading our column.

January 2012 Sanctuary News

2012-01-04T18:06:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago The Ark took in seven puppies that came from a very bad environment.

This was not the first time we have taken animals from this place so we were prepared for what we were about to encounter or at least we thought we were.

The puppies arrived at around 5 p.m.; they were infested with fleas so we gave them pills to eliminate the fleas in a couple of hours. The puppies remained in crates until the fleas were gone. That evening we went to work; we took the puppies out of the crates and took pictures to document the condition they were in. The puppies were terrified and some were growling. The smell was so bad it made our eyes water. These tiny little creatures were covered in feces and urine from head to toe. They had so much flea dirt and dead fleas on them it was heartbreaking.

After three baths a piece, we still could not get the smell out; they were clean but they still smelled like the dirt floor cellar they had been living in. By this time the puppies had started warming up to us. We fed them some puppy food and they were clean and flea free. This definitely made them feel better. The next step was to treat them with revolution for ear mites.

The next day they all went to the vet to be weighed and treated for worms, as all of their systems were on overload with all of the worms; one more positive step in their lives.
That same day they were split between two different homes and taken into foster care. In the days to come they would learn to know what it was like to be a part of a safe, clean and loving family environment.

They all thrived in their new environments; they became typical puppies, barking, eating and playing hard and falling asleep in a pile.

The first two to be adopted were Chip and Dale; they were fortunate enough to find a home together. The next two, Missy and Chrissy, also went together; they now wear matching jackets and collars, they have a fenced in yard and a new mom and dad who love them very much.

Picasso was the next to leave; he went to an awesome home where his new big sister Kiwi will take good care of him.

Belle is waiting to go to her new home hopefully in a couple of weeks.

Dawson is the last one; he is a wonderful boy, very shy and not as trusting as the others. Dawson needs a home with no kids and at least one other socialized dog. His new owners will need to be patient, loving and confident.

The environment these puppies were born into was unfortunate, but they were the lucky ones; they were rescued. Think about the ones still there that keep re-producing. Some of the female dogs have had 2 or more litters a year. Having more than one litter a year for any dog poses some serious health issues. The puppies that were rescued were infested with fleas; can you imagine what the other ones look like? With fleas come tapeworms, all of these things if left untreated can cause serious health issues.

As near as we could estimate the puppies were 3 to 4 months old and judging from the feces and urine imbedded in their fur they had never been bathed, think about the condition of the older dogs that remain there. It is difficult to even think about.

There is a simple solution to this problem neuter and spay the remaining dogs. It is cheaper to neuter and spay than it is to feed 5 or 6 litters of puppies.

If you can't afford to neuter and spay there are programs out there to assist people. If you can't afford the medical treatment required for fleas and worms, surrender your animals to someone who can give them the lives that they deserve. Pets cost money. Yes they are cute and cuddly and great company but they deserve to be taken care of properly and that costs money.

So what happens to the remaining dogs left there? Their future is uncertain. The Ark will help get those remaining dogs neutered and spayed and cleaned up; all the people have to do is make one simple phone call.

For the month of December, the Ark took in $2,936.95 in fundraisers and donations our expenses were $1328.50.
We took in one cat and adopted 10, we currently have 57 cats.
We took in no dogs and adopted 6, we currently have 3 dogs.

Thank you for your continued support and thank you for reading our column.

December 2011 Sanctuary News

2011-12-08T13:53:00.000-08:00

"Amazing Grace"

This past summer we worked to help clean up a cat colony in Island Falls.

We caught all but one of the cats which happened to be a female. We
altered all of the cats and placed them all, as well as all of the kittens.

It was a long process and difficult but so worth it in the end. We kept
trying to get the last female but were unsuccesfull, then in October we
noticed she was injured and limping around on three legs.

A few weeks ago the phone rang and she was captured, she had walked into a
cat carrier with food and started to eat. This was almost too easy for such
a feisty cat that had managed to allude us for months,Then came the next
problem, we had no room for her we were out of foster homes and the fact
that she was semi-feral didn't help. After making numerous phone calls
we came up with a solution, I called the vet told them we had an injured cat
coming in and that she also needed to be spayed, they agreed to see her the
next day. Karen, a volunteer for us, agreed to take her as it was my day off
and I was going away.

Once at the vet, they asked permission to sedate her so they could take
x-rays and we agreed. About an hour later, the phone rang and nothing could
prepare us for what we were about to hear. This little cat weighing no more
than 6 or 7 pounds had been shot twice, had 4 fractures in her pelvic area
and a leg that was broke in 2 places. She had been out there approx. 3
weeks with these injuries, and there was no one to help her. She was
semi-feral and afraid of humans and I can't say I blame her after being shot
twice. No wonder she walked into the carrier with food, she was tired, in
pain and hungry. Maybe she could sense that we wanted to help her and she
finally decided to trust us.

After speaking with our vet, it was decided that the cat would have surgery
on Mon. as this was already Friday, the cat was heavily sedated and resting
comfortably. On Mon. she would have the bullets removed, be spayed and her
hind left leg was so badly damaged it would have to be amputated. The
pelvic fractures would heal on their own. As near as we could tell she was
shot twice and must have ran out into the road to get away and was hit by a
car which caused the other injuries.

We wanted to give this little girl a name that suited her and it was decided
that she would be called "Amazing Grace", after all it was truly amazing
that she survived all of these injuries and was finally rescued. Amazing
Grace's surgery was going to be quite costly so we put out a plea to the
public and 2 days later we had raised enough money to pay for the surgery.

That Mon. we all waited anxiously to hear how the surgery went, the phone
call came, she did wonderfully. Everything went as planned and she would be
coming back to us on Wed. Her recovery time would be about a month, but she
would not be able to be released back, she would have to be an indoor cat.

Every day Grace becomes a little more trusting, I can scratch her ears and
head and even her belly. She never offers to bite or growl or even move
away. She is recovering quite well from her surgery and moves around just
fine on 3 legs and she has a big appetite. Grace is waiting for just the
perfect home where she will never again have any worries.

My first reaction after hearing about Amazing Grace's injuries was anger
towards the person that shot her, what were they thinking? Clearly they
weren't thinking, as time has gone by my anger has turned towards sympathy
for this person to think their heart is so cold and empty that they could do
something like this. You may have shot this little cat but she did not give
in she is a survivor.

Thank you to everyone who helped with Grace's surgery we are forever
grateful.

For the month of November the Ark took in 2274.00 in donations and
fundraising our expenses were 2723.08

We took in 4 cats and adopted 3 cats out, we lost one kitten to tiny to
survive.

We currently have 66 cats.

We took in 9 dogs adopted 3 and currently have 9 dogs.

We would like to wish everyone a happy and safe holiday season and thank
you for your continued support.

Thank you for reading our column.

12/3 TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS Entry/Info

2011-11-07T08:58:00.001-08:00

12/3 MIRACLE ON MECHANIC STREET

2011-11-07T08:57:00.001-08:00

November 19 BAKE SALE

2011-11-07T08:55:00.000-08:00

NOVEMBER 2011 SANCTUARY NEWS

2011-11-07T08:53:00.000-08:00

Every day we work to make a difference in the lives of so many animals. We
do what comes natural to us, some days are difficult but most days are very
rewarding.

The story I am about to share with you was a difficult and sad experience.
So why am I going to share it with you? Because I hope it will help educate
everyone on the importance of neuter and spay.

I received a phone call from a young lady who was very upset, her cat had
recently had 6 tiny kittens, they were about 10 days old and the mother had
stopped nursing them. I could hear the kittens in the background crying. I
asked her how quickly she could get them to me and she was there in about 15
minutes. I had already prepared for their arrival by plugging in a heating
pad and getting formula in a syringe with a nipple on the end to feed them.

When they arrived they were cold and hungry, I knew I had to get their body
temperature up before I could feed them so I placed them on the warm heating
pad. They were so tiny, they looked like the size of kittens that had just
been born that day, but their eyes were open, it was clear they had been
born pre-mature. I explained to the girl that we would do what we could but
in all likely hood kittens that small very rarely survive unless they have a
mother. I also explained that there was a reason that the mother refused to
nurse them, probably because she knew there was something wrong with them.

I called our vet to find out how much and how often to feed them. They were
to get 3 ml's. of mothers milk every 2 hours and then we would need to
stimulate them to pee after every feeding(this is something a mother would
normally do) The kittens also had fleas so we had sit and pick them off
because the fleas could make them anemic if they hadn't already. The
kittens ranged in weight from 3 ounces to 4 1/2 ounces.

The alarm clock was set for every 2 hours, we had our routine down to a
science. We sat up 2 crates as we fed them and stimulated them we would
place them in one crate so we could keep track of who was done, once
everyone was done, then they would be placed back in the crate with the
heating pad to sleep for another 2 hours.

There were 4 black kittens and 2 orange. The tiniest was a small black
female kitten named Lucy then there was Tiny, Minit, Little bit, Chance and
Uno. The kittens came in on a Wed. That Sat. little Lucy passed away, she
was just too tiny to fight. We now had 5 tiny lives to try and save. Early
the following Thurs. morning 1 week after they had come in we lost 2 more
within minutes of each other, Tiny and Minit closed their little eyes and
went to sleep.

Half of the litter was gone, but we were determined to help these tiny
creatures in any way that we could. We were disappointed and sad that we
had lost 3 but we couldn't dwell on the loss we had to move forward and try
and help the remaining 3 .

It was becoming more and more difficult to stay positive, we were doing
everything the vet told us to do, they were critical care babies and the
odds were stacked against them. They were eating but not gaining any weight
we would weigh them every day and they hadn't gained an ounce. On Sunday
Little Bit lost her fight and passed away. The only two left were the
orange males Chance and Uno they would cuddle together and sleep, they would
cry when they were hungry and we changed their feeding schedule to every
hour in hopes they would gain some weight, On Tues. Chance closed his eyes
and joined his siblings. Uno was the sole survivor, he would look at us
with those tiny eyes and just melt our hearts. He had started purring and
kneading , it was clear that he was lonely so we placed a clock along with a
stuffed animal in his crate to comfort him, he would curl up in the arms of
the stuffed animal and sleep. That Thurs. morning in the early morning
hours Uno went to sleep and our tears would not stop.

The hours invested in trying to save these babies was of no importance, it
was just time and we have plenty of that, the bond that was established and
the emotional attachment to these babies meant everything to us and that is
why it was so hard to loose them. Did we make a difference in their lives?
I ask myself that question everyday, I believe we did, when they died they
were warm and their bellies were full and they were surrounded by people who
loved them. Should they have been born? Absolutely not, the mother was not
healthy enough to have kittens she should have been spayed. As a result 6
tiny , sick baby kittens were born, they had a strong will to survive and
gave it their best shot but in the end they were too sick to survive. Was
the cost of a simple spay worth the pain endured by these kittens, what do
you think?
I f you take nothing else away from this article please know that there are
some things that we can't control , but we can control the unwanted pet
population simply by being responsible pet owners and neutering and spaying
our pets.

This whole ordeal left us discouraged and left us with so many questions.
Are we making a difference ? Do people really know what a responsible pet
owner is or even care? Our questions and doubts were soon to be answered.
The next morning the phone rang and we needed to place 2 dogs together a
little 4 year old shih-tzu and a 15 year old lab mix who had never been
separated. We knew placing the 4 year old was no problem but almost an
impossiblity for the lab. Then the unthinkable happened another phone call
and a wonderful couple said they would take them both and they hadn't even
seen the dogs. It was love at first sight. The dogs couldn't have asked
for a better home they are living like royality, the shih-tzu is scheduled
to be spayed and the lab mix has already been to the vet for a check up..
Another phone call a lady had found kittens under her porch, she could hear
the hesitaion in my voice and she said, we want to keep them and get them
altered, we just wanted to know if we could get some assistance.I gave her
some information and hung up with a smile on my face. A gentleman walks
thru the front and hands me a check for $100 and said Here I have something
for you, you do good work!! Later that day someone came into adopt a cat
and met Yevette. This little kitten and been found and was not in good
shape at all, she was malnourished loaded with fleas and very sick and
clearly not ready for adoption. The lady inquired about her and I explained
she was too sick to adopt, she offered to take her to the vet and care for
her until she was strong enough to adopt. Yevette is doing much better and
is officially going to her new home on Sat. All of these people chose to
step up to the plate and help an animal, they didn't wake up that morning
looking to own another animal, they were all put in situations where they
could just walk away and do nothing or they could make a difference and do
the right thing , so they decided to do the right thing and be a part of the
solution.. We no longer have any doubts, We do make a difference every
single day.
For the month of October our expenses were 1943.88 and we took in 2178.50 in
donations and fundraising.
We took in 4 dogs and adopted 3 we currently have 3 dogs.
We took in 11 cats and adopted 10, 6 kittens passed away, we currently have
66 cats.

The adoption fee on all neutered and spayed cats will be waived again for
the month of Nov. to approved applicants.

Please join us for a bake sale on 11-19 outside Hollywood Pet Salon 11-3.
Dec. 3 will be Miracle on Mechanic street 11-3 and we will be doing the
Twelve Dogs of Christmas again the is year from 12-2
Thank you for your continued support and thank you for reading our article.

2011-08-01T08:40:00.000-07:00

AUGUST 2011 SANCTUARY NEWS

2011-08-01T08:25:00.000-07:00

It’s Raining Kittens!

These past 2 months the Ark has taken in 28 kittens and counting!! Normally, when you think of kittens, you think it is wonderful. The sad reality is there are not enough homes for all of the stray and abandoned kittens. The simple answer is neuter and spay. It seems simple enough, but apparently not everyone believes in this philosophy or they just don’t care.

I received a phone call from someone whose cat had just had kittens asking for help placing the kittens. When I asked why they didn’t spay their cat, the answer was because we wanted the experience of having kittens being born and being a part of it. I guess they didn’t think of the end result, finding homes for these kittens so they wouldn’t have to live in cages until they were adopted, if they are in fact adopted.

Let me tell you about some of the kittens that have come in. There is Elvis, the grey ball of fluff whose mother was so sick she couldn’t nurse him, so he is being bottle fed. He is 3 weeks old, and will, in all probability, loose an eye because he wasn’t taken care of.

Then we have Sonny, Cher and Reba who were brought in at 2 weeks old with no mother, who are currently being bottle fed. We are now their mother.

We have Dirty Harry, Liz Taylor and Marilyn Munroe who came in with no mother and eye issues. They have finally started eating on their own and their eyes are looking better every day.

We can’t forget Ruby, Picasso, Rose, mittens and Tigger who, despite our best efforts, were not strong enough or big enough to survive. This column is dedicated to them. They were brought into this world and though their lives were brief they taught us a very valuable lesson.

None of these kittens asked to be born. They were the end result of irresponsible pet ownership. Please, everyone, the next time you think it would be cool for your cat to have kittens, think of the end result. If you don’t plan on keeping the kittens and getting everyone altered PLEASE DO NOT LET HER HAVE KITTENS!!!! If you can’t afford to neuter or spay your pets, you can’t afford a pet, it is as simple as that.

As I am writing this column another little grey kitten, now named Jersey, is rushed thru the front door, he is skin and bones from lack of food, other than that he will be okay. He has not taken his head out of the food dish since he arrived. A little black kitten, now named Garcia is saved from an attack by 6 raccoons and brought in; he has a broken pelvic boneand an open wound on his hind quarters. He has just returned from the vet and is resting comfortably.

This brings us up to 30 kittens. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

If you are unaware we are a no-kill sanctuary, we do not euthanize for convenience, only when the vets deem it necessary for the well being of the animal. We are committed to each and every life we come in contact with; we believe that all of their lives are meaningful.

The answer is not euthanizing, it is neuter and spay.

The SPCA recently published that in order for all animals in shelter situations in the U.S. to find homes, every single American would have to adopt 15 dogs and 45 cats. I can’t even begin to grasp that thought, How about you?

Together we can make a difference. The Ark might not always have the answer to your problems and we might not always be able to help, but we will make an effort. Our door is always open, but you have to be willing to do your part and that begins with responsible ownership. Please neuter and spay your pets.

Please join us on Sat. Aug.6 for Hot Diggity Dogs on Mechanic St. 11-4. We are running the pet photo contest again this year, stop by Hollywood Pet Salon for details or check out our website www.arksanctuary.com for more details.

On Sun. Aug.14 we will be planting a memorial garden In Memory of Whitney Coppersmith from 10-4 at our new location on Old Woodstock road.

Sat. Aug 20th we will be having an outdoor dinner “A Taste Of Italy” 4-8.

On Sat. Aug 27 we will be having an Open House up at our land 10-4 though we are still under construction. We invite everyone to come up and see our new location.

Thanks to The Horn of Plenty for another successful evening on July 13th! And to all the local businesses who donated door prizes.

In July the Ark took in 14 kittens and one adult cat. We currently have 61 cats and kittens, we adopted out 6 cats and 1 dog, we currently have 3 dogs. 4 cats passed away due to natural causes.

The Ark brought in $2,020.85 in donations and fundraisers our expenses were $1,806.62

We would like to thank our many supporters and volunteers who make all of our work for the animals possible. Welcome to our newest volunteer Courtney who has been an incredible help. Thank you for reading our column

June 2011 Sanctuary News

2011-06-02T13:45:00.000-07:00

BOB&SHERRY & MERRY&BARNEY

QUITE OFTEN WE GET PHONE CALLS ASKING US TO RESCUE FERAL CATS. A FERALCAT IS A CAT THAT DOES NOT KNOW THE HUMAN TOUCH, THEY ARE FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD WILD. IN ORDER TO CATCH THEM YOU NEED TO LIVE TRAP THEM. THEY BITE AND SCRATCH OUT OF FEAR AND CAN REALLY HURT SOMEONE.

IN MOST CASES WE TRAP FERAL CATS NEUTER THEM CLIP THEIR EAR TO IDENTIFY THAT THEY HAVE ALREADY BEEN NEUTERED AND RELEASE THEM BACK TO WHERE WE FOUND THEM. THAT IS THE MOST LOGICAL THING SINCE THEY ALREADY KNOW THAT AREA AND THEY CAN NO LONGER RE-PRODUCE. WHEN A FERAL CAT ENTERS A SHELTER OR RESCUE THE MAJORITY OF THE TIME THEY ARE EUTHANIZED BECAUSE THEY AREN’T ADOPTABLE AND THEY TAKE UP VALUABLE SPACE.

IT SEEMS SO SAD INSTEAD OF PAYING MONEY TO EUTHANIZE WHY NOT NEUTER AND RELEASE THEM BACK. LET GOD DECIDE THEIR FATE NOT MAN.

BOB AND SHERRY WERE 2 SUCH CATS. BOB WAS A BOB TAIL . BOB WAS NOT A NICE CAT TO PUT IT QUITE FRANKLY HE WAS DOWN RIGHT MEAN. HE WAS LIVE TRAPPED AND NEUTERED BUT WE COULD NOT RELEASE HIM BACK BECAUSE THE PEOPLE DIDN’T WANT HIM IN THEIR YARD. WE WERE VERY WORRIED ABOUT BOB’S FATE.

ONE DAY A VERY NICE LADY CAME IN AND SAID THAT SHE WOULD BE WILLING TO TAKE A BARN CAT. SHE HAD A BIG BRAND NEW BARN AND WANTED TO RESUCE AN ANIMAL SO SHE TOOK BOB. BOB STILL IS NOT A NICE CAT BUT IS CONTENT TO LIVE IN HER BARN AND HAS NO INTENTIONS OF LEAVING. LATER THIS LADY CAME BACK FOR ANOTHER CAT. SHERRY WAS A LITTLE MORE TAME BUT STILL AFRAID OF PEOPLE. SHERRY CAME OUT OF A HOUSEHOLD WITH ABOUT 30 OTHER CATS, SO NEEDLESS TO SAY SHE COULD NOT BE RELEASED BACK. SO SHERRY WENT TO LIVE WITH BOB. THEY HAVE THE PERFECT HOME ON A FARM WITH A NICE BARN TO TAKE SHELTER IN AND PLENTY OF FOOD AND WATER. THEY ALSO HAVE HUMANS IF THEY CHOOSE TO SOCIALIZE WITH THEM.

BARNEY AND MERRY CAME OUT OF A PLACE WITH 2 OTHER CATS. THEY WERE FERAL AS KITTENS. THE OTHER TWO CATS FOUND HOMES BUT BARNEY AND MERRY WEREN’T THAT TRUSTING OF HUMANS. THEY WERE NEUTERED AND SPAYED AND STAYED AT THE ARK FOR WELL OVER A YEAR. WE WERE BEGINNING TO THINK THAT THERE WAS NO HOPE FOR THEM. THEN ONE DAY A GENTLEMAN CAME IN LOOKING FOR 2 BARN CATS. HE SOON ADOPTED BARNEY AND MERRY, HE TOOK THEM HOME AND ENCLOSED THEM IN HIS BARN FOR 2 WEEKS. AT THE END OF THE TWO WEEKS HE OPENED THE DOORS TO FIND THAT BARNEY AND MERRY WERE NOW PERMANENT RESIDENTS. NOT ONLY THAT THEY FOLLOW HIM AROUND WHILE HE DOES HIS CHORES WAITING FOR THEIR SPECIAL TREAT CANNED FOOD!! HE CAN HOLD MERRY AND BARNEY LETS HIM PAT HIM WHILE HE IS EATING. THIS IS A HUGE MILESTONE FOR THESE TWO

YES THE WINTERS ARE LONG AND COLD, BUT SOMEHOW THEY MANAGE TO SURVIVE, THIS IS ALL THEY KNOW. WE HELP THEM THE BEST WAY WE KNOW HOW BY NEUTERING AND SPAYING THEM SO THEY CAN’T RE-PRODUCE AND RELEASE THEM BACK TO THE ONLY LIFE THEY KNOW.

NOT EVERY CAT IS MEANT TO LIVE INSIDE WHERE IT IS WARM AND COZY, THERE ARE THOSE WHO WERE BORN FERAL AND WILL REMAIN FERAL FOR THEIR ENTIRE LIFE. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE THROW AWAYS. EVERY LIFE IS IMPORTANT AND VALUABLE. IT IS MY BELIEF THAT WE AS HUMANS DO NOT HAVE THE RIGHT TO EUTHANIZE A CAT SIMPLY BECAUSE IT IS FERAL, IT IS OUR DUTY TO TRY AND HELP THAT ANIMAL IN WHATEVER WAY WE CAN, UNLESS OF COURSE IT IS A DANGER TO SOCIETY.

THANK YOU TO THE PEOPLE WHO ADOPTED BOB AND SHERRY, AND MERRY AND BARNEY YOU HAVE DEFINETLEY MADE A DIFFERENCE IN THEIR LIVES AND WE ARE FOREVER GRATEFUL.

IF YOU HAVE A BARN AND WOULD LIKE TO HELP A FERAL CAT CALL US 532-7387. THERE IS NO ADOPTION FEE AND ALL THE CATS ARE NEUTERED AND SPAYED AND FULLY VACINATED.

THE ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY TOOK IN 3 DOGS FOR THE MONTH OF MAY AND 4 KITTENS.
WE ADOPTED 2 DOGS AND CURRENTLY HAVE 1 DOG.
WE ADOPTED NO CATS AND CURRENTLY HAVE 38 CATS.
THE ADOPTION FEE WILL BE WAIVED ON ALL CATS FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE. ALL CATS ARE FULLY VACINATED AND ALTERED.

OUR EXPENSES FOR THE MONTH OF MAY WERE 759.42. WE BROUGHT IN 1,019.00 IN DONATIONS AND FUNDRAISING.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS WE WILL BE HAVING A BAKE SALE OUTSIDE HOLLYWOOD PET SALON ON SAT. JUNE 4TH, AND PULLED PORK AND NACHOS ON SAT. JUNE 18TH.
THANK YOU FOR READING OUR COLUMN.

May 2011 Sanctuary News

2011-05-01T17:17:00.000-07:00

ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY NEWS FOR MAY
by Lorraine Monfils

On Thursday, April 11th, the Ark took in a little buff colored cat named Ellie Mae. She came to us from another rescue organization that had no room for her. She is approximately one year old, and like most of the cats we have given a home to, she was found abandoned. She was in poor condition, very frail and with an upper respiratory infection. She was nursed back to health, but the infection had gone untreated for so long that she lost the sight in one eye. Her blindness in that eye is permanent.

Ellie Mae is one of the happiest little cats that I have ever met. She is a tiny little thing, weighing no more than five or six pounds. She purrs continually, even while eating her food, which makes it kind of difficult to keep the food in her mouth. She loves any attention, and because of her continual “music making”, we call her our little opera singer. Not only does she sing, but she also dances. She manages to get all four paws kneading at once, and she can do this either standing or lying down!! All of these feline mannerisms demonstrate to us how very happy she is to have found people who will care for her. Ellie Mae loves life, and it is as simple as that. She loves to play with her toys and feel the sunlight on her face, but most of all she loves to be held.

Besides being blind in one eye, Ellie Mae has another disadvantage. She has feline leukemia. Like FIP, this disease has no cure and will eventually claim her life. The average life span for a cat carrying this disease is two or three years, but sometimes a cat may live longer. At this time Ellie Mae shows no symptoms of the disease. She is with a foster family that is wonderful to her, and she is isolated from other cats because the disease is contagious.

For every day that Ellie Mae is with us, we will give her love and the best of care. We will treat her as if she were our own personal pet. When Ellie Mae’s time is here, she will let us know. We will help her then with her journey. Until then she will live her life with us to the fullest.

I read a verse a while back which says;
“Sing as if no one is listening. Love like you will never get hurt. Dance as if no one is watching. Live life like it is heaven on earth.” Ellie Mae does this every day. Quoting still from Mark Twain: “It's not the size of the dog in the fight; it's the size of the fight in the dog.” In this case it is a cat…a petite little animal that will likely have a shortened life, but a young cat that at this time is “well”. She has true grit with a fighting will to live. With our help, she will have some quality time.

There are some, I’m sure, that have not read our mission statement. First, we are a NO KILL ORGANIZATION. Our mission is to rescue and provide food, shelter, medical assistance, love, and compassion to any animal in need, regardless of age or medical condition. The sanctuary is run by volunteers. There are no salaried positions. All monies earned go strictly to the animals.

Since our inception, we have made a very significant difference in the lives of many animals in this area. We continue to believe that EVERY ANIMAL’S LIFE IS MEANINGFUL, and they all deserve loving homes. However, this is not always the case. Many animals are out there fending for themselves. The AAS tries to promote spay/ neuter programs to help alleviate the burden of unwanted pets. We also educate the public about the responsibility of pet ownership. We continue to ask for your support and appreciate all who have contributed to our cause.

It is wonderful for us to realize that there are others out there who share the same love for animals that we do. After a very nice phone call inquiring about our Sanctuary, we were thrilled to receive a wonderful monetary donation from the Lyman Pope Foundation. For those who are interested, check out his impressive site on line.

The Ark Animal sanctuary took in two cats and three dogs this month. We adopted six cats and one dog. We currently have thirty four cats and three dogs. Our expenses were $864.31 and donations totaled $1,118.00.

The Ark Animal sanctuary will have a bake sale on May 7th in front of the Hollywood pet Salon. We will also be having a pulled pork sale on the 21st of May. We hope you will stop by for some delicious treats, and at the same time know you are helping our cause.

Thank you for your continuing support and for reading our column.

April 2011 Sanctuary News

2011-04-09T16:53:00.000-07:00

ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY NEWS
by LORRAINE MONFILS

A while back I received a phone call from a young lady who was calling to ask if we could take in a cat with AIDS. I asked all the necessary questions, including where she lived. When she replied that her residence was in Pennsylvania, I was very surprised. I quickly asked if she realized that the ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY was located in Maine. She answered as quickly as I had asked and informed me that she was aware of this. We continued to talk and I asked how she planned to transport her kitty, Keith, to Houlton from Pennsylvania. She explained that she and her husband were going to move to Massachusetts in the near future and would drive him from there to us. I continued to try to explain to her that the distance from their town in Massachusetts was still seven hours away from Houlton, Maine. She replied that this was not a problem!

She continued to tell me about why they had made the difficult decision to place Keith with us. She told me that they had rescued him from a “cat colony” near them, had taken him to a veterinarian for neutering and shots, and at that time found that he tested positive for aids. They were disappointed, but had no intention of returning him to the sad situation they had found him in. Once they got Keith, home they found that she was severely allergic to him. This was heartbreaking and a very real dilemma. Since they knew he tested positive for AIDS, they realized he could not be an outdoor cat. Knowing that they also could not keep him, they went online to find a place that could and would offer Keith some help. They found the ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY website.

In November Keith was driven seven hours from Massachusetts to Houlton, Maine and to us. It was very obvious that the young man who brought Keith into us cared deeply about this animal. He was full of questions, spent a lot of time with the kitty, and watched as he became somewhat adjusted to his new environment. He left all of Keith’s favorite play things as well as a generous donation to help take care of him. The last thing he did was to take some pictures. I recognized how difficult this parting was for him. It was a tearful goodbye.

Keith remained well for five months, but then he became very ill. We took him to the veterinarian and found that he had a viral infection. He would not eat or drink on his own. He remained at the veterinary clinic for four days while a strict regimen of antibiotics and IV fluids were administered. He also had to have a feeding tube put in. This is how he was fed twice daily. Keith was returned to us while he was still not eating or drinking. We were very aware that his immune system was much compromised, and knew as well that he was really struggling! Frustrated with the feeding tube and IV fluids, Keith NEVER GAVE UP, and neither did we!

We waited with silent prayers, and after almost two weeks Keith started to purr and attempt to clean himself. TODAY, FOR THE FIRST TIME, Keith ate on his own! He looked up at me when his dish was empty as if to say, “MORE PLEASE, I’M SO HUNGRY!” Keith is well on his way to recovery and would love as nice a home as he once had.

For those of you who feel we went to the extreme for Keith, we did! It was well worth it. Just ask Keith! For the young couple who rescued this beautiful cat and got him to where he needed to be, you are heroes to us, but more especially, to Keith.
We will again be selling delicious pulled pork sandwiches at noon on Saturday, April 9th,, and also on the following Saturday, April 16th . This food sale will be in front of the Hollywood Pet Salon.

Our donations and fundraising for the month totaled $1,888. Our expenses were $1,046. We again want to thank The Horn of Plenty for their wonderful support of the AAS. Words can’t begin to relay the appreciation we feel. We also want to thank Darlene Kenney for her hard work in planning the event. This was just one of the very positive comments that came to me referring to that night.

We just want to thank Darlene once again for the wonderful evening at The Horn of Plenty. The place was full, and the food was awesome as usual!!! Thanks

We greatly appreciate the public support we received at our dinner the last of February. A big thanks to all who cooked, tended the kitchen, and waited on table.
I want to thank the Houlton Rotarians for allowing me to speak at a recent meeting. It was a wonderful chance to talk about the Ark Animal Sanctuary and all the plans that we are so hopeful the future will bring.

We took in four cats and one dog. We adopted eight cats. We presently have forty two cats and one dog. Please take some time to go on line (www.arksanctuary.com) and look at all of those adorable little cats and kittens that are just waiting for a loving home. Thank you for your support, and thanks for reading our column.

March Sanctuary News

2011-03-02T10:46:00.000-08:00

ARK ANIMALSANCTUARY March News
by Lorraine Monfils and Mary Peabody

Early one Thursday morning there was a knock on the front door of the Hollywood Pet Salon. It was a usually-closed business day for grooming, but one when I get a chance to do a multitude of things related to the Sanctuary. It might be taking any of the animals that have come to us with wounds or are ill to a veterinarian or checking up on any needs of the animals that we care for. Then there is the paperwork for my own business as well as AAS and the planning for our AAS fundraisers. For being my 'day off', it is most always a very busy day!

On this Thursday the lady at my front door had an injured cat in a carrier. Despite the large open wound on the side of his face, as well as the fact that he had lost the tip of one ear to frostbite, he was one of the most affectionate and beautiful cats that I have ever met.

The lady told me that she had tried to get help for him locally but had been unsuccessful. She also told me that he had been found living inside someone’s barn. This kind person knew that it was way too cold to turn him away, so she began to feed him and continue to try to get some help for him. She finally found that help when she came and knocked on our door.

This was no small cat but rather a very large fellow who had not been neutered. Because of his size, as well as his wounds, we decided to call him Bruiser. We took this homeless but very lovable cat to the veterinarian that day. He was neutered, his wounds cleaned, antibiotics given, and he was returned to us so that his healing process could begin.

Bruiser is loving life inside where it is warm! He now has an endless supply of food and water, something he obviously hadn’t enjoyed for awhile. He will lay and purr in his comfortable bed while his wounds are healing.They are nearly all gone. His frost bitten ear only adds to his majestic character. Bruiser’s wonderfully friendly nature tells us that he musthave belonged to someone at some time. He is estimated to be between two and three years old.

Bruiser is looking for a home where his humans will take care of him. In return they will get his endless supply of unconditional love. We are hoping that someone out there is ready to make a difference in the life of this animal. He has had a rough start in life and is now looking and waiting for a real home.

If you are interested in adopting Big Bruiser, please call the ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY at 532-7387.

Benefit Night will again be hosted by the Horn of Plenty on March 16th. Please join us for The Horn’s scrumptious food and know that you are again helping us to help our AAS animals. Call ahead for reservations at 532-2260

We're introducing our new Guardian Sponsor Program:

Most of you are aware that we are a non-profit organization that works very hard to create money to help abused animals. We don’t like to ask for money but we greatly appreciate any help.

For a $30/month donation you can sponsor one of the animals at The Ark. This will help pay for food, litter and medical needs. You can choose which pet, or have us choose for you. Photos are available on the our website and also here on Facebook in the Adoptable Pets album.

We're also introducing our new Business Sponsorship Program:

For a $25/month donation your business card, link to business website, or business name/contact info will be placed on the AAS Website and Facebook as a Business Sponsor. We will highlight the Sponsorship twice monthly on FB at www.facebook.com/arkanimalsanctuary

As with the Guardian program, Business Sponsorship donations can be mailed in, brought in to Hollywood Pet Salon, or Sent through PayPal (via keeper@arksanctuary.com). Arrangements can be made to pick them up if needed. Donations can be made monthly, quarterly or yearly. Email reminders can also be sent.

Again, asking for money is hard, and we try not to ask very often. If you feel that you could help us at this time, we sincerely thank you! We are so grateful for the wonderful support that the people in our community and surrounding towns and even great distances have given us! These are not just words, but heartfelt appreciation!

More info available online: www.ArkSanctuary.com or Email: keeper@arksanctuary.com

The AAS took in no dogs and we currently have no dogs. We did take in 2 cats. We were happy to adopt 6 cats who now have “fur ever” homes. We still have 46 cats who would love to be part of a family!

Our donations: $283.25
Our expenses: $$1,466.36

I don’t like to finish on a sad note, but must relay that Webster, the AAS mascot pig, passed away this past Friday. Some of you who read our column may remember that in a previous column we wrote about a young girl that raised this pig to auction off at a fair. When the time came to sell him for slaughter, it was too difficult for her. A wonderful man bought Webster, and the Ark agreed to try to find this very large pig a home.

For those that feel we only care for dogs and cats, having little or no interest in the fate of non- domesticated animals, that is not the case! The Ark Animal Sanctuary does what it can, the best that it can, to save the lives of all animals in this area. In this case it was a pig! Bob and Lorraine Monfils did everything in their power to keep large, lovable Webster healthy. I have been told, by at least one that should know, that a pig has the intelligence of a dog. Bob and Lorraine gave Webster a wonderful home.

When it got cold, and they felt he seemed to be not “himself”, he was made more comfortable with his own heating blanket. He was served the best food, received the best medical care that was available, and given all the love and attention that they could. He received all of this care from day 1!

All one can do IS TRY THEIR BEST! I know both Bob and Lorraine have always given their best, and not just for Webster, but for all those that the Sanctuary gives (what we hope will be) temporary refuge to.

Please think about adopting!

Thank you for reading our column and for your continuing interest and support

Rest in Peace, Webster

February 2011 News

2011-02-05T11:51:00.000-08:00

ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY NEWS
Lorraine Monfils and Mary Peabody

Every time an animal is taken into our rescue organization we are optimistic and always hope for happy endings. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always work out that way.

The story that you are about to read has a bittersweet ending.

The Ark Animal Sanctuary took a litter of kittens and a mother cat out of a bad situation. They were in a home where there wereway too many cats, all were reproducing, malnourished, infested with fleas, and had upper respiratory problems.

This was not the first time that we have taken cats from this home. The owner has always been co-operative and thankful for the help. She had originally started out trying to help the felines and do a good thing. However, she was soon burdened with too many cats with kittens and no financial means to neuter or spay.

The last litter that was taken had four kittens, and despite their conditions, seemed to be relatively healthy. There was one adorable little orange fellow that seemed smaller than the rest. He was always hungry and loved his food. His little sides bulged. He was everyone’s favorite, and because of his little belly, was lovingly named Fat Albert. His cute looks soon had him adopted. The family that took him home had just recently lost their cat of nearly sixteen years, so they were still grieving. The little kitten did the trick, and it didn’t take long before the love and bonding occurred. The first week of the kitten’s life in his new home was awesome. His new “mother” renamed him Pumpkin. The name was a good fit for this round little orange baby. The kitten’s antics brought daily smiles. Their old cat, Pooh Roo, had long stopped batting at Christmas ornaments. The little kitten couldn’t get enough of this activity.

The start of the second week came with sneezes and eyes that were a bit weepy. There were some other health concerns also, so Pumpkin was packed up for a visit to the veterinarian. I must say that Dr. Pinales worked diligently the next couple of weeks trying everything to figure the kitten’s problems. Pumpkin spent as much time in veterinary offices as he did at home. Various medications were given, food to hopefully aid with digestion, but still no improvement. What was most bothersome to the people who loved this kitten was the feeling that he was having a problem breathing. He would stretch is little neck out and tip his head back, which seemed quite an odd position. Another worry was the lack of energy that little Pumpkin displayed. He had been so peppy at first. The energy was just not there now. He lay in his basket seldom getting out even to eat. Veterinary trips happened almost on a daily basis now. Finally a diagnosis was made. For as many years as Pumpkin’s mother had owned cats, many cats, she had never once had one that could not be cured. There was no cure for this little kitten. He had FIP , Feline Infectious Peritonitis. This disease often occurs in young kittens and older cats over the age of seven. It affects the lungs, filling them with a thick yellow fluid. Pumpkin’s lungs were partially filled, and although drained, I was told they would fill again shortly, and he would suffer. Yes, Pumpkin was my kitten. I was slow to process the news and asked more than once what my options were. “You have none.”, was the answer. “There is no cure.” Pumpkin came home with me on the 21st of December and was put down on the 13th of January. I had him three weeks and two days. I have more pictures of him than I had days to love him.

Pumpkin had three siblings that remain FIP free so far, and they are being monitored. As of this date they show no symptoms. In all likelihood, they probably won’t. I feel that Pumpkin was “the runt”, a very small 1lb.8oz., and may have been more susceptible that his brothers and sisters. I believe I understood that the fat little belly was maybe another sign of the FIP, as fluid can build in the stomach. For more information on FIP, please go to www.vet.cornell.

Although little Pumpkin’s life was tragically short, he got to experience what a real home was like. He had his first Christmas, complete with ornaments to play with, got to lay in the sun on the kitty window perch, and have room to run and play, and lots of quality snuggle time.

I am thankful that I was able to make Pumpkin’s days as comfortable as possible. I know I will have another pet in the future, but for now need to be sure that my home is free of this virus before bringing another cat or kitten home. I’ve been told six weeks definitely. A home without a cat or kitten seems so empty, at least for me!

I’ve had some time to again grieve, but this experience also gave me a far better understanding and appreciation of what Lorraine and her helpers do for these animals. They rescue, feed, seek medical care when they know that their own knowledge (which is considerable) is not enough, and then work to find loving homes for these homeless and often neglected dogs and cats. I took time to be sad and shed tears, but they don’t have that luxury. I’m sure they have their own private sadness at times, but they know that there are too many animals out there that need to be helped! Once again, KUDOS to all of you!!

The Horn of Plenty again greatly helped the AAS by contributing part of their dinner proceeds on both January 12 and 13. It was a wonderful success despite the cold and snowstorm. Thanks again to the Horn for their support.

We are planning a dinner, “ESSENTIAL PIECES”, to honor those heroes of the Ark Animal Sanctuary. It will be held from five to nine, on February 26th, at the Elks Club. The menu will be roast chicken with all the fixings. Please mark that date on your calendar, and join us to pay tribute to those who have helped to make our dream a reality.

PLEASE HELP US!! VOTE FOR THE ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY IN HOULTON, MEBangor Savings Bank Foundation is thrilled to once again kick off its unique, grant-making initiative, Community Matters More. As a previous participant in Community Matters More, we want to be sure to give you the opportunity to help us allocate a total of $100,000 to 68 community non-profits throughout Maine.

Each of the 48 non-profits listed on the ballot will receive at least a $1,000 grant for participating in the program, and the top 20 write-in vote-getters will also receive a grant from the Bangor Savings Bank Foundation. The top vote-getting organizations in each region (including write-ins) will receive $5,000.
Voting begins January 24, 2011 and ends March 7, 2011.

Please help us by going to www.bangor.com/cmm and vote for the Ark Animal Sanctuary in Houlton, ME.

With these extremely cold temperatures, The Ark Sanctuary worries about all animals that are left to fend for themselves, sometimes outside. Please be aware for your own pet, and keep a watchful eye for those who may need help. Thank you!
Our expenses for the month were $1,457.9. Donations were$ 452.87, and fundraisers brought in $382.00.

We took in seven dogs and adopted seven dogs. Currently we have no dogs. We took in no cats but adopted eight. Currently we have fifty cats.

Thank you for your interest in the Ark Animal Sanctuary and for reading our column.

In Home Surrender/Foster Program

2011-01-17T14:31:00.000-08:00

"In Home Surrender/Foster Program"
For Southern Aroostook County, Maine

The Ark Animal Sanctuary has implemented this program to work in partnership with pet owners who have the need to re-home their pets due to unexpected circumstances, whether brought on by health concerns, financial issues, etc.

Under this program, the animal will remain at home with his/her owner/guardian while photos of the pet are networked through the Ark's online system.

Keeping a pet in his/her own home environment while networking for a new adoptive home is beneficial for the animal in reducing the stress and confusion of suddenly being in a strange place, cared for by strangers. A calm pet is a healthier pet and more appealing to potential adopters. This also alleviates the financial burden and space requirements on the sanctuary/rescue/shelter where the pet would have been placed.

How The Program Works

2011 Calendar of Events

2011-01-17T14:19:00.000-08:00

"Essential Pieces" Tribute Dinner & Awards Night

2011-01-17T14:17:00.001-08:00

Horn of Plenty Hearts Aplenty!

2011-01-17T14:12:00.000-08:00

Thank you once again to Nancy Levin and Chef Bill Roderick, to Heather and Rachel and all the staff at Horn of Plenty Restaurant on North Rd., Houlton for hosting another terrific and delicious Benefit Night for the Ark Animal Sanctuary!

It was a slippery, snowy night and there were some cancellations, but Nancy and Bill graciously extended the benefit to another night so the few cancellations that did come in could reschedule (and they did!) and enjoy a scrumptious meal on the following night and still be part of the overall benefit!

The Ark is so fortunate to have such a wonderful community embracing it in support of its work for the homeless pets in need of adoption.

Thank you everyone!

January News

2011-01-17T14:08:00.000-08:00

ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY NEWS
Lorraine Monfils and Mary Peabody

This year, 2010, was a very exciting one for The Ark Animal Sanctuary.

First we became a 501c3, and shortly thereafter purchased thirty seven (37) acres of land in a key location with plans for having this spot as our new AAS home. We had a cabin donated and moved it to this new land. A few months later we won the national CITGO fueling good contest, which gave the AAS 2,500 in gas cards. Daigle Oil generously matched the 2,500 in gas cards. We had six skylights and sliding glass doors donated, as well as 75 feet of chain link fence. We have been so very fortunate to have received so much support and recognition.

This year the Ark held 23 fund raisers, bringing in $13,737.27. Again we were fortunate to take in $13,867.67 in donations. Expenses for the year were $22,164.35.

Miracle on Mechanic Street, with the presentation of “Twelve Dogs of Christmas”, was a huge success. (visit our website www.arksanctuary.com to view ). It was just SO MUCH FUN! We actually had sixty six dogs and twelve little kittens for the performance. All dogs were so well-behaved, and thus not one single issue was encountered. I’ve never seen so many animals and animal lovers in one spot at the same time, and all with smiles! It certainly started the Christmas spirit for me!! That day we had five adoptions and raised over $1700.

We want to sincerely thank all of the volunteers for this fundraiser as well as our supporters. Without all of you this event could not have happened or been as successful as it was! Another big thanks to the students in Hodgdon at the Mill Pond School as well as Hodgdon High School. Both groups raised money for the AAS during the holiday season. Another very big thanks to Gloria Austin of the Pioneer Times for staying with our project most all of the day. She took many wonderful pictures!! You are all appreciated more than you can realize! Thank you all again for helping us to help the animals.

In 2010 we adopted 127 cats and 17 dogs. All of this was accomplished with only volunteers. There are NO paid employees. All monies came from fundraising and donations. We received no town or state funding, even though we were beset with urgent calls to take animals during the months that the Houlton Humane Society was closed. We did accommodate, and that time and care for those local animals that were in need came also from our own pockets.

Our building is still not operational, so we were able to accomplish all of what we have done this year without an actual location. All of our dogs and cats were and are presently in foster care.

May this New Year be a wonderful one for all of our readers and may it bring our paths closer together in the future. Thanks for reading our column.

Ark Animal Sanctuary "The 12 Dogs of Christmas"

2010-12-19T10:34:00.000-08:00

In Home Surrender/Foster Program

2010-11-05T18:45:00.000-07:00

Sanctuary News Nov. 3rd

2010-11-05T18:38:00.000-07:00

ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY NEWS

THE AAS WANTS TO GIVE A HUGE THANKS TO CITGO PETROLEUM CORPORATION AND THEIR LOCAL MARKETER, DAIGLE OIL, FOR THEIR RECOGNITION AND GENEROUS CONTRIBUTION TO THE SANCTUARY. YOUR GIFT WAS GREATLY APPRECIATED. YOUR GENEROSITY HAS GIVEN US SUCH A WONDERFUL BOOST AT THIS TIME.

It has been REALLY exciting to type CITGO Ark Animal into Google search and see all the places where Houlton’s ARK ANIMAL SANCTUARY has been posted. Again, big thanks to CITGO Petroleum and Daigle Oil.

AILEEN
by
Lorraine Monfils

Let me introduce you to Aileen, a very big name for such a tiny little creature. This furry little soul came to the Ark on Saturday, October 9th, weighing less than 6 oz. We figured she was approximately four weeks old, and way too young to be away from her mother. She had been left alone in a parking lot unable to fend for herself. After examining her we found she had an injury to her left front leg. (Considering it was the weekend, we felt it would be difficult to get her veterinary care.) This tiny little animal would try to stand up but then topple over. When she finally did stand, she would lean to one side…thus the name Aileen (I lean) seemed fitting!

Almost the same day that Aileen arrived, so did another little six week old feral male kitten. It took that little fellow a very short time to realize that we wanted to be friends, and ever so slowly that feral personality began to disappear. This little gentleman had double paws both front and back. We decided he looked like a Theodore…Teddy seemed fitting.

Now here is the interesting part of this story. We introduced Teddy to Aileen, and he instantly took her “under his wing”…or should I say paw. All weekend he cuddled with her and cleaned her much like a cat mother might do. She appeared to thoroughly enjoy his attention. We felt this was pretty amazing considering he was male and so young himself.

On Tuesday of the next week Aileen was transported to the veterinarian where she had her little leg x-rayed. The leg was badly broken, and so she remained there at the clinic overnight. She was fitted with a splint and returned to the Ark the following day. You might wonder if the splint slowed this little 6 oz. wonder down. NO WAY! She was “wired” and ready to run! She moved around the room like absolutely nothing was wrong! She goes back to the veterinarian in two weeks for a check up. We want give a big thanks to Dr. Monteith for taking care of Aileen and donating her time and services for this kitten. There was no charge for her medical care. We will keep you updated on Aileen’s progress.

On a sad note, we want to tell you about Hildy. Hildy was born into a local cat colony. The “owner” has never recognized the need for spay or neuter, and actually doesn’t think about the need for feline nutrition either. Hildy lived a short desperate life. She had at least a couple of litters and we know little food to feed herself or her kittens. She never had the warmth of a home or the veterinary care she needed. She was with us when she died on October 12th. Her little body just shut down. She will no longer be cold, go hungry and continue to have unwanted babies! She can now rest in peace.

I have to wonder why this situation continues to happen. Was the cost of a simple spay worth what this kitten went through? We hope you will say a prayer for all those other homeless, abused, cold, and neglected animals out there that need our help. We cannot save them all, but we have certainly been making a difference in the lives of all those animals that we have come in contact with. Food, water, medical attention, or acknowledging the fact that they do exist, we have given them all of this and love as well! They are all named, and sadly, when they are beyond veterinary as well as our help and do leave this world, they leave with the dignity that often they did not have in life.

To the pet owners and animal caretakers here in Houlton: Please realize that it is getting colder and that your pets need shelter. Be aware that there are animals in this area, dogs, cats and larger critters that sometimes have no home or person to turn to for help. They may not have the warmth, shelter, or food that they need. Keep an eye out for those animals that may need you to help them.

We have had some wonderful fundraisers during the month of October. Thanks for to all who gave their support. If I have calculated correctly, our bake sales, supper at the Horn of Plenty, and October harvest supper have netted around $1400. We also have the $5,000 from CITGO and Daigle Oil.

Anyone who entered a photo in the Hot Diggity Dogs Photo Contest, we want to remind them that all of these photos are featured in our 2011 calendar which is on sale at The Hollywood Pet Salon for $10.00.

The Holidays are just around the corner, and The Ark Animal Sanctuary is gearing up for MIRACLE ON MECHANIC STREET once again! It will be held on Saturday, December 4th, from 10 AM until 3PM. JOIN US and purchase your fresh Christmas tree or wreath at that time. Listen to Christmas music while having pictures taken with Santa. There will be a silent auction, craft sale, candy sale, and bake sale. While there, snack on pulled pork sandwiches, nachos, and candy apples. There also will be dinners available to go. Lia Sophia will have a table set up and raffle items.
Adoptions are possible at this time. Come and support the AAS and maybe give a homeless animal a real gift…a chance for a better life in wonderful home.
At 1 PM on that date, December 4th, we will have THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS. We are searching for dogs to participate. We are looking for Labs, Golden Retrievers, Bichons, Rescue dogs, Mixed breeds, Daschunds, Chihuahuas. The dogs must walk on a leach and be OK around other dogs. For more information call the pet Salon at 532-7387.
Mary Peabody

Lorraine is remarkable in her drive to help the animals. Her own life comes second, I think, to the AAS. Her husband, Bob, is totally on her team! I know she relies on the dedicated people that are aligned with her in the effort to help the animals in this area. Like a “well oiled machine”, the people that share her vision for the AAS contribute their talent the way they know best and be of the greatest use. Their jobs are many. Whether it involves helping care for the animals, transporting for veterinary care, setting up and maintaining the AAS website, organizing fundraisers, decorating for a supper, cooking, or writing our monthly column for the Houlton Pioneer. If all the hours were tallied in time given to helping cats, dogs, and all animal life, it would be beyond anyone’s imagination!! It is a life of total dedication to the animals. My hat is off to all of those caring people who give their talent, time, money, as well as their hearts to those AAS animals. Some names that support the AAS you may never hear of unless you happen to be part of Lorraine’s e-mail network. I am so impressed with their dedication. The letter written by Darlene Kenney to the Editor of the Houlton Pioneer Times (10/27) says so much. Congratulations AAS!!

In October the Ark took in $1,371.00. Our expenses were 2,792.88. As you can see, we are so appreciative of any donations. Maybe you can help by purchasing your AAS 2011 calendar at the Hollywood Pet Salon.

This month we took in 2 dogs. We also took in 13 cats. We adopted 3 dogs and 13 cats. We currently have 2 dogs, 67 cats and I pig!

Update from Lorraine: In Friday’s mail (10/29) I received three envelopes. One with a check for 136.30 for used ink cartridges and cell phones, thanks to Lynn Rondeau. The second one with donations made in memory of Gilbert Roy from Dunn's funeral home with 125.00, and the third from MMG Insurance Co. Apparently they had a casual day to raise money for us and sent us a check for 271.00. They are based out of Presque Isle. It is amazing. I am overwhelmed with the generosity of people and the amount of support the Ark has. $532.30 this week in donations!

Still another update: Today’s Walk-a-thon (10/30) netted $2,000. Huge thanks to Veronica Daggett for organizing the entire event!! Thanks also to those 34 walkers who weathered the cold winds to help the AAS!! The best part of the day was that our two dogs, Baby and Cesar, were both adopted and now have good homes. We all will sleep well tonight!

It also looks like our credits caught up with our debits…will have to recheck that thought. Again, thank you all so much for your support. Thanks for reading our column.

Strut Your Mutt 2010

2010-11-05T13:46:00.000-07:00

Wishful Whiskers

2010-11-05T13:36:00.000-07:00