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fka Maine Federation of Humane Societies
☘ March Newsletter ☘
Maine Humane Updates
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
☘️ ☘️ ☘️
We are excited to invite you to join a collaborative effort to track community cat colonies across Maine. As a site caretaker, volunteer, shelter staff, or ACO, the input from your area will be invaluable in helping us gather crucial data. Below, you'll find an outline of our objectives, the reasons behind this initiative, and how you can contribute. We welcome any thoughts, questions, or feedback you may have as this project is still evolving, and your participation will help shape its success.
Program Goals:
- Establish a baseline and map the distribution of feral/community cat colonies across the state of Maine.
- Monitor known sites for population variation and track trapping and TNR effort.
- Connect existing individuals, groups & shelter staff to facilitate collaborative action.
- Incentivize local ownership of colony management and data collection by ACO’s shelter staff, community cat groups and caretakers.
- Identify areas of highest need and prioritize distribution of resources.
- Build a reliable, multi-year dataset from which to access financial and community support for future work.
We have created two points of data entry: The ‘Site Registration Form’ and the ‘Capture Log’. When you become aware of a new colony, even if there is yet to be any active trapping there, please enter it via the registration form. The data that you enter on the forms is used to generate a live visual of where colonies are located across the State.
The size of colony map point is dictated by the number of estimated cats on site. If you revisit the site or, you know that cats have been removed/died/relocated, please enter this data on the second, Capture Log form and select the site from the drop down menu (which will only provide registered colonies). This will allow the visual to reflect the most accurate information available. When ‘estimated number of cats’ gets to 0, the map point will remain but the colony will disappear from the drop down menu (suggesting its inactive). If new cats appear on an existing colony, you need to re-register the site via the original form (please make sure details match the original exactly otherwise duplicates result).
The more entries we gather from reliable sources, the better, ‘the bigger picture’ understanding will be. The hope is, that, as our network builds we can establish a database of contacts from those who are entering data. A monthly newsletter to the group could be a useful way to provide updates, share opportunities to collaborate and issue requests for help.
You can find both forms on our website under the “Community Cats” page.
Click the button below to get involved!
Maine Humane Community Cat Page
Our next public meeting will take place at the Kennebec Valley Humane Society on April 9th from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. The event will feature a presentation on grant writing, followed by a Q&A session with the Animal Welfare Program. After the presentations, attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy lunch, network, and take a tour of the facility.
Registration is required for both in-person and virtual attendance. Please submit any questions you may have for the presentations during the registration process.
We look forward to seeing you there!
‼️AWS Rescue Partner Program‼️
Announcing High Volume Spay/Neuter services for Shelters, Rescues and Community Cat programs!
If you are within driving distance of Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, they’re offering S/N services for cats and dogs. Please click on the button below for details and contact information.
The Animal Welfare Advisory Council (AWAC) met on February 19th. During the meeting, we received an update on the Help Fix ME program from ACF employee Megan Patterson, as Ronda Steciuk was absent. Unfortunately, no bids were received through the RFP process to run the program, so Help Fix ME will remain under the administration of the Animal Welfare Program.
A Lunch & Learn session for Animal Control Officers (ACOs) was held at the end of February to introduce the new dog licensing portal.
Regarding legislation, AWAC discussed the following bills and will be submitting testimony:
- LD 124 - Right to Food Bill: Limited opposition raised concerns about the anti-cruelty law and ordinance adherence.
- LD 498 - Regarding Animal Rescue Entities: Opposition.
- LD 308 - AWAC Bill to Allow Use of Subcommittees: Support.
- LD 528 - Rabies Vaccinator Bill: Support, and AWAC is working on an amendment with the Maine Veterinary Medical Association (MVMA).
- The Kennel Licensing Bill has not yet been printed.
Members were encouraged to share the Companion Sterilization Tax Checkoff graphics with their constituents. Additionally, they are working on a graphic to promote the animal welfare license plate, with the Chickadee plate set to be retired. Posters and postcards may be printed with the assistance of the Maine Animal Coalition.
Their next meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, March 26th at 1:30 PM.
🐶 Maine C.A.R.E.S Workshop 🐶
☘️ NEFED Conference ☘️
Don’t forget! The New England Federation of Humane Societies' 2025 Annual Conference Training will take place next week, from Monday, March 24th to Wednesday, March 26th. Click the button below to register.
Witness Preparation: It’s Not Just About the Facts
Tue, Apr 1st, 2025 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM ET
NEFHS Presents: Lagomorth Love: Enhancing Rabbit Welfare in Shelters
Wed, Apr 9th, 2025 11:00 AM
Pioneering the Path: Innovations in Field Services Our Communities Need
Thu, Apr 24th, 2025 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM
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