My name is Eva Allen, and I own Little Paws Animal Shelter in Buxton. We are a non-profit, no-kill animal shelter. We are currently under foreclosure and our doors are due to be shut on Dec. 16. The shelter will be going up for auction on Jan. 16. We are in hopes of being able to attend the auction and bid on our shelter. In order for us to attend the auction we must raise $20,000 by no later than Jan. 16, and if our bid is accepted, we have 45 days to come up with an additional $375,000.00.
We have rescued 388 dogs this year alone and countless cats. We find loving and caring homes for each and every animal. While the dogs are in the shelter, they are kept in clean surroundings, exercised daily, and thanks to many volunteers our animals are well socialized and receive obedience training as well as a lot of TLC. Many of our animals come in scared, dirty and hungry. We not only clean them up but work with them until they are socialized again so we may place them with the appropriate family that will meet the needs of this pet.
The other aspect of our shelter is that I always try and hire divorced, down-on-their-luck women and teens in trouble. We also have had many nice men who have helped out. We have a lot of wonderful volunteers. The closing of this shelter will put them all out of work. The animals especially seem to take to the teens and the teens to the animals. It helps a lot working out some of their frustrations and sometimes anger. These kids have never taken anger out on the pets, even when one of them was bitten.
If Little Paws can’t buy back the 27 Portland Road location, we will start one somewhere!
I know that at this time of year there are many organizations asking for help. We will be very appreciative of anything you are able to donate to us. Please help make this a Christmas miracle.
The Staff at Little Paws Animal Shelter
P. O. Box 600
Bar Mills, ME 04044
727-6835 or 929-5505
Send questions/comments to the editors.
