Fall has officially settled over the region, and that means it's time for Midcoast Humane’s annual “Paw It Forward” fundraising campaign. Running from Oct. 1 to Dec. 15, the goal is to raise $75,000 in 75 days for the society’s operations services in honor of its 75th anniversary. An anonymous donor will match donations. Contributions can be made at midcoasthumane.org

Founded in 1950 as the Brunswick Animal Shelter, Midcoast Humane now serves 39 towns and shelters more than 4,000 animals each year.  “(This fundraiser) gives us an infusion at a time that we badly need it. At the end of summer, we're usually pretty depleted,” said Executive Director Jess Townsend. 

Townsend explained, the shelter experiences its highest intake over the summer months, which also makes it the most medically complex time of year, as surrenders often come in with health issues. This trend has spiked in recent years. For instance, the shelter system took in several hundred kittens this summer, with more being under eight weeks of age and requiring extra care.  

Townsend said part of this phenomenon is the continuing fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, when Protective Personal Equipment (PPE) was being rationed and fewer people were bringing their pets in for spay and neuter; cats reach sexual maturity at 6 months and female cats can have up to 36 kittens a year.

Townsend said more people are also dealing with unstable financial and housing situations, resulting in more surrenders. Animal overpopulation in residential areas and private homes has also been identified in at least six towns, and overcrowded living conditions can contribute to medically complex needs.  

“It's a complicated problem, and there isn't any one solution, but affordable spay-neuter is pretty high on the list of things that could help alleviate it.”  

This is why part of the “Paw It Forward” funds go towards the organization’s “Pawistive” assistance programs that cover low-cost spay-neuter and surgeries for recently pregnant dogs or cats. More information can be found at https://midcoasthumane.org/services/public-assistance/ 

The organization will also host a crowdfunding event on Oct. 24, “Cat Naps & Doggie Dreams,” where volunteers will hold a sleep-in at the Brunswick campus to raise awareness about homeless animals.