HART’s Summer Mewsletter
2024 HART Yard Sale Update!
Yard Sale 2024 is in the books, and we are thrilled to announce that we not only met our $75,000 goal, we blew it out of the water, raising $80,104.41!
Our kitties are all sleeping soundly knowing that this translates into many meals, bags of litter, vaccines, spays, neuters, dentals, and specialized medical care for the hundreds of cats and kittens HART takes in annually.
This is a phenomenal achievement, and it could not have happened without the support of everyone who donated items, purchased treasures, and volunteered at the Yard Sale—including not only our dedicated HART volunteers, but also the great team of volunteers from IDEXX.
Your generosity also enabled us to give back to our community by donating unsold items to local charities, including Furniture Friends, Maine Needs, Preble Street, and Goodwill Northern New England.
We would also like to thank Monte's Fine Foods and Furniture Superstore, our 2024 Yard Sale sponsors, for their very generous support.
Thank you all for another very successful HART Yard Sale. We are already looking forward to next year! Enjoy the photos below of our amazing volunteers, shoppers, supporters.
Volunteer Spotlight
In this special interview, we had the pleasure of speaking with Dave Smith, who has been a dedicated HART volunteer for 8 1/2 years. After retiring a decade ago, Dave joined HART in January 2016 and has been a steadfast member of the morning cleaning crew ever since. His commitment and love for the cats and community at HART are truly inspiring. Dave’s story highlights the profound impact of volunteer work and the incredible community at HART.
What inspired you to start volunteering at HART? At the outset of retirement, I worked at LL Bean during the Fall/Winter peak seasons but had little to do after the holidays. I stopped in at HART one Saturday in January 2016, asked about volunteering, and was given a tour. I started as a cleaner that week.
Can you describe your typical volunteer duties or programs you are involved in? I’ve served on the morning cleaning crew since 2016, two days weekly initially, then three days, and now two days - Monday and Friday. I have also served in the Annual Yard Sale in recent years, usually transport, set-up, and take-down. I’m a book lover, so I like sorting books for the yard sale.
Do you have any cats at home? We currently have two HART cats, Mimoe and Jack. Mimoe is a 9-year-old, small, black-and-white cat who acts and plays like a 1-year-old teenager. She is diabetic and has insulin injections twice daily. She is the most loving cat we have ever had and loves spending time with me in the kitchen in the morning as I start the day with coffee. She is quick to jump into our laps for some loving at all times, except when dining.
Jack turned 15 years old last month. He has severe arthritis in his front paws and is treated with CBD soft gels and Dasequin chews twice daily. Jack is a regal fellow, and we believe he is part or all Turkish Van; all white except for black spots on either side of his head, rump, and a fluffy black tail. Although medium-haired, he does not shed and seldom requires brushing as he has only guard and awn hairs, not down hair. Jack came to live with us in March 2024, and we adopted him in mid-June.
Including Mimoe and Jack, we have adopted or fostered six HART cats, starting with Kraus, Edith (Edie), Jessica (Jessie), and Gustof. All-black kitchen cat Kraus and fluffy ball-of-fire Edie from Tennessee each stayed with us for about six months but were not a good fit with our aging calico, Piewacket, and returned for more suitable placements. We adopted the wonderful, 16-year-old (diabetic) tuxedo cat Jessie in 2018, and she was with us for three years before going over the rainbow bridge. Jessie and Pie were both quiet and laid-back, and got along well. Mimoe came home with the 14-year-old black and white FIV+ and diabetic gentleman, Gustof, in early December 2023. Gustof had a wonderful Christmas season at home with us, adding much to our household, but suddenly became ill with a “lymphatic blast” on January 6 and crossed the rainbow bridge on January 7.
What has been your most memorable moment while volunteering at HART? I have always been drawn to cats that might be described as “hard cases.” Cats that come to mind are Amos, Maggie, and Calypso. Today, Blackbeard and Alvin are cats I talk with a lot. I worked many months, maybe years, to get to know Calypso. She was truly a “hard case.” No matter how sweet and patient I was, Calypso refused all advances and entreaties. Then, one day I was sitting on the bench talking with her, and she gingerly climbed into my lap and sat there a good 10 minutes while I talked with her and gently stroked her head and neck. It was a magic moment.
Is there a particular cat or experience that has significantly impacted you? Yes, Gustof. I cleaned Room 4 on Fridays for some years. Gustof became my friend over time and I often found him waiting on the table facing the door expectantly when I arrived. I flatter myself, thinking it wasn’t just the food. I always made a point to spend some quality time with him when I was there, and he responded with love. In early 2023, I let Bobbi-Jo (HART’s Medical Manager) know of my interest in taking him home when the time was right. A bond was formed at the shelter, and it only grew when he came home in December. The three-and-a-half weeks he was with us was the most rewarding time of my life. I’m sad he’s gone so soon.
What do you find most rewarding or love about volunteering at HART? Of course, the cats are an attraction, but the people I have worked with are what keep me engaged and happily coming back to HART every week. I’ve never worked with finer people. So many HART volunteers have been there for many years, some 10-15 years and more. HART is a community of caring people who not only care about the cats but also about each other.
What advice would you give to someone considering volunteering at HART? Jump in, get wet, enjoy yourself!
If you could be any cat breed/color, which would you be and why? American Shorthair Tuxedo Cat. Striking and classy, not like me, but something to aspire to! If I were female, I’d like to be a Calico Tabby, colorful and complex.
Is there anything else you’d like to share about your experience as a volunteer? I will always be a HART volunteer. One day when I’m too old and don’t know it, I hope someone will drag me out and show me the Bridge.
Basil is looking for her furrever home.
Meet Basil, a charming, 4-year-old tabby with striking gray fur and an adorable, pale pink-orange nose. She joined HART this past Spring after her previous owner could no longer provide the necessary care. Upon arrival, Basil was experiencing significant fur loss and chronic vomiting due to severe food allergies, as diagnosed by our Medical Team. Now, with proper medication and a suitable diet, Basil is thriving and becoming the playful, outgoing cat she was meant to be.
Basil would do best in a calm, cat-savvy home with an adopter experienced in administering oral medications and who has a good relationship with a veterinarian. She gets along well with other cats and would do well with older children and relaxed dogs. While her ideal diet consists of prescription food for allergies, our Adoption Team will thoroughly review Basil’s specific health needs with you before adoption.
If you are interested in Basil, please fill out an application online. Our Adoption Team will contact you to arrange a meeting!
Meet Claudia, HART's new Shelter Manager!
We are thrilled to welcome Claudia Meyer-Maaseidvaag to HART, where she will focus on volunteer coordination and shelter operations.
Claudia joins us from the Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, where she excelled as the Manager of Lifesaving. Her impressive background includes work with Thoroughbred Aftercare Retirement and volunteer experience with nonprofits Forgotten Cats and Stray Cat Blues.
Claudia holds a Bachelor of Arts in Public Policy and Nonprofit Management from the University of Delaware.
Welcome, Claudia!
Want to help HART cats?
There are numerous ways to support HART: volunteering, adopting, fostering, or by making a contribution.
We (including the cats) appreciate all you do!