The Second Annual Silent Auction was a success!

We would like to thank all of you that participated and made it work.
We raised almost $1000 for spay neuter clinics.

We couldn't have done it with out you!

Helping Animals in Haiti

The World Society for Protection of Animals http://www.wspa-international.org/
and the International Fund for Animal Welfare http://www.ifaw.org are working together to coordinate all other animal rescue groups on the ground in Haiti.

hey are presently in the Dominican Republic putting together a mobile medical unit. Donations can be made on-line to either organization or to others like the Humane Society of the United States that will be working with them.

What do egg labels really mean?

From: http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=244232&ac=FoodToday's Portland Press Herald gives us the breakdown...

WHAT THEY MEAN

CERTIFIED ORGANIC: The birds are uncaged inside barns or warehouses, and are required to have outdoor access, but the amount, duration and quality of outdoor access is undefined. They are fed an organic, all-vegetarian diet free of antibiotics and pesticides. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permittted. The U.S. Department of Agriculture sets the standards, and compliance is verified through a third party.

FREE RANGE: Free-range hens are uncaged inside barns or warehouses and have some degree of outdoor access, but there are no requirements for the amount, duration or quality of time spent outdoors. There are no restrictions regarding what the birds can be fed. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted. There is no third-party verification of compliance.

CERTIFIED HUMANE: The birds are uncaged inside barns or warehouses but may be kept indoors at all times. There are requirements for stocking density and number of perches and nesting boxes. Beak cutting is allowed. Forced molting through starvation is prohibited. Compliance is verified by a third party. Program of Humane Farm Animal Care.

ANIMAL WELFARE APPROVED: Birds are cage-free, and continuous outdoor perching access is required. There are requirements for stocking density, perching, space and nesting boxes. Beak cutting is prohibited, and birds molt naturally. Program of the Animal Welfare Institute.

CAGE-FREE: Birds are uncaged inside barns or warehouses, but they generally do not have access to the outdoors. Beak cutting and forced molting through starvation are permitted. There is no third-party verification of compliance.

FREE ROAMING: Also known as "free-range," the USDA has defined this claim for some poultry products, but there are no standards in "free-roaming" egg production. This essentially means the hens are cage-free. There is no third-party verification of compliance.

UNITED EGG PRODUCERS CERTIFIED: The overwhelming majority of the U.S. egg industry complies with this voluntary program of the United Egg Producers. Birds are confined to cages, the dimensions of which are 67 to 86 square inches, depending on the size of the bird and the size and style of the cage. Compliance verified through a third party. Forced molting through starvation is prohibited, but beak cutting is allowed.

VEGETARIAN-FED: Birds' feed does not contain animal byproducts. No requirements regarding animal welfare.

NATURAL: This label claim has nothing to do with nutrition or animal welfare.

FERTILE: These eggs were laid by hens who lived with roosters, meaning they most likely were not caged.

OMEGA-3-ENRICHED: Omega-3 fatty acid levels in the eggs are boosted through the addition of flax seed or marine algae to the birds' feed. Most producers use flax seed, which does not provide the most beneficial form of omega-3s.

Copyright © 2009 Blethen Maine Newspapers

Ideas for managing pet care costs during the recession

Pet Owners Struggling to Pay For Their Loved Ones Costs
Some cash-strapped consumers have been forced to do the unthinkable: give up their pets. To avoid having to sacrifice the quality of your pet's care or worse, give them up altogether, here's how you can cut down on pet care costs. Tips to slash spending on veterinary care, food and other pet costs.
Put Your Pet on an Austerity Plan at SmartMoney.com

Maine Tax Checkoff to Help FixMe (Spay and Neuter Fund)

Spay Maine is working hard this year to get the word out on the spay/neuter check-off box, called the Companion Animal Sterilization Fund, on the Maine state tax form. For those of you not familiar with this, Help Fix ME has a check off box on the state tax form ( see schedule cp) that allows Mainers to donate directly to the Help Fix ME program. The donation is tax deductible the following year.
- From Spay Maine

Download the Flyer (PDF)

Have You Heard of Black Dog Syndrome?

"Did you know that Black Dogs are generally the last to be adopted and are euthanised in shelters in much larger numbers? People may consider them too “plain”, think they are menacing, or simply don’t notice them because their dark color makes them disappear in their kennels. Those involved in animal welfare have dubbed this phenomena "Black Dog Syndrome."

Read more about this - it affects both dogs and cats in this country.

www.startseeingblackdogs.com

Adopt Plate Success!

Dear Friend of MALT ~

We are thrilled to report that we have reached our goal. Due to the incredible support from people from 334 cities and towns in Maine, our goal was accomplished in record time.

We would like to recognize the Bureau of Motor Vehicles for extending our deadline and allowing us to meet our goal. They listened to the voice of the people and helped make it happen.

If you have posted any flyers on your website or in your workplace, please remove them as soon as possible. We cannot pre-sell more than 2,000 plates. Any more checks that come in will be returned.

Be on the lookout for a press release, which will likely happen by the end of September.

Our next step is to work with the BMV on writing the bill. Once the bill goes before the legislature, we will be asking you to call your Representative to let them know you support this initiative.

We will continue to send you updates on the inititative's progress and we now have updated FAQs posted on www.planetdog.com/plate.

-->Sincerely, Members of MALT

Maine's ADOPT license plate update

From our friends at MALT ...

(Due to the incredible outreach of animal lovers around the state, we are approaching the 50% mark! But we are also quickly approaching our deadline of September 1st. -->

If you have already purchased a plate, thank you! If everyone who has purchased the plate gets just one more person to take action, we will reach our goal. We need you to help make it happen.

Tell your family and friends that the Adopt Plate will now be sold at the following events: GREAT FALLS BALLOON FESTIVAL in Lewiston-Auburn, the SKOWHEGAN STATE FAIR at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals booth and WOOFSTOCK 2008 in Newcastle. See details below.

As a reminder, this may be the last specialty plate that the State of Maine allows, so PLEASE make it one that will support the health and welfare of all our animals. NO animal deserves inhumane treatment. ALL animals deserve our respect.

Click to purchase an Adopt Specialty Plate

Upcoming Events Where the Adopt Plate can be purchased:

SATURDAY, August 9th at WOOFSTOCK 2008, The Lincoln Home in beautiful Newcastle, Maine. 10 am - 3 pm. Click for more details.

SUNDAY, August 17th - TUESDAY, August 19th at GREAT FALLS BALLOON FESTIVAL, Lewiston-Auburn.

August 7th - 16th SKOWHEGAN STATE FAIR at the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals booth. Please go to www.MSSPA.org for more information.

MALT is comprised of the following businesses and organizations:

Planet Dog
Happy Tails
Animal Welfare Program
Maine HSUS
Animal Refuge League
Animal Welfare Society

Maine Friends of Animals
Maine Animal Coalition
Portland Trails
Spay Maine