enlarge Photo courtesy Lisa Smith

Retired Marine Master Sgt. Joseph Maist, 61, of Freeport sits with a kitten he adopted as part of the Pets for Vets program in Brunswick.

TO LEARN MORE CALL

THE Coastal Humane Society at 725-5051 or go to www.coastalhumanesociety.org.

THE SHELTER is located at 30 Range Road, Brunswick.

A new Coastal Humane Society of Brunswick program is pairing shelter animals with military veterans.

"Pets for Vets" was founded by retired Navy Seaman Jim Friedlander, 83, commander of the LaVallee-Garrison Chapter 15 of the Disabled American Veterans.

Friedlander, of Brunswick, saw the program as a good way to provide companion animals for veterans in the area who live alone. His inspiration came from a DAV member who lost a cherished family pet.

"He was despondent and suffered severe depression until someone (gave him) a new dog," said Friedlander. "It occurred to me that there are a lot of people who live alone that would do well with a pet. It's important to have company and someone to feel responsible for. And, you get a lot of love from an animal."

Friedlander contacted a longtime Coastal Humane volunteer, retired Army Staff Sgt. Bob Whitney, 56, also of Brunswick.

"Friedlander had a lot of ideas. We sat down, put together a plan and mailed out 210 letters to area veterans," said Whitney, who is now program coordinator. "A few of them have adopted animals. But we'd like to see more. It's a terrific for veterans who suffer from post-traumatic stress disorder, having an animal around is calming."

Whitney said the program also helps veterans get exercise by taking their pets for needed walks and keeps them connected with the outside world if they have a tendency to be reclusive.

Whitney meets with potential adopters to talk about their home environment and special needs or limitations they may have before pairing them with a compatible pet. Temperament is a big consideration in making matches of pets and people.

"You don't want to put a hig-energy pet with a home-bound person," said Whitney.

Veterans receive a 50 percent discount on adoption fees, which includes the cost of spaying or neutering the animal and vaccinations. Fees are waived completely for veterans who adopt older pets, those needing special medical care or small animals like ferrets, rabbits, birds and guinea pigs. They also get a one-year membership to the society, which supports them as an ongoing resource should a veteran on a limited income need financial assistance for pet care.

One of the first pet adopters, retired Marine Master Sgt. Joseph Maist, 61, of Freeport, also became the first person to test the program's mettle when one of two kittens he adopted needed expensive medical treatment for a broken leg.

A local veterinarian who quoted Maist a $600 fee to set the kitten's leg. Maist did not have the money but did not want to euthanize the kitten. So, he called the humane society.

"I was aghast when they said, 'bring them in,'" said Maist. "They had a retired veterinarian there, who put a couple of pins in his leg and kept him for three days (for post-surgery care). Now he's back home and good as new."

For those unsure about opening their home for permanent pet placement, the shelter offers short-term foster care programs. Individuals host pets in their home until they are available for adoption by others. The shelter provides all the food, equipment and medical care for foster animals.

And, for pet owners who are facing challenges with a pet that is in the latter stages of life, the shelter will offer an "End of Life Issues" workshop from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Nov. 19.

Staff Writer Deborah Sayer can be contacted at 791-6308 or at: dsayer@pressherald.com