FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Kerrie Leclair, Director of Development
, 207-985-3244 x123 or 207-899-8131
After 40 Years of Work, The Cleo Fund Selects The Animal Welfare Society
to Carry On Its Mission of Spay/Neuter in Maine
Merger Creates the Largest Private Spay/Neuter Organization in the State
WESTKENNEBUNK, ME – March 15, 2013–The Cleo Fund today announced that it has selected the Animal Welfare Society of West Kennebunk to carry on its mission of spay/neuter. The merger of the two organizations creates the largest private spay/neuter organization in Maine.
For more than 40 years, the Cleo Fund has worked to provide spay and neuter surgeries by providing subsidies to low-income Mainers. In its history, the Cleo Fund has provided funding for more than 40,000 surgeries.
The Cleo Fund began in 1971, when a large, all black, mixed Airedale-Poodle was found abandoned in Portland. Picked up as a stray, she was taken to the animal shelter, where she soon gave birth to ten puppies. Details of the incident were printed in the local newspaper, resulting in a call to the pound identifying the dog as "Cleo"; however, no information was given about the dog's owner. Through the efforts of an employee of the shelter, funds were solicited from friends and Cleo was spayed in January 1972.
The newspaper article resulted in cash donations for Cleo. This moneywas used for spaying other dogs and cats from various shelters in the area, placing them in foster homes and eventually finding permanent homes for them.
“Founder, Mary Scott, was on the forefront of animal welfare in Maine,” said Steve Jacobsen, executive director of the Animal Welfare Society, and now the Cleo Fund. “There weren’t too many people thinking about homeless animals in the early 70s, much less thinking about ways to prevent overpopulation and doing something about it.”
Low-income Mainers needing assistance from the Cleo Fund should call 207-XXX-XXXX.
On January 1, 2013, assets were transferred to the Animal Welfare Society for continuation of the Fund and its mission. “We have been delighted that so many veterinarians are interested in helping us to further the Cleo Fund,” said Sharon Secovich the Fund’s new coordinator at AWS.
Information here about how the fund works…