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“As
always I truly hope this letter finds you in the very best of God given health”.
So began most of the almost-monthly newsletters Charley McCarthy wrote during
the 11 years he operated a shelter for abandoned animals in Clinton, Maine. He
struggled financially for the entire 11 years, often sleeping in his car so he
could spend his money on the shelter instead of rent. Charley died in
September, 1996, before he reached his goal of providing a thriving shelter
for animals. But thanks to the tireless efforts of his friends, “Charley’s
Strays” has survived. One of these friends, Gabriele Brewer, said after
Charley’s death, “Looking back makes me wonder. Why didn’t Charley just
take his VA disability check and live a half decent life with that? I guess
that’s not what he wanted out of life; his calling was taking in abused and
unwanted animals”. As Charley himself expressed it in the early days of
his shelter, “I would like this not only to be a shelter for the animals
here today, but a shelter and refuge for animals in the future, long
after I am gone. I am trying to establish something permanent. All I have to
give it is my love and energy."
I
met Charley only once, shortly before his move to Maine in September, 1985.
Intrigued by an article I had read about him in the Boston Herald, I
visit ed him at the kennel he was managing in Woburn, MA. I left totally
captivated by this kind, gentle, scruffy-looking man and his deep-seated love
for animals. The next thing I knew, he had arrived in Maine with eleven dogs
and all of his belongings, which consisted of a bag of clothes and an old car,
home for all of them that first winter. And all he said was that, “There is a great
deal of work ahead!"
Charley often said that his newsletter was his “lifeline” to the outside world
and his primary means of raising money for the shelter.
(It still is!!) For
me, it was a link to a man who’s dedication to animals was very compelling. I
looked forward to hearing about his projects, his animals, and the many
friends who helped him build his shelter and care for his animals. Knowing
that his health was precarious, I worried when the newsletter was late. My
worst fears were realized in September, 1996, when a “Charley’s Strays”
newsletter arrived with the sad news that Charley had suffered a heart attack
and was in a coma. The next newsletter brought news of his death.
That could have been the end of the story. Charley had, in fact, stipulated in
his will that his animals be euthanized when he died unless there was someone
to take care of them. He shouldn’t have worried. As Gabriele Brewer, who took
over Charley’s newsletter at that point said, “There was never the smallest
doubt in our minds that we would continue”. And so they have. The
story of “Charley’s Strays” continues to be one of people helping
people, of people helping animals.
Since Charley’s death, five individuals, Jim and Gabriele Brewer, Nancy Ricker
(Nancy Ricker left Charley’s in 2001.)
Ted Murray and Mary Grow (and shortly
thereafter Karen Tobias) have figured prominently in his shelter.
It came as no surprise to me that these five people chose to carry on
Charley’s work; all had been mentioned and thanked by Charley numerous times
over the years. It’s said that even the blackest of clouds has a silver
lining, and that was certainly the case with the theft of Charley’s generator
in mid-1993. Jim and Gabriele read about the incident in a local newspaper and
decided to help. Charley described his first meeting with Jim and Gabriele in
his December 1993 newsletter: “These last two months new people have
entered my life and have made efforts to make things better for me and the
animals. In October a couple named Jim and Gabi were the first to enter, they
come from Limestone, Maine, which is near the Canadian border about a four
hour drive from me. They brought food for me to eat and on the first occasion
Jim rented a motel room for three nights and spent four days skirting in the
trailer and making stairs for me to enter,
(This trailer was bought and given to Charley by Ted Murray. It was
replaced in 2000 by a new model, which now houses our caretaker Bruce on the
premises)
the labor for this project and all materials was provided at Jim’s expense
while his wife Gabi brought me curtains and blankets and other things to
make the trailer home." In May 1994 Charley told of Jim’s work
constructing a kennel for the dogs. Again, much of it at his own expense. (
at this time there was a small Kennel
building and a large barn, constructed after
the first winter of Charley’s being in Maine. These buildings were erected and
paid for by supporters Josephine and Duane Ford. Duane has passed away since,
but Jo still helps us with our
monthly expenses) “These people have come into my life and have
made a huge difference in the quality of life the animals and I live. A
difference for the better”. Charley was very concerned about exploiting
their friendship, and wanted badly to repay them. “What is of even more
importance and heavy on my mind I must raise $ 3,700.00 to repay the loan Jim
gave me by the end of June. He gave from his heart, because he trusted
and believes in me and because he and his wife want to help, they want to be
part of the place and see it grow.
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Jim took out a loan on his insurance policy to help
out, the agreement is he is to be paid June 27th, the Monday
after my fund-raiser. If I fail in my agreement, Jim loses his
policy. I can’t let that happen”. In the April 1995 newsletter
Charley stated: “Jim spent his entire summer
here last year, giving up the comforts of his home and the companionship
of his wife, and more than likely let many personal chores slide. It was
because of their kindness and sacrifices the animals lived the long
winter in the warmth and comfort of the kennel."
Ted Murray, a school teacher from China, Maine, has been
involved in Charley’s shelter for several years. He started coming to
Charley’s to help clean the pens, and was instrumental in helping to
obtain a trailer when Charley was asked to leave his apartment because
he refused to get rid of his cats. Ted would often pay the kennel bills
for various dogs, and also adopted dogs. When he first started coming to
the shelter in late 1992, he told Charley that his elderly dog was dying
and that when that time came, he would adopt Jo Jo and Debbie, two
elderly dogs that no one else wanted. As Charley related it, Ted told
him that his house was his dog’s home and his dog would be both hurt and
offended if he brought any other dogs home at this point. “I was very
pleased that this kind and sensitive man would give a home to two of my
elderly dogs so of course the answer was yes”. Since Charley’s
death, Ted has been driving the 20 miles to Charley’s Shelter each day
to take care of the animals, even though he works as a school teacher
and also holds down an evening job in a bookstore.
(Ted has
retired from his teaching job
since then, but still works at several other jobs to support his ever
growing dog family at home. He still volunteers at the Shelter every
Saturday and many times in between when he is needed.)
Mary Grow, a part-time librarian, writer,
and teacher from China, Maine, started volunteering at Charley’s in mid
1995, going out several times a week to walk and care for the animals.
Gabriele Brewer, who took over writing the newsletter after Charley’s
death, spoke highly of both Mary and Ted in the August 1996 newsletter
“. . . the animals are well taken care of by Mary and Ted, who drive 20
miles every day from China to Clinton . . . The medicate the sick ones, walk
the dogs, and most importantly give them lots of TLC. Even while Charley
was still in fairly good health, both Mary and Ted worked at the kennel
every weekend and many times during the week. I am sure there is a place
reserved in animal heaven for Mary and Ted, probably front row
seats, too!” In a letter of introduction to the newsletter
recipients, Mary explained that she got involved after attending one of
the annual Animal Blessings. “Gradually my involvement grew, until
this past winter when I went up almost every weekend to help Ted. By the
time of Charley’s illness, I knew most of the routines, though I still
learn new things daily from Nancy and Ted and the animals”.
An inveterate cat lover who has taken in homeless cats for the past 15
years, Mary was quick to take in Charley’s cats after his death. “The
work at Charley’s Strays is hard, in spite of all the improvements Jim
has made, and the winter will be harder. But, as Gabriele said, it has
its rewards- lots of wagging tails, the rare moments of satisfied
silence when every animal is fed and watered and content, the morning
Bubba abandoned his suspicions and greeted me with a lick on the chin.
Nancy and Ted and I work well together; Charley’s neighbors and the
veterinary services help; and finding your generous contributions and
encouraging words in the daily mail gives us renewed energy and
commitment."
(At the time
Nancy Brown wrote this article, Nancy Ricker was still working for the
Shelter too. She was a big help, but eventually “burned out” and left.
But shortly after this article Karen Tobias came to join us, and she was
a God send. She is still with us today, comes out to volunteer almost
every Saturday, and we are very grateful for her compassion for the
animals)
It is still hard for me to believe that
Charley is gone – it must be even more difficult for those who knew him
well and saw him struggle but never quit. As Gabriele said in a
newsletter written shortly after his death “ . . . and the
spirit of Charley McCarthy lives on…Another month has gone by without
Charley, but not one day goes by without talking about him. He is
keeping his spiritual eye on things”. Yes, life goes on. The yearly
animal blessing was held on October 5, dedicated this time to Charley
McCarthy, who was born May 10, 1936 and died on September 5, 1996. Plans
are underway to hold the annual fundraiser in June of 1997. A
“Sponsor-a-Pet” program has been implemented, and homes have been found
for many of the animals. Conditions at the Shelter continue to improve,
thanks to the hard work of people like Jim, Gabriele, Mary, Ted and
Nancy. With the continued financial and moral support of “Charley’s
Strays” newsletter friends, there is no question that the shelter
will one day be a thriving home for unwanted and abandoned animals.
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