AUBURN – Steven Dostie, director of the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society, has announced that effective immediately, the shelter will no longer charge a fee to individuals who must surrender their pet.

“Often, pet owners are forced to surrender an animal because they can no longer afford to care for it,” said Dostie. “We feel that by charging people when they must surrender their pet, we are doing a disservice to the animal and we are not being true to our mission: to promote a humane community by providing the best possible care for stray, abandoned and abused animals.”

While the shelter contracts with 11 communities (Auburn, Buckfield, Canton, Greene, Hebron, Leeds, Lewiston, Minot, New Gloucester, Poland and Turner) for their stray animal intake and services, they will accept privately surrendered animals from any community.

The society provides a haven for approximately 3,600 sick, homeless and abused animals in the greater Androscoggin area a year. The primary support comes from fund-raising events and donations of residents.

The shelter gives back through community services, including animal intake and adoption, animal health services, reuniting people with lost animals, humane education, and working with individuals who are disadvantaged or developmentally disabled.

The society is located at 3312 Hotel Road. Anyone interested in learning more about volunteering at the shelter or adopting an animal can call 783-2311 or visit the Web at www.gahumane.org.