When Michaleen Platek’s weimaraner died in 1986, she ventured into the Greater Androscoggin Humane Society in search of a replacement. She left in tears.

Platek was not ready for a new dog.

She kept returning over the years, thinking about a replacement for Baron VonResnik. Each time she visited the shelter, she ended up taking home a cat instead of a dog. The shelter simply had too many cats. One day, she picked up a pregnant cat from the street. It was the reality check she needed. She returned to the shelter and offered to help in any way she could.

That was seven years ago and Platek has been helping out every Wednesday since.

“It gives me a very good feeling to help all of these animals,” said Platek as she scooped cat food into a dish. “They can’t speak for themselves.”

Platek arrives early to help open the shelter, then does general cleaning and disinfects the cat “homes.” She removes and replaces all of the bedding, changes litter boxes, gives them fresh water, sprays down each cage, and sweeps and mops the floors.

But it doesn’t end there. Each year, Platek temporarily takes in about 25 cats and kittens. She has a special room set up in her home for them to heal and to get over any upper respiratory aliments they may have after coming off the streets. She wishes she could keep all of the cats that come through her home, but she has set the limit at six.

Volunteering at the shelter is only one way to help. Platek wishes people would start spaying and neutering their animals, especially their cats.

“With dogs we seem to be making some headway, but cats – people don’t seem to feel that they have to spay and neuter them. And we get so many kittens in. If they’re born to mommies that aren’t taking care of them, they get sick and die. It’s a really bad situation.”