Thornton Academy Postscripts Alumni Magazine Fall 2015 | Page 7

Janet Huot ’48:
Companion to animals
in need
Every Wednesday Janet Huot ’48 spends her morning
with furry friends who have names like Duchess,
Wendell, and Luna. Some have different colored eyes or
are missing a leg or suffer from diabetes. All of them are
looking for love and a forever home.
The cats at the Animal Welfare Society (AWS) in West
Kennebunk enjoy the company and care of this alum who
began volunteering 15 years ago, after retiring from Saco
& Biddeford Savings where she worked for 25 years.
Janet’s Wednesday morning routine proceeds like
clockwork: she provides each cat with a clean blanket, two
toys, a pinch of catnip, and couple of treats. She also refills
water dishes, washes cages, and mops floors. While she
cleans and organizes, she plays a CD of soothing nature
sounds and lets the cats out of their cages, one at a time,
to stretch their legs by roaming around the enclosed
room.
“AWS is blessed to know Janet and to have her as a
volunteer. She has such a kind, gentle nature and brings
a peaceful, loving energy. I can honestly say that there
are few people as sweet as she,” said Director of Shelter
Operations Bobbi Adkins. “To put it plainly, we could
not do all the work we do without the support of our
volunteers. From events, to fundraising, to kennel
cleaning and the like, there is simply so much to be done.”