BRUNSWICK — Nearly 30 dogs seized from a Brunswick residence in August are up for adoption at Midcoast Humane’s shelter at 30 Range Road.
Midcoast Humane assisted Brunswick police, the state veterinarian and animal control officers with the seizure Aug. 10. The next day, summonses were issued to the owners of the River Road property on charges of cruelty to animals, failing to give animals humanely clean conditions, failing to give animals proper indoor shelter, failing to give animals necessary medical attention, and failing to give animals necessary sustenance. The house was condemned.
In total, 44 dogs were cared for at Midcoast Humane’s Edgecomb campus for the duration of the investigation, which culminated in the official, court-mandated surrender of most of the dogs to Midcoast Humane. Some of the dogs’ cases are still pending.
Dr. Mandie Wehr, director of shelter operations for Midcoast Humane, documented the conditions of the dogs and developed a treatment for each animal.
“The dogs arrived with matted coats, dental disease, and overgrown nails,” she said. “Several were underweight. One of the dogs was pregnant and gave birth soon after her arrival.”
Despite their ordeal, the dogs are friendly, according to Wehr.
“Most of the dogs have been friendly and very sweet. Some are scared, some are super social, some just want to be out of a kennel and play, while others just want to be with people. These guys have spent their lives in cages. From life in a cage to an extended period of quarantine with our shelter, they are ready to go home,” Wehr said.
The dogs appear to be mostly young to middle-age and include various small breeds under 20 pounds, resembling Chihuahua, Westland terrier, Australian shepherd, and Pomeranian mixes.
The cost of caring for the dogs has been significant, according to shelter officials.
“Cases like this create a huge unplanned financial burden on Midcoast Humane,” said Trendy Stanchfield, executive director of Midcoast Humane. “The costs to care for these dogs will drain the shelter’s budget by almost $30,000. It’s our privilege to be able to help these poor creatures, however it is a tremendous strain on our limited resources.
“We hope that people consider giving a loving home to one of these sweeties, and if you can’t, please consider making a donation to Midcoast Humane,” she said.
“This has been one of the more stressful experiences holding this many animals for such a long time in a kennel facility,” Wehr said. “Holding animals for unknown lengths of time as ‘living evidence’ is heartbreaking to watch, and a hard experience for all of our staff, not to mention stressful for the animals. In situations like this, animals can be stuck in limbo for months while the courts process the case. I am just ready for them to go into homes where they can regularly experience a lap to sit on, a warm bed to lay on, and a yard to play in.”
To make a donation to Midcoast Humane, visit midcoasthumane.org, call 207-449-1366, or mail a contribution to Midcoast Humane’s Administrative Office at 190 Pleasant St., Brunswick, ME 04011.
Midcoast Humane staffer Abby Malone holds Dora and Rox who are up for adoption at the Brunswick shelter.
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