Experienced mousers seeking full-time employment!

Do you own a farm, barn or outdoor structure that would benefit from the expertise of a highly-trained, professional mouser?  Our County Kitties program offers just that!

At the ARLGP, we receive many surrendered and stray felines that are not suitable for an indoor lifestyle. These felines are placed into our Country Kitties program, where we find them homes in our community that can offer them just the environment they are looking for.

What makes a cat a Country Kitty? These cats have likely lived outdoors, independently, for most of their life. They may be feral or semi-feral, and are not accepting of living indoors. Sometimes, these felines are friendly towards people, but are happiest with the freedom to be outdoors.

Their social skills vary, dependent on the amount of human interaction they are accustomed to. Some Country Kitties simply need shelter and fresh water to be well cared for. Others will seek out affection and attention from their human counterparts, but will frolic happily outdoors to hunt and adventure.

One thing we do know: Country Kitties will undoubtedly help with your vermin control needs. They think of themselves as lions and tigers, ready to pounce on their prey and leave your barn mouse-free!

Brandi

Currently, we have two Country Kitties looking to manage your property, patrol your barn, guard your fields (free of charge!).

Meet Brandi: Brandi is a beautiful patch tabby. She came to us as a stray, so her history is a mystery to us. What we do know is that this girl LOVES to play and would make a top-notch mouser. She enjoys spending time outside romping and rolling in the sun. She is a little quirky, and will seek out human attention on her own terms. She’s sure to be a friendly barn cat and walk through your yard with you, rubbing against your legs.  If you’re looking for a fun and friendly mouser, look no further: Brandi is your girl!

Tonka

Meet Tonka: Tonka is a handsome tuxedo cat looking to tend to your yard, field, or farm. He would love to spend his days outside, exploring the great outdoors. He has most likely spent the better part of his life mousing and hunting. Tonka is the kind of kitty who will be in and out of the spotlight of his humans. You’re more likely to catch his eyes peering at you from a distance, as he goes incognito to catch the next furry little creature to cross his path (he takes his job very seriously).  If you’re looking for a handsome debonair for a barn cat, Tonka is the guy for you!

What is the criteria for adopting a Country Kitty?

• An outdoor housing area, such as a barn or stable.
• The ability to provide long-term veterinary care, when needed.
• The ability to provide food and water in your outdoor housing area.

It is important to note that adopting a Country Kitty is still a responsibility, and the adopter will be providing necessary care to their feline throughout their entire life. In return, you are providing a home to an animal in need.

Country Kitties are always spayed or neutered, and up to date on their vaccinations. They are patiently waiting for a new outdoor home. If you are interested in learning more about adopting a Country Kitty, contact the ARLGP at (207) 854-9771 or email feline staff member, Jen Brown, at jbrown@arlgp.org. We’d love to tell you all about our Country Kitties!

Meet Riley, Our Plain Brown Dog

June 2016 update: Riley is still looking for a new, happy home! Give us a call to meet Riley at (207) 854-9771. We promise you won’t regret it.

Some dog stories find a way through the social media maze and get millions of likes and shares (and melting hearts).  If you are hoping for that you’ve landed on the wrong page – this isn’t that story and we know it, but we think it’s worth reading anyway.

Meet Riley, a plain brown dog from the Buxton hoarding case last August. We didn’t want to play the “hoarding card” but it’s time, because this dog deserves a home.

Riley, enjoying a walk on the ARLGP trails.

Riley came in with 17 other plain brown dogs – covered in feces, with open wounds and sores on his head and feet.  He was a dog with a grim past and an uncertain future. His condition told a story of neglect and mental illness.

After many baths, medical treatment, a new diet, training and foster care – he’s on the road to living well through recovery.  Let’s be honest, as well as a hoarding dog can be “well.”

Riley’s road to recovery isn’t over just yet –he’s searching for and seeking what we all want – to be loved and cherished.

We would best describe Riley as quirky. He’s super silly, funny, and a little unpredictable. That’s what makes him special to us. He’s a dog who likes people more than other dogs. He’s a dog that hones in on small animals like a laser beam. He’s a dog that has taught us the definition of resilience, all with a goofy smile on his face.

Riley and his favorite toy, the blue dinosaur!

You’d think living in a house without access to the outdoors your entire life might cause you some social anxiety. Not the case for Riley! This kid is all about making new (human) friends and adventuring through town. A favorite activity? Riding in the car. It’s a hoot to go to the ATM with him – he pushes his face right out the window and smiles for the camera, he gets a treat after the cash is dispensed!

Riley and his foster dad, snuggling up!

And while we are talking about treats: Riley will sit and stay proudly for a delicious morsel or snack. And, he’ll even nail you with a high five if you ask (sometimes you don’t even have to ask – it’s just offered).

High five!

He loves to do training exercises. He is his best self when he is engaged in learning new things.  He loves his baby “Dino” (note: we have three back up Dino’s because we just don’t know what will happen if Dino meets his demise – that’s the unpredictable Riley).

This plain brown dog enjoys snuggling and cuddling, as long as there are no wild turkey’s walking past the window or a cat strolling across the lawn.  He would be an awesome security dog because he protects his people and his stuff like a Special Forces canine.

Our hope is that Riley finds the kind of home he deserves, one that accepts him for his quirkiness and has a desire to make a difference for a plain brown dog, who came from a rough beginning.  Our hope is simple, can you look beyond the plain brown dog and see what we see: a diamond in the rough, a unique snowflake? If you’re the optimist, the glass half-full type—stop by and take a chance on Riley. We just want this dog to get the second chance he deserves and a loving human to call home.

Puppy Love: Valentine’s Day Adoption Event @ the ARLGP!

This will be a Valentine’s Day you won’t want to miss!

This Sunday, February 14^th, we will hold our second annual Puppy Love Valentine’s Day adoption event!

We will have 8-10 pups and adolescent canines available for adoption, ranging in age from five to eleven months.  They are a wide variety of breed and size; including lab mixes, cattle dog mixes, as well as many “all American” mixes. Each dog has been vet-checked, vaccinated and spayed/neutered. They are healthy and happy, and ready to go off with their new human best friend!

Bessie: 6-month old, lab mix.

Heart: 5-month-old, cattle dog mix

Marlo: 9-month-old, all american mix

Flicka: 7-month-old, all american mix

 

The ARLGP opens at 10am this Sunday. As always, adoptions are first-come, first-served. We are unable to put animals on hold.  Potential adopters can come prepared by completing a Dog Adoption Survey. All adoptions will follow our standard adoption routine which includes an adoption survey, adoption counseling with an ARLGP canine staff member, and a meet-and-greet. If you have other canines in your home, we encourage you to bring them in on Sunday to meet any dogs you are considering adopting.

All of our Puppy Love dogs will be listed on our website Saturday at 4pm, for potential adopters to view and learn more about.

We hope to see you Sunday at the ARLGP for some Puppy Love!

View adoption fees and requirements here.

Meet Maximus: Romeo to your Juliet?

Maximus is our resident Mr. Handsome. He is 70 pounds of brawn and charm. We absolutely LOVE this guy. He has us all wrapped around his paw; we can’t get enough of his sweet chocolate eyes and golden coat.

Maximus also happens to be one our of longest canine residents, looking for his new, happy home. Why is that, you may ask? With all of Maximus’ good looks and beefiness, comes a high level of energy and activity. If he was of the human species, he’d be a body builder and hit the gym twice a day to maintain those pecks and biceps.

Your new, personal trainer!

What is Maximus looking for in his soul mate? Someone who loves running, playing, hiking, and jogging as much as he does. He wants to get his paws on the trails and work his nose to the ground. Our staff and volunteers love taking him on his daily walks, he burns twice the calories. Perhaps your New Year resolution was to lose a few extra pounds? Let Maximus be your personal trainer!

Don’t get us wrong- this guy knows how to get his snuggle on. After a jog around the neighborhood, or a good fetch session in the back yard, Maximus is happy to curl up next to you on the couch or take a snooze in his favorite bed.

Maximus would love to find room on your couch! (image via Off the Leash)

Oh, and did we mention: this kid is SMART. That adorable, blocky lab head of his holds an incredibly intelligent mind. He’s ready to expand his knowledge and learn even more commands and tricks with his new family. He’s known to do just about anything for some string cheese.

Maximus loves toys of all types, and particularly enjoys squeaky toys (we’ll even send him home with a lifetime supply!). Something else Maximus can be playful with: critters and small animals. We’d say he’s a little too curious in his smaller, furry friends to live with cats. However, Maximus likes most dogs (of all sizes!) and would likely adore having a canine sibling in his new home who loves adventuring as much as he does.

Come say hi to me!

We just know there is a human out there looking for exactly what Maximus has to offer: smart, handsome, kind, affectionate (we could go on and on). We’ve considered listing him on eHarmony, but he has reservations about online dating (keyboards are just too complicated when you have big paws).

If you think your lifestyle would benefit from the company of a guy like Maximus, stop on by and run around our play yard with him. We promise you won’t regret it.

12 Saves of Christmas: Ziggy (Save #1)

Our #1 save of the year is Ziggy (formerly Bilbo). Ziggy came to us at the beginning of February, after a long and difficult journey.

Ziggy is blind and deaf. He was confiscated with his two brothers and nine other animals by state officials from a home in Tennessee as part of a cruelty investigation. They were found living in a basement in very unhealthy and inhumane conditions. They had never been outdoors.

When contacted by HSUS about taking the brothers, we immediately said yes. We knew we had an incredibly supportive community, and were confident we could place them into loving homes.

With the help of the Portland Press Herald, we were able to shine a spotlight on these boys and the response we had from our community was overwhelming.

Ziggy tells his story best:

Hi! My name is Ziggy. I am totally blind and deaf and I LOVE my forever home. I came from a really bad situation, but we won’t talk about that. Let’s just say, for the first year of my life I had never stepped foot outdoors. I didn’t even know what the outdoors was. Now my parents take me out for trail or beach walks EVERY DAY!

My mommy and daddy came to get me in March of this year. I don’t know why they wanted to take me home. I didn’t know how to do much of anything and I kept bumping into everything. They would have to be BOTH my eyes and my ears. There were a ton of other dogs that they could have adopted, but for some reason, they chose me. Yay! They had room in their hearts and time in their lives to teach me what I needed to know to live a safe and extremely happy life and I think that I am the luckiest dog around!

My parents do cool things that help me find my way around like spraying the walls a sage scent, the doorways basil scent, and lavender for my safe place, food and water areas. That way I learn how to navigate around my home. They also give me TONS of kisses and snuggle time. I really love to give them kisses and I know they love my slobbery tongue too. I can even kiss on command: they just blow in my face and I know that they are there for the licking! Aside from kisses on command, I have learned how to “sit” and “come” too. It’s really fun learning. I didn’t get any teaching the first year of my life but now my mommy and daddy teach me tons of cool things and I know that they love me to pieces.

I have a really cool brother too. His name is Ottis. He is a pit bull terrier mix and he is 4 years older than me. When we first met, he thought I was weird. He didn’t understand my language and lack of senses. But soon we figured it out and he has taught me all about playing and sharing. He even looks out for me, especially when another dog comes near me. Ottis makes sure the other dogs are nice before they approach me. He is a great big brother and I think he is super cool.

Another cool thing is that we live on a small farm. I love following the scents of the ducks and chickens but I don’t think they like me all that much. I don’t know why…. I just want to play with them! I also get to eat lots of apples on our farm. We have a lot of apple trees and I LOVE apples! We also live close to the ocean so I get to play in the water. I think water is really neat. I especially like to run circles in the shallow parts.

I don’t know where I would be today without the help of the Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland but I know that I would be very sad. I can’t hear what my parents say about me but I know that they love me more than anything in the world. So I give them kisses and snuggles as much as I can to show them how much I love them too.

We are incredibly happy for Ziggy and his family. We are grateful to be part of such a wonderful community that opens their hearts and homes to animals in need. Because of your support, the thousands of animals who walk through our doors every year find loving homes.

From all of us here at the ARLGP we wish you a very, merry Christmas!

12 Saves of Christmas: Midnight (Save #2)

Midnight came to the ARLGP in June of 2015. Her owner was having health concerns, and could no longer provide Midnight with the care she needed. Her owner was terribly upset, as he had her since she was a kitten. We assured him we would give Midnight the highest level of care while we found her a new family.

Midnight was a senior, around 9. She had a hard time transitioning here. She had spent her entire life with her dad, and the change of people and surroundings was hard for her. It took quite some time for her to settle in. She spent the first month at the ARLGP in our feline manager’s office, settling in and learning the new routine. Once she adapted, she really began to blossom. Shy to new people at first, she’d warm up quick with some treats or pets.

As a senior, all-black cat, we knew it would take a bit longer to find her a family. We’d always be quick to talk about Midnight with adopters looking for a new companion. However, we weren’t having any success finding her a new family to call her own. In October, we moved her to an offsite adoption location, hoping as the only cat she would shine. On November 23^rd, after more than a month offsite, we moved her back to the ARLGP with one, single mission: send Midnight home!

Midnight and her new mom.

Midnight was with the ARLGP for almost six months before finding a new family. We are typically closed on Wednesdays, but decided to open the Wednesday before Thanksgiving in hope of sending some pets off to new homes in time for the holiday. We adopted out six cats that day, Midnight was happily one of them.

Two days after Midnight’s adoption, we learned that Midnight’s original dad had passed away the Monday before Thanksgiving, on November 23^rd— the same day Midnight came back to the ARLGP to find her new home. In his obituary, his family kindly asked for someone to adopt his sweet cat Midnight. Or, if Midnight wasn’t the cat for them, to consider adopting another animal in need.

We truly think fate played a hand in Midnight’s next chapter.  Our hearts are full knowing that she is spending the holidays with a family that loves her as much as her dad did.

12 Saves of Christmas: Max (Save #3)

Max (formerly Mikey) came to us from Georgia. He was found by a Georgia rescue group in pretty bad shape, requiring significant dental work and the removal of an eye. He was a senior gentleman, estimated to be about 12. He was in their care for two months before making the trip up to Maine to find his new, happy beginning.

When Max arrived we were so excited to meet him. We had heard about what he had been through, and we knew that we could find him a family to give him all the love he deserved. He was a trooper, but his history didn’t affect his spirit one bit! He was the perfect mixture of spunky, affectionate and curious. Having only one eye didn’t cause him trouble at all. He trotted around our trails and play yards as happy as could be. Our staff and volunteers were instantly in love with him and his perseverance.

Max at our groundbreaking ceremony.

Max had a very active first week at the ARLGP! After seeing the vet and being cleared for adoption, he attended the groundbreaking ceremony of our new Arthur P. Girard Adoption Center where everyone gushed about how lovely he was. He met lots of new friends, two and four-legged, and enjoyed every minute of it.

At the ARLGP we have the most amazing network of foster homes. Our foster families provide care and love to animals who need time outside of the shelter. They are an incredibly compassionate group of volunteers, and we couldn’t fulfill our mission without them.

Two of our long-term fosters and volunteers, Thea and Lisa, had recently lost a four-legged companion. They were looking to add a new canine to their household, and came in to meet Max. They knew instantly that he was heading out the door with them.

For two months Max had the most wonderful life with Thea and Lisa. He was loved tremendously by everyone he met. His daily walks through their neighborhood were always a highlight, as he greeted all the neighbor dogs and humans.  He celebrated his first Maine Halloween as a tootsie roll! In November we invited him in to be featured in our Giving Tuesday video, where Thea talked about how Max had become an advocate for adoption. His story was powerful and heartwarming, and he was finally happy at home.

Sadly, Max passed away in November from a neurological condition. We are so grateful for adopters like Thea and Lisa who open their hearts and homes to senior animals. We are comforted knowing his last chapter was a great one with them. He has left a paw print on many hearts here, and we count ourselves lucky to have known such an extraordinary and resilient boy.

12 Saves of Christmas: Tootsie (Save #4)

We first met Tootsie in the fall of 2014 when she arrived to the ARLGP as a stray cat. She was a gorgeous kitty. She was shy and reserved, nervous and unsure of her new surroundings. She was young, we estimated about 2.

During her first days with us we learned that Tootsie was epileptic. We monitored her closely while we established a treatment plan that worked best for her. After two weeks of observation and care in our isolation unit, she was moved to our adoptable cat room. She was ready to find her new home!

As a special needs kitty, we knew it would take longer to find a family that was prepared to adopt Tootsie as she requires medication and frequent visits to the vet to ensure she is happy and healthy. We put her front and center in our cat room! As she got comfortable with her new surroundings she truly started to blossom. After several weeks we observed her turn into a more social, outgoing feline. She began to greet everyone who entered with a loud meow. Her kennel was the first stop for most visitors, as she enticed them in for some petting and purring. We found she LOVED to be held, and people were more than happy to snuggle her up. Her famous “trick” was making muffins, as she was always kneading her blankets with her big paws.

After more than six months at the ARLGP, Tootsie finally met her humans. They came to visit the ARLGP to adopt a cat (or two!). They had no other animals, and were open to suggestions on anyone that may be a good fit. We jumped at the chance to introduce them to Tootsie and they instantly fell in love. They quickly asked, how does she do with other cats? Could they take home a companion for her? We were quite confident Tootsie would be open to a playmate and introduced them to Tahoe, who was roughly the same age as Tootsie and as outgoing as could be! Now, they are all happy at home celebrating the holidays together:

“We adopted Tootsie in June 2015. She is now Rosalie (aka: cotton ball head, sweet girl, pretty girl, etc.). We also got a friend for her the same day, Tahoe (now called Castiel or my handsome boy, sweet boy, smooshy…). The first few weeks were a little rough. He wants to play all the time and she is pretty much a Diva. She likes to play with him now, only when she thinks no one is looking. When she came to her forever home she was afraid and hid behind a chair in the living room. No amount of coaxing would get her to leave her safe place. She did come out to eat and use the litter box. Eventually she decided to camp out in the kitchen (where the food is). She slowly started to come to our bedroom at night and take over my side of the bed. She usually jumps up to the bed at our heads and runs across our faces while we are trying to sleep. When she settles down she will lean against my back and if I wake in the middle of the night I usually discover she has taken over my side of the bed! Of course I don’t want to disturb her so I squish myself into the small amount of space left in between. She finally decided the entire house is hers to roam and makes herself comfy where ever she pleases. She keeps her buddy in line yelling at him when he races around the house. She has also taken up this race car behavior.

She is very healthy. The vet gave her a great report. She has epilepsy so we have to monitor her medication levels a few times a year. She was a little “plump” when we got her but she has come down to a good weight now. She is still a lazy girl but will run full speed up and down the hallway and also “dance” in the kitchen (chase her tail or a morsel of food). Once in a awhile she will bat at a toy but she is too much of a diva to stoop that low most of the time.

We are so happy to have Rosalie in our home. She is a sweet girl and we are glad to have her as part of the family.”

Yay for Tootsie! She had a pretty special place in our hearts, and we couldn’t be happier for her.

12 Saves of Christmas: Marcie and Sissy (Save #5)

We first met the adorable duo, Sissy and Marcie, in April of 2010. They were 5-year-old rat terrier sisters. They had spent their entire life together since birth, and were the best of friends. There was no question about it: they needed to go off to a new home together!

Sissy and Marcie were quickly adopted by a lovely family shortly after their arrival at the ARLGP. They spent five wonderful years in their home before returning to us this fall. Due to changes within their family, Sissy and Marcie’s humans were no longer able to provide care to them. We were more than happy to welcome them back to the ARLGP.

Now 10, Sissy and Marcie were seniors. Marcie, almost completely blind, depended even more on her sister to guide her. Sissy, always the more reserved one, found a new confidence in being her sister’s seeing guide. They were even more bonded than when we fist met them, and we were determined to find them a home where they could spend their golden years in.

For almost two months we did everything we could to shine the spotlight on this dynamic duo. We posted about them regularly on our website and facebook, we wrote a blog about how amazing they were, and we even featured them on WCSH6’s Fetch ME a Home segment (which they LOVED!). It took almost two months before their new mom, Donna, clicked over to our website and saw their photo. She immediately knew it was meant to be:

“I first saw Marcie and Sissy on the ARLGP web site. I couldn’t wait to go in the meet them. They were so sweet. I fell in love with them right away, and I knew they would be coming home with me.

Heading home on adoption day!

Since bringing them home it has been pure pleasure. They are constant companions to me; they go where ever I go. They are very sweet, loving, well-mannered dogs, I couldn’t be happier with them.

Marcie and Sissy on a walk with mom!

When I walked into the ARLGP that day to meet these cute little dogs I had no idea that I would be coming home with my two best friends. We are certainly a family forever.”

We are thrilled Sissy and Marcie are spending the holidays with their new mom, Donna! Our hearts are very full knowing that they are happy at home, together.

12 Saves of Christmas: George (Save #6)

14-year-old George was a talker! Anyone who visited us this fall was surely greeted with a loud “hewwoo… meooow” in our cat room. Talkative is putting it mildly, this boy was a chatty cat. And we absolutely loved it.

George was also a special needs kitty. At 14, he was on a special diet to help his digestion. His fur was a little messy, as it was a bit more difficult for him to groom. As social as he was, he wasn’t a huge snuggler. He was strong-willed and fiercly independent. He preferred to have a nice conversation with his humans, rather than be held or fussed about.

Given his age and special needs, we knew it would likely take a little longer for George to find his new family. But, we were happy to provide him with everything he needed until that day came along.

At the ARLGP we have the most amazing group of volunteers, 250 to be exact. They are the heart of what we do, and we couldn’t provide care to 4,000 animals every year without their dedication, generosity and compassion.

One particular volunteer, Peggy, comes in twice a week to assist with our front desk. Peggy found herself quite drawn to George and his chit-chat, that she found herself visiting him every shift. And, as you can guess, the rest is history:

“As a volunteer here, I have the wonderful opportunity to visit with the pets. It was love at first sight when I saw George and he said “hello” to me. I could relate to George and what he was feeling as a senior myself. I knew he deserved a loving home, and happily adopted him.

George is very independent. He’s always hungry and talks all the time. He’s graduated from my bedroom to having the run of the house with my dog and two cats. He loves to stretch out on the sofa and watch TV. His breakfast was late one morning and he let me know it, chattering all the way. He is getting to know the routine and last night my heart skipped a beat when he got up from his usual place on the couch and jumped into my lap! I waited a bit then tried to pet him, and he promptly jumped down. We’re making progress!

It was certainly meant to be and we’re all very happy.”

We are so thrilled for George and Peggy. When George was adopted we shared his adoption photo on our facebook page, which resulted in more than 1,300 likes! How awesome is that? Happy holidays, George!