The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARLGP), Animal Welfare Society (AWS) worked alongside other agencies to rescue dozens of dogs.
Westbrook, ME & Kennebunk, ME – On October 24th, the State of Maine Animal Welfare Program, with support from the ARLGP, AWS and other agencies, seized over 50 Shih Tzu dogs, along with a handful of cats, living in inhumane conditions at a home in Norridgewock, Maine.
What was initially reported to be 15-20 dogs living in the home was revealed to be many more upon arrival. Following the state’s seizure, the ARLGP received 23 dogs and AWS received 9 dogs, along with the cats.
On arrival at the shelters, the dogs were examined by a team of veterinarians and provided necessary preventatives and vaccinations. Volunteer groomers were on site to clean them, as many were heavily matted and covered in feces. Many dogs have medical conditions that will require additional care before they can be made available for adoption. Veterinary staff at both shelters are handling the medical needs of the pets.
Pets ready for adoption will be posted on the shelters’ websites, animalwelfaresociety.org and arlgp.org. Interested adopters should visit the websites first to find valuable information, including age, sex, and adoption fee.
While both shelters look forward to getting the pets up for adoption, ARLGP and AWS representatives stress that rehoming them will take special care. These animals have been through a very stressful period and many are not accustomed to living in a loving, home setting. They will need patience, love and support from their new families as they transition into an unfamiliar, but safer and healthier life.
About the ARLGP: Serving 15 communities in Greater Portland, the ARLGP nurtures the connection between people and pets to advance animal welfare and improve the quality of life in our community.
About AWS: Animal Welfare Society exists to serve as the safety net for lost and homeless pets and to provide access to affordable services and resources necessary for long term well-being, so pets and their families stay together and thrive.
