Mainely Mutts

11/07/2024

Courtesy Post ♡ Missy

We have a soft spot for beagles, so when a friend-of-a-friend asked us to share Missy, we couldn't resist helping this sweet girl.

"Missy is a love who has captured our hearts with her gentle demeanor and beautiful coloring. Despite her small size for the breed, she has a big personality filled with love and a desire to be active.

Missy's previous life as a breeder dog (she's AKC registered, as if that matters) mercifully ended when our older friends adopted her last year. While she's nine years old, she's in excellent health and brimming with energy. Missy still loves taking walks and staying active. She thrives on companionship and would do best in a home where someone is often around. Our feeling is that she would do well in a home with other dogs.

Missy's previous environment didn't provide the attention and activity she craved. Now, she's in search of a forever home with a secure, fenced-in yard. Missy loves to explore and play outdoors, and she's quite the escape artist (she is a beagle, after all), so a secure fence or a commitment to leash exercise is a must!

We are seeking a loving family who understands that although Missy may be nine, she has a lot of living to make up for. If you're looking for a loyal companion who will shower you with affection and enjoy every moment by your side, Missy is the perfect match.

If you're interested in adopting Missy and believe you can offer her a loving home with plenty of companionship and love, please reach out to those helping her at (908) 656-2028 or [email protected]."

26/02/2024

Hey y'all, it's been a minute! We've been quietly fostering and supporting the rescue community in the background, and we're always dreaming of what the future could hold... 🔮

In the meantime, a little pittie mix named Sugar caught our eye, and we'd love to help her. She found herself at a Louisiana pound where she became pregnant (yep, you read that right...) and found a foster in the nick of time before her fate was sealed. As soon as she was out of the pound, Sugar gave birth to four beautiful, healthy puppies; it's as if she was willing herself to wait until she was safe before having her babies.

We are asking for your help in getting Sugar and her puppies the vet care they need. They are not attached to a rescue or shelter in Louisiana, so this sweet family has NO financial backing beyond what we are able to raise. Sugar's first appointment is on Thursday + fingers crossed that she's heartworm negative. She will also need to be spayed and her puppies will need to be started on their vax series next month.

If you're able to help, any amount will truly make a different. Please call Entrance Road Veterinary Clinic at (337) 537-2454 to donate to Sugar's account under her foster's name: Hailey Vanorden.

We're also actively networking to find a Maine-based rescue commit to this family once they're ready to travel. 🙏

If you're able to donate and you adopted from us, please drop a photo and update in the comments!

19/10/2023

Courtesy post! Loula is being fostered in southern Maine and is looking for her forever home 🤍🖤

ADOPTED!!!

Loula - Female DOB 2/8/2020 Domestic Short Hair Black & White - Loula came to FuRRR as a local surrender after being bounced around for a bit and she is super ready for her new FuRRRever home! Loula has the greatest purr, loves attention and being handled, is always sweet and sometimes playfully spicy (which makes for great entertainment). She is truly dog-like as she will go belly-up for attention, belly rubs and scratches, and any love you want to give her. She's slender at about 6.5 pounds, loves eating her squeeze up treats right from the pouch, and enjoys playing in her tunnel and with toys... but 9 times out of 10 will choose your affection over a treat or toy. Loula was previously with a dog and did ok, she does not like other cats and would be ok with respectful children 12+. This adorable girl will make a fun addition to her new family, please apply at www.furrr.org

08/08/2023

If you adopted from us, there’s a good chance your dog or cat originated from Community Animal Rescue & Adoption - CARA. They are super low on food, can we show them how much we support them from all the way in New England? Bonus points if you purchase a bag of food and then leave a picture and/or update of your pet in the comments! 🤍

P.S. Be sure to select the gift recipient address upon checkout.

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JUVWSLJ0511Q?ref_=wl_share

07/07/2023

Home safe!!! 🤍

***7/7/23***GREAT NEWS - DURANGO HAS BEEN FOUND!

**7/6/2023** DURANGO IS MISSING IN KITTERY, MAINE

Durango a 1 yr old Pit/Shepherd Mix went missing from Route 1 by Coastal Fitness. Durango headed across Rt 1 and into the neighboring woods. Durango is tan in color but has a black muzzle. He is 65 lbs and wearing a collar with ID and tags. Durango is SHY, DO NOT CHASE him but call Justin with any info at 340-998-9898.

Animal Hospital

29/06/2023

UPDATE! Bubba is settling into his new home ♥️ We’re so happy for this guy!

———

Courtesy Post 🖤 B U B B A

Please share – Bubba needs a new home and time is ticking for this sweet boy who was put in a scenario he shouldn’t have been in.

Five-year-old Bubba is 41 pounds, up-to-date on vaccines, healthy, and intelligent. His owners have had him since a puppy. However, he recently nipped their grandchild while no one was watching them because the child was not being kind to poor Bubba. (Please, no negative comments toward the owner. The incident occurred and now we need to focus on finding Bubba a home that will understand his breed’s genetics and traits. It’s heartbreaking for all involved.)

Bubba has previously been good with older, respectful children, but we would recommend dog-savvy teens and up for his next home.

His current owner shares that:

“Bubba is extremely intelligent, quick learning, and high energy. He’s typically good with other dogs but will chase cats – and gets his feelings hurt when the cat scratches him to let him know who’s boss. He can come off slightly wary/aggressive of men if they raise their voice to him, especially if they’re wearing hats, sunglasses, or hoodies. He’s a protector of his family. At home, he likes to be a lapdog and cuddle during downtime. At home, we leave a full bowl of food and water out at all times, and grazes throughout the day. He loves treats, playing ball, and tug-of-war.”

His owners are devastated, but feel like there aren’t options, and are planning to euthanize on July 9. We KNOW there’s a home out there that will accept Bubba for who he is. His ideal forever home would be on a farm, or someplace he could burn up his extra energy by having a job to do. No small children. A last note from his owner: “I love him with my whole heart and am praying a new home could happen for him.”

Bubba is not a Mainely Mutts alum but we feel compelled to help him find an incredible forever home. One that understands the privileges and responsibilities of owning a herding-breed dog. 🙏

Bubba is located near the seacoast of Maine/New Hampshire. Please DM our page or email [email protected] if you’re interested in learning more.

18/04/2023

Kittery locals, please keep your eyes peeled for this dog.

** UPDATE 4/21/23 ** GREAT NEWS - BLUE HAS BEEN FOUND.

** 4/17/2023 – UPDATE ON BLUE LOST IN KITTERY **
Blue’s broken leash was found in the Kittery Walgreens parking lot. So she is no longer dragging her leash.

Again, Blue is very shy. Please do not call out to Blue nor chase her. If you have any information, please contact Sophie directly at 607.351.3478 or 603.953.3852.

4/16/2023 - LOST IN KITTERY, MAINE

Blue got loose on Woodlawn Ave and was last seen at the Kittery Walgreens on Shapleigh Rd shortly after at 3:15 pm on 4/16/2023. Blue is wearing Apple AirTag but there’s no location updates.

Blue is very shy. Please do not call out to Blue nor Chase her. Please contact Sophie directly at 607.351.3478 or 603.953.3852.

If you lose or find a dog Kittery, Maine please contact the ACO William Walsh by calling Kittery PD: 207.439.1638.

11/02/2023

Southern Maine friends! Come meet some adorable, adoptable pups in Eliot, Maine tomorrow at Maine Pet Supply. If you're not looking to adopt, you can still donate some much-needed supplies while getting some puppy snuggles.

Bonus: You may even see us :)

13/01/2023

The stories we could tell you about dogs we helped & rehomed from the very breeders their clients claim to be “responsible.”

There’s 👏 no 👏 such 👏 thing.

06/01/2023

We recently spent time with two gorgeous gals looking for their forever homes!

→ From our friends at Fetching Hope Rescue comes Sissy, a three-year-old pointer/bully mix. We love her dark, brindly eye patch, the sweet way she leans into her foster mom for reassurance, and her penchant for snuggling. Learn more about this pretty girl here: https://www.petfinder.com/dog/sissy-57296780/me/westbrook/fetching-hope-rescue-me130/?referrer_id=e4f64234-6362-4742-9276-5d1c637999db

→ Alice hails from Animal Welfare Society! She is clearly all-ears in waiting to learn when she gets a family of her own. This 1.5-year-old mixed breed is bouncy, smart, and ready to go, go, goooo! https://animalwelfaresociety.org/adoption/dogs/ &page=shelterluv_wrap_1656611353781%2Fembed%2Fanimal%2FAWS-A-16712

26/12/2022

There are so many former shelter pets spending their first Christmas with their forever families 🎄 what a merry thought! To those who foster, adopt, and volunteer, we are especially grateful this holiday season 🙏

20/12/2022

05/12/2022

Some family is going to be so lucky to adopt this handsome boy from our friends at Dawgs Fight Back!

LOVE ME! That’s all I want !
—
Hi I am handsome Abel 💙 I am a big love, around 2 years old! I enjoy life, treats and snuggles. I want a family who will give me all the attention I deserve! I will promise to follow you and all your friends around. I love everyone ! I am not a fan of other animals so I do need to be the only dog in the home. Kids are okay, just prefer older because I am a big boy. I am available for meets anytime !!! Apply at dawgsfightback.com.

03/12/2022

First, a sincere, heartfelt thank you. ♡ We have both read every comment, message, and text about our change in direction, and we feel so loved and appreciated. Thank you, thank you, thank you for being part of our journey. We remember every.single.animal we adopted out (and therefore, every adopter), so please continue to share pictures and updates!

As promised, we are finding new ways to have an impact in animal welfare world. Today, we met with our old friend, Dana – Animal Services Manager, and new friend, Adam – Director of Ops. & Programs, at Animal Welfare Society in Kennebunk, ME. We both completed their foster application and look forward to helping them in the very near future!

AWS is a fantastic organization doing great things for animals in our local communities. Fun fact: they are mostly foster-based; there are only a handful of animals in their facility. They have pivoted toward a more foster-focused, community-centered operating plan, and conduct adoptions via appointment. Their foster program has a need for both short-term (less than two weeks) and long-term homes. Weekend fosters, day fosters, and open-ended fosters are all welcome and needed! To Mainely Mutts fosters, volunteers, and followers: this shelter aligns with our values and operating principles, so we encourage YOU to get involved with them. Quite a few MM dogs benefited from AWS’ trainers and programs before finding their forever homes. Southern Maine is incredibly lucky to have this shelter as a resource.

Cheers to new avenues to help in our community!

https://animalwelfaresociety.org/events/category/volunteer/foster-volunteers/

29/11/2022

Dear friends, after being on a hiatus since this spring, we are ready to share an update with you!

In April, both of our lives changed in a big way: a new baby, additional job, the start of a master’s degree; basically everything that the two of us had put on hold for 3+ years as we tried to save as many animals as possible. The past few months have been a time of reflection and realization, as we fully comprehended how life-consuming Mainely Mutts had become. When we started Mainely Mutts – and many times since then – we talked about how our rescue could look however we wanted it to at that moment. Some months it was saving four puppies, other times it was 31 dogs and cats. However, it was rare that either of us were without a foster (or five) while processing applications, supporting fosters and adopters, and trying to juggle our personal and professional lives.

Mainely Mutts is once again changing how we operate: we are no longer a 501c3 rescue organization. In full transparency, the near daily abuse from people and their lack of commitment toward their animals was our tipping point. We were constantly exhausted and defeated – rarely by the animals, always by the humans. With the animal welfare world struggling with overpopulation and owners surrendering their animals at an alarming rate, we’re turning our attention to the greatest need: fostering and networking animals. One lesson we learned in the past few years is that there isn’t a need for new rescues and organizations; the bottleneck is lack of fosters.

What will Mainely Mutts and this page look like going forward? For one, we are completely redesigned our website to feature resources such as recommended shelters and rescues, how to help an acquaintance rehome an animal safely, the importance of using positive reinforcement and a list of some of our favorite trainers, and plenty of info on the importance of adoption. Our social media pages will highlight animals that we are fostering for other organizations, courtesy posting local animals and those from our beloved southern friends, and resources for our community.

We’ve adopted out approximately 400 dogs and cats since our humble beginnings and can’t wait to have a part in helping hundreds more – it’s just going to look a little differently now. We’re really excited about this path forward, which will allow us to find the balance that was missing from our lives for the past few years, while still helping our community and the southern partners that we hold in such high regard. While we are real-life besties, we also appreciate still getting to work together to save lives in a less stressful way.

So, how can you help us going forward?

⮕ Keep following, liking, and sharing posts of adoptable animals!
⮕ Consider fostering! Check out our website for some recommended organizations. If none are local to you, message us and we’ll help you find a legitimate shelter or rescue in your area.
⮕ Encourage family and friends to adopt, foster, volunteer, donate, and educate. There is no such thing as a reputable breeder and no one *actually* needs the next doodle craze or a purebred puppy.
⮕ And finally, ‘tis the season of giving. Let’s go out with a bang and make the holidays an extra special time for the animals of our favorite shelter, https://www.facebook.com/CARACares. Check out the Amazon wishlist, which ships the items directly to the animals in need, or make a donation to them on this .

This is bittersweet, but at the same time, not goodbye. We are so grateful for Mainely Mutts and for those who have adopted, fostered, volunteered, and supported our rescue. We’re so proud of everything we have done and excited to change things up to make an even greater impact. We hope you'll join us. 🤍

With love,

Lia and Meagan

https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1JGQB8GH4J7SI/ref=nav_wishlist_lists_1?_encoding=UTF8&type=wishlist #

25/10/2022

https://www.gofundme.com/f/rv7fx-help-an-amazing-family?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=p_cp+share-sheet&fbclid=IwAR3f-7ah5BFX5QNuDxLAN0iH0Dtfd2AeMJKV2GRTJyKgtMfmcUEa9z5cWtE

We're sad to share that one of our Mainely Mutts alums passed away in a tragic house fire yesterday. Some of you may remember Chance ("Cow Pup") from three years ago. He captured many hearts after being hit by a car and left for dead in Mississippi, but none more so than the hearts of his parents.

If you're able to, please consider donating to this sweet family to help them get back on their feet. Zora and Chance can't be replaced, but we take comfort knowing that they both knew the highest levels of unconditional love – as every dog should.

21/10/2022

Courtesy Post • CRASH 💥

Crash is a wonderful mixed-breed dog who is currently crashing (see what we did there?) in a foster home in NH after his owner moved away. He is about four years old, crate-trained, completely house broken, obedient, and full of energy. Crash loves adventures in the car and being outside. He’s been great with his foster’s other dogs and has been fine with the cat. He’s also been great with everyone he meets – a bit hesitant for a minute or two, but warms right up. Super happy pup, healthy, and up-to-date on all shots.

Shoot us a message if you’re interested in learning more about Crash & we’ll connect you with his foster!

26/08/2022

Looking for a sweet pup? Contact our friends at Harvey’s Hope Animal Rescue to learn more about Josh 💙

25/07/2022

ADOPTED!!

Sweet Joey is a seven-year-old Australian Cattle Dog who was placed in a foster home due to his owner’s medical state. Smaller than he looks at just 27 pounds, Joey is gentle, loving and hungry for attention. He needs a little time and space to adjust, but once you win his trust, you will have a best friend for life. As his prior owner was going through medical treatments, he was crated for very long days and continues to use his crate as a security blanket.

We think Joey’s ideal home would be in a quieter dog-savvy, maybe kid-free home that will allow him the time he needs to come out of his shell. He’s currently being fostered with kids but is slower to warm to them and isn’t a fan of sudden movements or thunder. He would love a fenced-in yard but it’s not a requirement as long as he has opportunities to stretch his legs. While he lived around other animals, including dogs, cats, and goats, he has never been utilized as a herding dog. We haven’t seen him around cats but he has been just fine around other animals. Joey’s made so much progress this past week, with a whole new life ahead. He will be ready to bond to his future owner for years of adoration.

If you’re interested in Joey, please complete the application on our website (don't pay the application fee!) and we’ll connect you with his rescuer. Joey is being fostered in southern Maine.

https://www.mainelymuttsrescue.com/adoption-application

24/06/2022

An increasing number of breeders and buyers are using the ADOPTION terminology and it’s very upsetting. Breeders say “available for a good home”, “puppies for adoption”, and tell their clients that they are adopting. Buyers are saying they rescued or adopted their dog. Some even celebrating their “gotcha day” (an expression the rescue community uses, because a lot of doggies don’t have an official birthdate).

This is why it is upsetting and why it matters: the rescue community works hard, day in and day out, to fix other people’s messes. They spend their money, blood, sweat and tears to salvage their animals’ dignity and health. The heartbreak, the burn out are real. What we have, are our words. Our shared language brings us together as a community. Yes, maybe it is also our badge of honor. A very small reward for all the sacrifices we make.

There is only one kind of animal adoption, and that is when a homeless animal, unwanted or falling on hard times, is rehomed. It doesn’t matter if the rescue charges a fee, and how big a fee. They could charge thousands for all I care. It’s not about the money as much as it is about helping a life that already exists, as opposed to producing a new life for someone else. If you pay someone to produce a puppy for you, or if the person is producing puppies for profit, even as a hobby, it is a purchase. Not an adoption.

I imagine a lot of this has to do with social media platforms cracking down on the sale of animals, and breeders trying to circumvent those new rules. Same goes with cities that don’t allow the sale of puppies unless they are from rescues. Breeders are getting creative. Some also genuinely believe they are providing a service to families, much like an adoption agency would. That is incorrect.

Please, if you purchased a dog from a breeder, even if they told you nobody wanted the puppy and you were their last chance (which they often say), you did not adopt. You bought. Please, be respectful of the rescue community. We give so much every day. Don’t take more from us. 🙏

10/06/2022

People are breeding faster than they can be saved. We can’t sugarcoat this: if you purchase a dog from a breeder, you are part of the problem. Rescues and shelters are overwhelmed, exhausted, and disheartened – not because of the animals, but because of the people.

The data collected by Best Friends shows pets killed by the U.S. shelter system increased from 347,000 to 355,000 in 2021

25/05/2022

More than any other stage of development, THIS is when your dog needs you the most!

Image description: A brown GSP dog with a collar and lead staring intently behind the camera.

Text reads: Adolescence is a time for patience, not push. The frontal cortex is still developing during adolescence and so a young dog’s ability to control its own behaviour is not yet fully developed. This can be mistaken for naughtiness.

09/05/2022

It's our third birthday! 🥳 And while we are still on a hiatus -- welcoming a new *human* family member to the team and catching up on three-years-worth of life -- we are still so grateful to our community! Nearly 400 animals saved doesn't happen without dozens of fosters, volunteers, donors, encouragers, and friends. If you've adopted a Mutt, we'd love to see a current pic! Xoxo, M + L

30/04/2022

Follow-up from yesterday’s post… 🥁 Betty is THIRTY percent lab!

Only 16% of guessers between Facebook and Instagram got the answer right. Why is this important?

The two questions we get as soon as we post a dog: "How big will she be? If you had to guess, what is he mixed with?" We usually respond with, "She’s a Mississippi Mutt! We don't know the parents, her initial nutrition, her breed – all things that affect her current weight and appearance." This is usually met with indignation; "Isn't this your job? How can you not even guess?"

The majority of applications we got for Betty wanted a lab. And many told us that she was one. In fact, many of guesses from yesterday thought that she was a 100% purebred lab! However, almost every dog coming from the south has some sort of pit bull/bully breed in their mix, whether they look like a Chihuahua or Great Dane. We remind our adopters of this often; when you're committing to a rescue dog, you're committing to all of his/her genetic makeup.

We've known dog siblings to have a 40-pound size gap when fully grown. Some litters of puppies have two different dads. You can't tell how big a dog will be from his paw size. For the same reason that you can't look at a newborn baby and say with certainty his adult weight, height, personality, and if he'll take after his mom or dad, we cannot say the same about rescue animals. We're done trying to do so.

We also had some comments along the lines of “Why does their DNA matter?” While we love the sentiment, a dog’s DNA gives us a look into what makes them tick. It can help explain behaviors, likes, dislikes, energy levels, health traits, and more to help you better understand your dog. Plus, it’s just really cool to be able to say that you have a purebred mutt. ♡

29/04/2022

This is Betty! Betty was adopted a few weeks ago, but before she went to her forever family, we sent her DNA away to be tested. And, we just got those results back! 🧬

Can you guess what percentage of Labrador Retriever she is? We'll share the answer tomorrow! ⬇️

A. 30%
B. 50%
C. 80%
D. 100%

20/04/2022

Some great reasons from our favorite vet clinic as to why were not a fan of retractable leashes!

14/04/2022

Update: WOW, so much interest in Allen! At this time, we are no longer accepting applications for him.

"What do you mean my applicants backed out?!"

How Allen hasn't found his home yet is a mystery to us – but usually when it takes awhile, the wait is just so worth it. 💙

Allen is being fostered in southern Maine. From his foster mom: "Allen is such a love bug. He's learned to go up and down the stairs recently! If I take him out every two hours, he will stay mostly dry in the house. He is able to stay in his crate for eight hours during the night without an accident! He has become quite social with the neighbors in the last few days and loves to go to the beach to play in the sand. We are still working on getting him comfortable walking on a leash, but enticing him with treats is helping. He eats well, is good with my cat, and runs around with the neighbor's dogs."

Allen is approximately 5-6 months old, neutered, microchipped, and started on all of his core vaccines. He is currently being fostered in southern Maine! Currently, Allen is hard at work on crate, leash, and house training.

To apply: https://www.mainelymuttsrescue.com/adoption-application

12/04/2022

You may have noticed that things are a little quiet around here – but for a very joyful reason. We are thrilled to welcome the first human addition to our Mainely Mutts family with the arrival of Meagan’s son!

As always, we will be here to support our past adopters with recommendations and advice, and we love getting updates. However, you probably won’t see too many animals posted for adoption in the foreseeable future as we all get used to our happy new normal.

Please reach out directly to [email protected] with any needs.

31/03/2022

TAFFY 🍬 Adoptable

Remember those cute puppies a few months back – Gator, Cow, Bear, and Chunky?! Well, their beautiful mom, Taffy, has finally finished her heartworm treatment and is ready to head north. To do so, we need to find a solid foster or adopter for her! This is where fosters truly save lives.

This silky pittie is as sweet as her namesake. Before being rescued, she lived on the streets and birthed a litter of 11 (many of which were adopted in Louisiana). Like the good mom she is, she tried her best but her body couldn’t nourish her puppies like they needed – she was so malnourished herself. She weighed just 35 pounds at the time of her rescue (check out her before pic) and is now a healthy 55! Once Taffy was relieved of her duty to nurse, her body and spirit began to heal.

In just a few short months, Taffy has learned to trust humans and now LOVES to be loved! She will soak up any attention she receives, will respond to commands, and is content to be by her person’s side. She would thrive in a home as the only pet, though she may be successful living with a smaller dog. She hasn’t been super psyched to play with dogs her size.

Taffy is estimated to be 3-5 years old, is up-to-date on vaccines, spayed, heartworm-negative, house-trained, and so ready to find her home in New England.

Adopters must live in New Hampshire or Maine. To adopt: https://www.mainelymuttsrescue.com/adoption-application

Fosters must live in Maine and be within an hour of Kittery. To foster: https://www.mainelymuttsrescue.com/foster-application

Foster FAQs: https://www.mainelymuttsrescue.com/foster-faqs

27/03/2022

Not to be outdone by her brother’s puppy eyes yesterday, Betty would like to show off her angel wings!

Betty and Allen are both doing wonderfully in their separate foster homes, each getting a taste of 💛 Applications can be found on our website!