Shelters adopt new name, Midcoast Humane

Fri, 09/14/2018 - 8:30am

The Coastal Humane Society and Lincoln County Animal Shelter announced the change of their name to Midcoast Humane on Thursday, Sept. 13.

The name change is the final integrative step between Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick and Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb, that officially merged in 2016.

Combined, the shelters care for 3,500 animals every year, making it one of the largest animal sheltering agencies in the state. The shelters contract with 40 towns from Falmouth to Washington, though visitors come from all over the state and New England.

“This change comes after months of careful listening and collaboration with our supporters, adopters, our volunteers, and many passionate animal advocates of our community – and there are a lot of them,” said Trendy Stanchfield, executive director of Midcoast Humane.

“This is a tremendously exciting time for us. We have been Coastal Humane Society and Lincoln County Animal Shelter for nearly three years, and now we are coming together under one name, with more big plans to come,” she continued.

Midcoast Humane made a conscious decision to drop the word “Society” from their new name.

“We haven’t been a membership organization for some time, and we feel that sheltering isn’t exclusive; animals are for everyone, and anyone can make a difference in the lives of shelter pets,” noted Stanchfield.

The organization’s new logo features a dog and cat in the state of Maine. Midcoast Humane also has new social media handles (@midcoasthumane) and a new tagline: “Compassion. Connection. Community.”

“Our tagline encompasses the principles we believe in. It embodies the values we strive to live by, in everything that we do,” said Stanchfield.

The shelter stated that it also has plans to build on its adoption program in order to reach people throughout its service area, partnering with various businesses and organizations to hold adoption events throughout the Midcoast with the goal of providing all communities with the opportunity to adopt a pet in need.

In a similar vein, Midcoast Humane will deploy its Mobile Surgery Unit to bring wellness clinics to both central and remote areas to further assist pet owners in Maine, offering low-cost vaccinations and spay/neuter.

“Midcoast Humane will continue to provide our 3,500 annual residents with life-saving care and compassion, and we want people to know that we are more than a shelter. We’re a place where you can connect with animals. Bond with them. Volunteer with them at our campuses in Brunswick or Edgecomb. Adopt them. Be around people that love them as much as you do,” said Stanchfield.

Midcoast Humane sees a future that is community-oriented.

“We want to be part of your family and we want you to be a part of ours. Our future is one that is very focused on community and education. We want to do all we can to equip Mainers with everything they need to be the best pet parents, and to work with the people and organizations that help our community thrive,” continued Stanchfield.

Another development on the horizon: the shelter states that it is closely examining the limitations of their current outdated facilities at Range Road and Pleasant Street in Brunswick, and Atlantic Highway in Edgecomb, and considering ways to better serve the public and the animals of Midcoast Maine.

Midcoast Humane invites all to learn more about their plans, which will be shared at its first annual Shelter-bration on Nov.. 8.

For details about Shelter-bration, visit midcoasthumane.org, or to learn more, contact Trendy Stanchfield at tstanchfield@midcoasthumane.org or call 449-1366.

Midcoast Humane is one of Maine’s largest animal shelters, caring and finding homes for 3,500 animals every year and assisting thousands more through its programming. It is the contracted animal shelter of 40 towns along Maine’s Midcoast across 1,000 square miles from Falmouth to Washington. The organization maintains a 97 percent Live-Release Rate. Midcoast Humane: Making life better for animals and people in our community.