Part of the joy of being a business owner is that we get to follow our own hearts and create a business philosophy that works for us. We knew when we started The Animal House that we would never sell live animals. We felt that there were so many good rescues and reputable breeders out there that there wasn’t a need to sell animals. Instead, we focused on hosting rescue groups and partnered with area shelters to help adopt dogs and cats looking for forever homes.
The following are stories of some of our many “happily-ever-after” stories, facilitated in some way, either through an adoption event we hosted, or through our Adoption Center, at The Animal House in Damariscotta.
Buddy came to The Animal House in 2006 when a foster wasn’t able to keep him. Buddy hung around the store with us as a shop dog for a few days while we were trying to find another situation for him. He was in pretty bad shape when we met him, but he was such a kind and gentle dog. We had a great family in mind for Buddy, though, and shortly thereafter, Buddy was adopted by Eric and Robin Beavis and their twin boys Griffin and Ben. Buddy became the “innkeeper” at Meadowsweet Inn for Dogs, a home-based doggie day-care and boarding business, and was beloved by his family and the clients of Meadowsweet until the end of his days.
Lila was at the shelter for about a month before Sarah Lane saw her. Sarah, an Animal House employee, was in charge of transporting Lila to the store from the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Before she got Lila back to the store, Sarah had already decided to take her home. Lila was a very timid cat but took to Sarah’s other two cats right away. She is now one year old and full of love, snuggles, and mischief. She likes to talk and her nickname is “Tiny Squeak.” She is a wonderful addition to the Lane household.
I met Marcie the dog at an event we hosted for Almost Home Rescue in 2014. I posted Marcie’s photo on social media as she wasn’t adopted the day of the event and because I knew she was such a special girl. Marcie was adopted by our friends Rosie and Glen Davis and their family, who saw the picture on our page and went to meet her. “Marcie Mae” is now one of three dogs in the Davis home and has become very playful and cuddly and an important member of the family.
Java Bean was a featured 12 Woofs of Christmas dog at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter from 2011. He had been part of a hoarding breeder situation and was one of our sponsored dogs at the store. Cheryl Lorrain came in to The Animal House and saw his picture displayed and went to the shelter to adopt him and has been part of the Lorrain family adventures ever since.
Al Capone was at The Animal House Adoption Center in 2007 through our partnership with the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County. Al Capone now lives with Jessica and Dan Bourne and their daughter Audrey, plus a dog and two cats, and is around 12 years old.
Hendrix the cat is 14 weeks old and has been living with Ivy Kimball, her mom Heather, and her sister Gabby for two weeks. Hendrix has adjusted exceptionally well to his new home full of Chihuahuas and one other kitty. He is a friendly guy who enjoys playing with his new siblings and snuggling with his “Mama Ivy.”
I met Guinness Henry (formerly Powell) twice in March 2015 through events at both our stores in Damariscotta and Westbrook through The Pixel Fund. I fell in love with him because he looked like a smaller version of our dog Buddha, and was such a sweetheart. Imagine my surprise when I found out my friends Amber and Aaron Beck were fostering him! It wasn’t long before the Becks made the official announcement that we were all hoping for — that they were “foster failures” because they decided to adopt him. Amber reports that Guinness Henry’s favorite spot in the house is within three inches from wherever she is.
Becky Bartolotta met Murphy (aka Mouthy) the way many of our kitties have been adopted — through the window at The Animal House Adoption Center. Becky was working at the Dollar Tree and would spend her breaks watching the kitties in the window at the store. One night there was this orange kitty in the window and she fell in love. After convincing the family, this chatty kitty had his forever home. He needed a little TLC after a gum infection, but has bounced back and loves to curl up with his doggie buddy Fenway.
Kim Inman, manager of The Animal House, has adopted three kitties from the store through the years — two before she began working with us. Brothers Nolan and Mordecai were adopted through our partnership with the Pope Memorial Humane Society of Knox County when they were three months old in 2008. Kim reports that Nolan is a troublemaker (yet adorable) and Mordecai is shy and feisty. Crookshanks the cat then joined the family in 2012 through the Lincoln County Animal Shelter when he was around seven. I was thrilled when Kim adopted him because Crookshanks remains one of my favorite cats we ever had here at the store. I love orange kitties.
Paula Sprague is in our store a lot, which makes sense because she has adopted four kitties from us through the years. Paula reports: “I have adopted four cats from The Animal House over the last nine years. Every one of them ‘found’ me: Ebby in 2008, Reese in 2010, Inky in 2015, and Zippy in 2016.”
It’s so wonderful to play a part in the happy stories for more than a thousand dogs and cats that have found forever homes through our store, but even better to be able to follow their lives through their families.
