Dr. Sallie Albert is in the business of saving lives whether they are human, canine, or feline. Albert is a nurse practitioner certified in psychiatric and family health. She owns a Topsham assisted living facility and a southern Maine alternative correctional healthcare center.

But that is just for starters. Albert counsels women in local jails dealing with substance abuse and addiction. It was in this role she decided to add another job to her long list of responsibilities. She saw a post-incarceration need for women to have reliable housing.

So, she decided to provide this service in the Midcoast region. Albert was searching for a suitable location when she found a house along with a kennel for sale in Edgecomb.

In April, Albert opened a "New Leash of Life" recovery center on Dodge Road. Haggett's Hill Kennel has been in operation at the site for the past 40 years. The kennel provides boarding and grooming services for local pet owners. The kennel also finds homes for rescue animals. 

Owning a kennel is nothing new for Albert. She owns a kennel in southern Maine which is what made Haggett's Hill Kennel an attractive location for her new venture. “I started looking for a place to open a recovery residence for women who were recently incarcerated. Often, these women are unhoused or don’t have reliable housing. I looked at several properties before I found this one," she said.

In 2027, new federal MaineCare regulations require recipients to either work, seek training, or volunteer 20 hours per week to receive benefits. The Haggett's Hill property provides her clients with a rare opportunity to live and work in the same location.  “This provides our clients with an opportunity to volunteer right here, and meet those guidelines,” she said.

The recovery center houses four clients and one house manager. Nicole Murphy is the house manager. She reported the four clients all had jobs within the community. Murphy described the nonprofit, “A New Leash on Life," as a level 2 recovery center.

Besides low-cost housing, clients receive in-house counseling. Members also travel together to local Alcoholics Anonymous meetings. “It's actually a beautiful thing. They all live independently, but it's like a family. There is compassion for each other, and it's really working well. They are all building a life worth living," Murphy said. 

The program is financed partially with a Maine Association of Recovery Residents grant and a $20,000 grant from the Lincoln County Opioid settlement funds, and the clients pay rent.