On Sunday, June 3 the Boothbay Railway Village (BRV) will host its fifth annual day dedicated to dogs and their families. Admission to Rescue Day at the Railway including steam train rides is completely free to everyone on two feet or four paws who brings a donation of dog food or a wish list item for area shelters or rescue groups. Rescue Day at the Railway is made possible through the support of Downeast Dog News, petMAINE, Two Salty Dogs Pet Outfitters and Mr. Dog Training.

There are 14 Maine dog rescues and animal shelters participating in this year’s event including Underhound Railroad, Lincoln County Animal Shelter, Kennebec Valley Humane Society, Pope Memorial Humane Society, Animal Rescue of Kennebec, The Pixel Fund, Souly Maine Pets Rescue, P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, Almost Home Rescue, Catahoula Rescue of New England, Little Paws Big Hearts Pekingese Rescue, Long Journey to a New Beginning Animal Rescue, Tall Tails Beagle Rescue and Passion for Pets Rescue. Dogs and puppies currently looking for their forever homes will be available to meet with potential families throughout the day.

The rescues are also hosting fundraisers in their booths including raffles, silent auctions and bake sales.

The highlight of the day will surely be the demonstrations by the Flyball MAINEiacs and Positively Best Friends.

Positively Best Friends of Edgecomb will provide an Agility "Try It" for attendees' dogs at 10 am and 12 noon. Elements will include some simple obstacles and a short agility course for folks to try with their pups.

The Flyball MAINEiacs will put on demonstrations at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Flyball races match two teams of four dogs each, racing side-by-side over a 51-foot-long course. Each dog must run in relay fashion down the jumps, trigger a flyball box, releasing the ball, retrieve the ball, and return over the jumps. The next dog is released to run the course but can't cross the start/finish line until the previous dog has returned over all four jumps and reached the start/finish line. The first team to have all four dogs finish the course without error wins the heat.

BRV’s popular barrel train ride will also be treating guests to old-fashioned fun. Local favorite, CRUST, will be offering refreshments for sale.  There will be a few vendors offering pet-friendly products as well as Maine authors with books featuring furry friends. 

The Boothbay Railway Village, situated on 30 acres in Boothbay, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) museum dedicated to telling the story of life in Maine from 1850-1950. Museum guests are invited to step back in time to ride the rails behind a vintage locomotive, surrounded by historic Maine buildings preserved in a recreated village. The highlight for many visitors is the superb collection of 60 antique automobiles from a 1902 Rambler to a 1962 Rolls Royce. Well-behaved and leashed four-legged friends are welcome to visit and ride the train throughout the season.

Museum will be open from 10  a.m. to  5 p.m., most activities take place between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.  For more information about Rescue Day at the Railway find Boothbay Railway Village on Facebook or visit the Museum’s website at www.railwayvillage.org. The Boothbay Railway Village is located at 586 Wiscasset Road, Route 27 in Boothbay.