Midcoast Humane with campuses in Brunswick and Edgecomb announced the expansion of its adoption program on Monday, Oct. 29 with the goal of bringing more adoptable pets home.

The shelter takes in close to 3,500 stray and surrendered animals every year at its Brunswick and Edgecomb campuses. Animals that are not reclaimed and reunited with their owners are put up for adoption.

“Our adopters come from all over the state and throughout New England,” said Trendy Stanchfield, Executive Director of Midcoast Humane. “We hold contracts with 40 towns covering 1,000 miles, so it is our goal to bring adoptable animals to every community we serve, whether they’re in Brunswick or Somerville.”

To allow those in more remote areas to have the opportunity to adopt a shelter pet, Midcoast Humane will team up with businesses and organizations spanning the Midcoast to hold adoption events, and maintain the Edgecomb Campus at 27 Atlantic Highway as an intake-only facility, continuing to accept stray animals and surrendered pets (by appointment). Animal Control Officers will have access to the building at all times, and staff and volunteers on site will continue to offer comfort, care and medical attention to residents that aren’t yet ready for adoption. The change takes effect November 5.

“It is a 40-minute drive from Somerville to Edgecomb. That’s not an easy drive for a lot of folks. We want to make it easier for people to bring adoptable animals home. We consider that part of our mission,” said Stanchfield.

The shelter will use its Sprinter van to bring animals throughout the community, which is specially-purposed to transport animals.

Stanchfield embraces the collaborative approach to rehoming animals in need.

“This is not only a way for our animals to literally get closer to home, but a way for our community to play a part in that as well. Area businesses and organizations are very interested in doing their part to help shelter pets – and hosting adoption events with us is a very important way they can help out,” said Stanchfield.

Midcoast Humane is scheduling adoption events through the end of the year and into 2019. Among the businesses to host events are The Animal House in Damariscotta and Louis Doe in Newcastle. A complete listing of upcoming adoption events will be posted at midcoasthumane.org.

Animals are available for adoption six days a week at Midcoast Humane’s Brunswick Campus at 30 Range Road, which will be the shelter’s primary adoption center. All dogs, cats and small animals available for adoption are displayed at midcoasthumane.org.

Animal care staff at the Edgecomb Campus can be reached at 882-9677.

Those interested in hosting an adoption event should contact Kate Griffith at 449-1366 (at Midcoast Humane’s Administrative Office) or via email at kgriffith@midcoasthumane.org.