There are people who work on the front lines of animal welfare who are simply born with a profound and spirited love of animals, a love that defies description. That was Marilyn Goodreau, MSSPA Director Emeritus. It is with tremendous sadness that the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals shares the news that […]
A month ago, the MSSPA received horses from Vermont for the first time in the Society’s 150-year history. These six horses, part of a herd of 14, are nearing the end of their quarantine at River Road Farm. All six have been vaccinated, de-wormed and de-loused, and had their hooves trimmed. They’ve also been easy […]
“A horse doesn’t care how much you know until he knows how much you care.” — Pat Parelli First turn of good luck, Nesbit was removed from his neglectful owner and arrived at the River Road shelter in July. Although he had been on a lush pasture and his body weight was acceptable, he was […]
Tater Tot is free! ⬇️ It’s official, Tater Tot has a new friend ⬇️ Windy River Tater Tot’s Story: In the short time since Tater Tot arrived at the shelter, there have already been many changes, and all for the better. His hooves were trimmed almost immediately after he stepped off of the trailer, only […]
On September 12th, MSSPA had the pleasure of co-hosting a book reading with esteemed equine vet and author Dr. David Jefferson at Skyline Farm in North Yarmouth. Dr. J, who also serves as an MSSPA Director, read from and discussed his most recent book, “Goodbye Old Friend: The Euthanasia of Your Horse.” Though the topic […]
It is always a sad day at the River Road shelter when a horse is euthanized. It was especially hard when two of the Neglected 20 horses were euthanized on the same day recently. Offering a quick and peaceful end to horses who are suffering and unable to recover is an important part of running […]
Growing up in the Pelham suburb of New York City, with no livestock in sight, Dr. David Jefferson dreamed of operating his own dairy farm. Summers spent on farms made him appreciate farm life and the cows. He loved everything about the dairy business and imagined himself enjoying a full life as a farmer. Happily […]
The summer 2021 edition of The Society Pages focuses on the transformational power of planned giving in caring for the horses at MSSPA. Read on for information about what has been happening at New England’s premier horse shelter. Make a transformational gift today to support the Society horses. To set up a monthly Horse Hero […]
Bequests and other planned gifts are transformative for the organizations that are lucky enough to receive them. Often these sorts of substantial gifts are more complex than a typical donation, especially as the donor is no longer able to take direct action to ensure that their gift goes where intended. Finding the right personal representative […]
Early this year, MSSPA was contacted by the two wonderful horsewomen of Horse Blanket Bags who generously offered to use their time, skill, and materials to turn a couple of worn out horse blankets into a fabulous tote bag. Looking at the dirty, worn blankets, it is hard to believe that Alexandra Doan and Katie […]
While every MSSPA horse is well-loved, some horses feel truly special to the lucky staff members, volunteers, and visitors who have the opportunity to get to know them during their time at the shelter. Rita, a sweet and gentle Arabian mare well known for her wide-eyed looks, is just such a horse. Rita first arrived […]