It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week!

It’s National Dog Bite Prevention Week!

The second full week in April is National Dog Bite Prevention Week, and it’s a great time to talk about something people often misunderstand.

Dog bites can happen for a lot of reasons, but most of them come down to one thing: lack of knowledge. As much as we love dogs, many people still miss or misread the signs that a dog is upset, uncomfortable, or scared.

Sometimes, pet owners put too much trust in the idea that their dog would never bite. But even the gentlest dog has limits. Assuming otherwise isn’t just risky, it’s also unfair to the dog. Biting doesn’t usually come out of nowhere. For dogs, it’s often a last resort after other signals have been ignored.

We can all agree that no one wants to see a dog bite happen, especially when children are the most common victims. So what can we do to help prevent bites?

 

Thankfully, a few simple steps go a long way:

 

  • Always supervise interactions between children and pets. Kids and dogs can’t be expected to manage these situations on their own.
  • Respect that dogs are dogs. They aren’t people. They have their own needs, instincts, and ways of communicating.

We love to say dogs are part of the family, and that’s absolutely true. But they are still a different species. Living with dogs means learning to see things a little from their point of view.

There’s a lot more to explore when it comes to bite prevention, but starting with these basics can help prevent many incidents, especially at home with your own pets.

 

Want to learn more? These resources are a great place to start:
 
AVMA Dog Bite Prevention Toolkit, including a video series for kids:
https://www.avma.org/resources-tools/pet-owners/dog-bite-prevention
 
ASPCA Dog Bite Prevention, including body language tips and ways to reduce risk:
https://www.aspca.org/pet-care/dog-care/dog-bite-prevention 
 
ASPCA Safety Tips for Dog Bite Prevention Week, including a graphic: 
https://www.aspca.org/news/its-dog-bite-prevention-week-read-our-safety-tips
Filling Bowls, Filling Hearts ❤️Thank You, Loyal Biscuit Co.!

Filling Bowls, Filling Hearts ❤️Thank You, Loyal Biscuit Co.!

Each holiday season, Loyal Biscuit Co. runs its “Fill Their Bowls” fundraiser, giving their community an opportunity to help shelter pets in need. Not only do they collect donations, but they also work with their vendors to stretch every dollar, ensuring local rescues receive high-quality food to nourish the animals in their care.

This year, the Brewer Loyal Biscuit Co. store selected The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter as their recipient, and thanks to their generosity, we received an incredible donation of:

🐱 24 bags of Earthborn cat food  – That’s 300 lbs of nutritious cat food! 
🐶 40 bags of Ultimates dog food  – A whopping 1,120 lbs of meals for our dogs!

Total donation: 1,420lbs of pet food!

This life-saving donation will help us provide healthy meals to the animals in our care, and we couldn’t be more grateful to Loyal Biscuit Co. and their amazing customers for making it possible.

Ashleigh (left) and Dani (right) sit on the open trunk of a car filled with bags of pet food, smiling at the camera. Dani is holding Tucker, a small white and brown dog in a coat. The donation of food was part of Loyal Biscuit Co.'s "Fill Their Bowls" fundraiser to support The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter.

Ashleigh, Dani, and our honorary supervisor Tucker pose with the amazing donation from Loyal Biscuit Co.! Thanks to their generosity, The Ark’s shelter pets will have full bellies!

 

Tucker, a small white and brown dog, stands atop a stack of pet food bags inside Loyal Biscuit Co. while Dani smiles beside him. The donation supports shelter pets in need.

Tucker takes his quality control duties very seriously! 🐶✅ He made sure every bag of food was accounted for before it was loaded up for The Ark’s shelter pets.

❤️ Support Businesses That Support Maine Shelters!

Loyal Biscuit Co. goes above and beyond to give back to Maine shelters. We encourage you to support them! Stop by one of their locations or visit their website:
Loyal Biscuit Co. Website

 

🐾Need a Nail Trim? Support The Ark at Loyal Biscuit Co. in Brewer!

Did you know that our Director, Dani, hosts a nail clipping clinic at Loyal Biscuit Co. in Brewer every third Saturday of the month from 10 AM to noon? 🐾

For just $10 per pet, you can get your pet’s nails trimmed, and 100% of proceeds go directly to The Ark!

📍 Next clinic: Tomorrow, March 15!
📅 Event details: Facebook Event Link

It’s an easy way to keep your pet’s paws happy while helping shelter animals!

Thank You Again, Loyal Biscuit Co.!

A huge thank you again to Loyal Biscuit Co., their generous customers, and everyone who made this donation possible!

📸 Check out the incredible donation in the photos below!

The trunk of a car is completely packed with large bags of cat and dog food, showing the impressive scale of Loyal Biscuit Co.'s donation to The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter.

Now THAT’S a car packed with love! 🚗 A total of 1,420lbs of pet food will help feed shelter cats and dogs

Tucker, the official quality control supervisor, stands outside on a leash, eyes closed, possibly enjoying a moment in the sun.

Hard work calls for a little fresh air break! Tucker might be catching a sunbeam—or just basking in the joy of a job well done. ☀️🐾

Volunteers and staff load large bags of pet food from a cart into the back of a car outside Loyal Biscuit Co., ensuring that shelter pets at The Ark will have nutritious meals.

Teamwork in action! Volunteers and staff load up the donation, making sure every bag of food gets to the shelter safely

Mark Your Calendars: Two Exciting Events at The Ark!

Mark Your Calendars: Two Exciting Events at The Ark!

We’re gearing up for a fantastic summer at The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter, and we’d love for you to join us! Whether you’re a longtime supporter or new to our community, these events are the perfect opportunity to celebrate, connect, and support our mission of helping animals in need.

A "Save the Date" promotional graphic for the FLASH! in the Pans benefit concert supporting The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter on June 9, 2025. The image shows a close-up of steel drums being played, with event details, the shelter’s logo, and a blue banner announcing the date.

🥁 FLASH! in the Pans Benefit Concert – June 9

Get ready for an unforgettable night of steel drum music, dancing, and community fun—all for a great cause! FLASH! in the Pans will be performing to benefit The Ark, helping us continue to provide care for homeless animals. Bring your dancing shoes and let’s make some noise for a good cause!

📅 Date: Monday, June 9, 2025
⏰ Time: 7:30 – 9:00 PM
📍 Location: Blue Hill Town Park

Stay tuned for more details, and we can’t wait to see you there! 💙🐾

A "Save the Date" promotional graphic for The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter's Open House during Cherryfield Days on June 21, 2025. The image features the shelter building with event details overlaid, including the shelter’s logo and website URL.

🎉 Shelter Open House – June 21

It’s hard to believe it’s been one year since we opened the doors to our new shelter! As part of Cherryfield Days, we’re inviting you to an Open House to celebrate this milestone. Stop by for guided tours, fun activities, snacks, and more while learning about the impact we’ve made together.

📅 Date: Saturday, June 21, 2025
📍 Location: The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter

Bonnie and Scarlett

Bonnie and Scarlett

Bonnie and Scarlett have never known what it’s like to be loved as family. Rescued from a heartbreaking backyard breeding situation, these two brave girls have only ever had each other. They’ve never had a real home, a soft bed, or a human who saw them as more than just property. But through it all, they’ve stayed bonded — finding comfort and strength in one another when the world felt too scary to face alone.

Bonnie is the braver of the two, often stepping forward first to explore new things, while Scarlett hangs back, watching and waiting with cautious eyes. Scarlett relies on Bonnie for reassurance — her presence calms her, gives her courage, and reminds her that she’s not alone. Because of their deep connection, they must be adopted together.

They are incredibly shy and will need a family that can offer patience, time, and gentle hands. They’ve never walked on a leash, never known the joy of toys or treats freely given, so everything will be new — and possibly overwhelming — at first. But with love and commitment, they will begin to bloom. A fenced-in yard is required, as they’ll need a safe space to explore while building trust at their own pace.

Bonnie and Scarlett are not your average adoption story. They are a promise — that love can heal, that every soul deserves safety, and that with the right person, even the most broken hearts can find peace.

Are you the one who will finally show them what home feels like?

 

 

Pepper

Pepper

Pepper is a very special kitty! She has so much to say, especially when she’s eating. I mean really, she makes a nom nom nom sound as she chows down! Sometimes her emotions will confuse her and she will hiss at her food before eating it. She also might hiss or grumble while being pet? We think she likes it though? She came in as a stray so we’re not sure what occurred in her 2 years of life to give her so much character. She can be a little hot and cold and doesn’t like to be handled too much – And she’s definitely not afraid to show you. In any case we all love her and think she’s so so funny. She’ll definitely keep you entertained for as long as you love her! Come meet this sassy cat today!