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

February is National Cat Health Month

February is National Cat Health Month

National Cat Health Month: Why Regular Vet Visits Matter for Your Cat

February is National Cat Health Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to highlight simple ways you can keep your cat happy and healthy! One of the biggest things you can do for your feline friend? Make sure they see the vet regularly!

Are Cats Really That Different from Dogs?

Cats are experts at hiding illness, which means they often don’t show signs of being sick until things are more serious. Despite this, less than 60% of cat owners take their cats for an annual checkup, according to a 2024 AVMA survey. Meanwhile, dogs head to the vet much more often—even though a cat’s visit typically costs half as much as a dog’s.

For indoor-only cats, many people assume they’re not exposed to the same risks and don’t need as many vet visits. But that’s not actually in your cat’s best interest! Here’s why:

🐾 Preventive care is key – Routine exams help catch health issues before they become serious.

 

🐾 Vaccinations still matter – In Maine, rabies vaccinations are legally required, even for indoor cats.

 

🐾 Parasites aren’t just an outdoor problem – Fleas, ticks, and even heartworms can still find their way inside.

 

🐾 Emergency care access – Many vet clinics can’t take emergencies unless the pet is a current patient, meaning your cat could be turned away in a crisis if they haven’t been seen in over a year.

Make Your Cat’s Health a Priority

An annual checkup is a simple way to keep your cat healthy, comfortable, and safe for years to come. If your cat hasn’t been to the vet in a while, now is a great time to schedule that appointment!

Stay tuned for more tips throughout February – because keeping your cat healthy goes beyond the vet’s office!

📚 For More Information:

How Often Should You Take Your Cat to the Vet? (PetMD)
Why Your Cat Should Go to the Vet (ASPCA Pet Insurance)

The Truth About Declawing

The Truth About Declawing

You’ve brought home a new cat or kitten. It’s so exciting! They’re exploring the house and suddenly you hear an odd sound. A rhythmic ticking… or is it a ripping? On a quest to discover the source of the sound, you’re shocked to find your beautiful new furry friend on their own mission to de-stuff your favorite recliner! Upset, you call a friend who tells you “oh, my cat did that too! Plus, she even scratched my grandkids! I got her declawed, problem solved!”

Eagerly, you call a few vet offices and discover that many don’t do elective declawings. Why, you might ask? Because after years of research and observation, we have discovered the lasting damage that declawing surgeries actually cause cats! There are much safer, more humane ways to curb unwanted clawing and scratching than to declaw the pet you promised to care for.

What’s wrong with declawing?

Onychectomy is not simply a removal of claws themselves, but the surgical removal of bone structures at the end of your cat’s toes. The human equivalent is losing the last joint on every finger and toe.

A diagram of a human hand with dotted lines and scissors showing where declawing is equivalent to amputating a cat's digits, visually explaining the procedure's severity.

This can cause a variety of problems such as:

  • Chronic pain
    • Nerve pain, pain from bone fragments, even phantom pain from losing part of a limb
  • Limping or lameness
  • Arthritis
  • Recurrent infections of the toes
  • Nails growing back improperly
  • Biting
    • Due to pain, inability to use claws, or out of frustration
  • Inability to defend themselves
    • Even indoor cats are exposed to threats, or could sneak out
  • Litter box avoidance
    • Cats experiencing pain related to their feet are highly sensitive to the textures they walk on, making litter box issues a major concern for many declawed cats
  • Requires anesthesia and all the associated risks of any major surgery

Scratching is a natural behavior!

Just like dogs chew, cats scratch. They are biologically designed to file their claws for survival, and they accomplish this by scratching. Cats require appropriate surfaces to express this behavior, which means providing enriching and attractive scratching options.

You may have tried similar things in the past, but unfortunately for us cat-servants, it’s up to the cat what an “enriching” and “attractive” surface is! This means you may have to experiment with different textures, shapes, and materials to determine what keeps your cat interested. You can encourage your cat to engage with their scratching options by feeding them on their cat tree, putting the cardboard scratcher by their favorite arm of the couch, sprinkling treats in the scratcher box, or sprinkling some fresh catnip on the scratcher daily.

You can also work on making the surfaces your cat likes to scratch less available to them when unsupervised, or use a scent-based deterrent on the couch while offering a scratching post with treats and catnip on it nearby.

Additionally, you should keep your cat’s nails trimmed. By clipping your cat’s nails you can prevent harmful scratching and ensure that there is no overgrowth. Untrimmed nails can become extremely sharp and can even grow into the toepad if not maintained properly.

Offering other forms of enrichment such as lick mats, treat dispensing toys, and interactive toys can help bust your cat’s boredom and expand their range of fun activities – away from your armchair.

We do not support declawing

The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter does not support declawing – and we’re in excellent, educated company! The American Veterinary Medicine Association (AVMA), The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), and the World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) have all expressed opposition to this procedure. VCA Animal Hospitals now decline to perform this elective procedure due to the serious ramifications to the cat’s health and wellbeing.

A black cat with green eyes reaching out its paw, symbolizing a call for help and support, paired with an invitation to reach out for educational resources and advice.

We are here for you!

If you need help with your cat’s destructive behavior, please reach out. Our mission is to keep cats healthy, happy, and thriving in their homes—scratching included! We’re here to share humane alternatives, practical tips, and resources to help you redirect unwanted behaviors while building a stronger bond with your kitty best friend. You can contact us any time.

Helpful Links and Sources

Scratch This NOT That! How to Redirect Your Cat’s Scratching

Humane Society of the United States: Declawing Fact Sheet 

VCA Hospitals: Why you shouldn’t declaw cats

What to Know About Declawing Cats

National Train Your Dog Month

National Train Your Dog Month

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...

February is National Cat Health Month

February is National Cat Health Month

National Cat Health Month: Why Regular Vet Visits Matter for Your Cat February is National Cat Health Month, and we’re taking this opportunity to highlight simple ways you can keep your cat happy and healthy! One of the biggest things you can do for your feline...

The Truth About Declawing

The Truth About Declawing

You’ve brought home a new cat or kitten. It’s so exciting! They’re exploring the house and suddenly you hear an odd sound. A rhythmic ticking… or is it a ripping? On a quest to discover the source of the sound, you’re shocked to find your beautiful new furry friend on...

November is Senior Pet Month!

November is Senior Pet Month!

November is National Senior Pet Month, and we’re excited to shine a spotlight on some of the incredible senior pets at The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter. Senior pets bring so much love and wisdom to a home, yet they often face unique challenges in shelters, like...

Bonded Pairs = Twice the Love!

Today we're featuring bonded pairs! What could be better than saving one pet? Saving two! Bogie and Cappy! These two are a dynamic duo, and together they’ll bring double the joy to your home! If you’re ready to open your heart and home to any of...

Cats ready for adoption!

Check out some of the cats we currently have ready for adoption! Odessa Meet Odessa! This playful 1-year-old girl is a bundle of joy, always ready for fun and affection. With her loving nature and curiosity about other cats and dogs, she’ll make a fantastic addition...

We’re Moving!!!

We’re Moving!!!

We are excited to announce that The Ark Animal Shelter will begin our move to the new building! Starting December 23rd until January 27th we will be closed to the public. If you are interested in putting in an application and/or viewing any animals available for...