Animal rescues convene for their causes in North Yarmouth

 Rescue Day at Well & Good Brewing Company in North Yarmouth on Saturday, June 27, 2026. Multiple rescues had booths at the event, both domestic animals and wildlife rescues. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) A possum named Ziggy curled up in a cradle, dubbed his “bachelor pen,” snacking on slices of banana. He is five years old and has a metabolic bone disease, meaning he will stay with Wilderness Miracles Animal Rehab in Bowdoin for the rest of his life. “We take everything from mice to coyotes,” said Kathi McCue-Pillsbury, the organization’s founder and owner, picking Ziggy up to cradle him. “He’s our educational ambassador.” Ziggy was one of several animals basking in attention in the lawn outside of Well & Good Brewing Co. in North Yarmouth on Saturday afternoon. The furry creatures, mostly dogs, were gathered for an animal rescue event put on by Finally Home Senior Dog Rescue & Retirement Home. Nine rescues had set up booths there to raise awareness and money for their nonprofit organizations. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43673653_20260627_Rescue_07.jpg) Kathi McCue-Pillsbury pets a possum that lives at Wilderness Miracles Wildlife Rehab during Rescue Day at Well & Good Brewing Co. in North Yarmouth on Saturday. Multiple rescues had booths at the event, both domestic animals and wildlife rescues. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) “The point was to get the community together with some of the rescues that aren’t necessarily well-known in the community,” said Laurie Dorr, Finally Home’s director. Dorr keeps 12 senior dogs at a time at her house in North Yarmouth. Older dogs often find a home with her when their owners can no longer keep them, often after having children that their dog turns out to be incompatible with or once their own health prevents them from properly caring for the pet. Senior dogs can require extra care. “I keep a mop ready,” Dorr said. Advertisement Finally Home also helps find homes for senior dogs Dorr does not have the capacity to take in. It also administers grants to help low-income owners pay for senior dog care, such as veterinary appointments and food. Golden Years Haven is another rescue that specializes in caring for older, “retired” dogs. It recently created a “senior-to-senior” program for older humans who are lonely and searching for a pet companion. “If we have a two-legged senior that wants a dog, but can’t afford it, they can simply foster and we’ll pay for everything,” said Heather Green, Golden Years’ president. “If they want to adopt, that’s great, too — always with the clause that we will always take the dog back, regardless of anything.” [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43673653_20260627_Rescue_02.jpg) Sarah Griffiths takes a photo of Avery, a 15-year-old dog who lives at Golden Years Haven, during Rescue Day at Well & Good Brewing Co. in North Yarmouth on Saturday. Multiple rescues had booths at the event, both domestic animals and wildlife rescues. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) Golden Years’ “pack” lives at Green’s one-story ranch-style house in Topsham. Volunteers Meredith Wheeler and Darlene Temple introduced senior dogs Avery and Josie, who wagged their tails by their “Smooch a Pooch” kissing booth. “I also work with senior citizens in a retirement community, so it’s fun to do it with the dogs, too,” Wheeler said. Temple met Green while they were working together as nurses at Mid Coast Hospital. Green still works in the ICU there, and Temple is retired. She gets her steps in walking five of the nine dogs three days a week, she said. Advertisement A few feet away were the founders and volunteers at The Minnis Sanctuary in Bowdoin. They look for dogs and some cats of all ages and sizes mostly in Southern states, where there are large numbers of stray animals. There is less spaying and neutering in places like Florida, Georgia and Texas, meaning the dog population there reproduces in high numbers and many pets go abandoned, neglected or abused. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43673653_20260627_Rescue_01.jpg) Magnolia Gillespie, 13, says hello to Sid during Rescue Day at Well & Good Brewing Co. in North Yarmouth on Saturday. Multiple rescues had booths at the event, both domestic animals and wildlife rescues. Sid is up for adoption through The Minnis Sanctuary. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) “We do our best to help set them up for a wonderful rest of their life, and we vet our adopters deeply to make sure that we’re finding homes that are actually going to care for them,” said Delia Farrell. “We don’t charge adoption fees; we just ask for a donation or whatever is comfortable for people.” A few dogs sporting bandanas reading “adopt me” pranced around a small pool in the center of the day’s action, including an Australian-Collie mix named Castilla, who’s now at the rescue Passion for Pets. She is eight months old and from Mississippi, volunteer Pat Connors said. Saturday’s event included multiple raffles, a silent auction and a pie competition, for which rescues baked homemade pies to be judged by anyone would pay a dollar for tastings. There was live music out on the lawn and drinks and custard inside the brewery. [](https://w2pcms.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/10/2026/06/43673653_20260627_Rescue_06.jpg) Meredith Wheeler pets two senior dogs Josie, left, and Avery, who live at Golden Years Haven, during Rescue Day at Well & Good Brewing Co. in North Yarmouth on Saturday. Multiple rescues had booths at the event, both domestic animals and wildlife rescues. Gold Years Haven is a rescue where senior dogs can live out the rest of their lives. (Brianna Soukup/Staff Photographer) “Possums are my favorite animals in the entire world,” said 13-year-old Magnola Gillespie, who admired Ziggy with her 11-year-old brother, Fox. When prompted by volunteer Sheri Fraser, she guessed Ziggy had 40 teeth. “Even more,” Fraser said. “50!” Copy the Story Link Tagged: [animal rescue](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/animal-rescue/), [animal shelter](https://www.pressherald.com/tag/animal-shelter/) [](https://www.pressherald.com/author/madeleine-kaptein) [Madeleine KapteinStaff Writer](https://www.pressherald.com/author/madeleine-kaptein) Madeleine is a community reporter for Gorham, Buxton and Standish. She started her journalism career in Vermont, where she reported for Seven Days and served as the editor-in-chief of Middlebury College's. [More by Madeleine Kaptein](https://www.pressherald.com/author/madeleine-kaptein)