by Janet Clement
Coastal Journal contributor

BRUNSWICK — About six months ago Dude and S’more, two very bedraggled, elderly Pekinese dogs with severe medical problems, were surrendered to the Coastal Human Society in Brunswick, because their owners were forced to move to a home where pets were not allowed. Also, due to the owners’ financial situation, the dogs were not well cared for. 

Pekinese are known for eye problems. One of these dogs was blind, and the other had the use of one eye.

Many people had a part in nursing the dogs back to health and in delivering them to their new home. Now vibrantly thriving, they are living in Michigan with their new owners, who adore them.

Dude and S’more are two lucky dogs. S’more, the blind dog, asked the Coastal Journal if he could tell their story. Here it is:

as told to Annee Tara 
Coastal Journal Contributor

Mike and Maggie Dumais live in Topsham with their permanent resident seven cats. Mike has had cats for over 20 years, and had Gordon and Madelyn when Maggie and her first cat, Cordelia, moved in. In the past three years they have served as a Foster Home for the Coastal Humane Society Shelter. The Dumais’ foster both kittens who are just too young to be adopted and feral kittens, those who have had little exposure to humans. In both cases, their aim is to socialize the cats so they can be adopted into loving homes. Here’s the story of the Dumais’ and the lucky cats who have found their way into their home:

Madelyn just couldn’t get over Cordelia being there. So after two years of having the house separated by screens doors, so we could put them on either side, we decided, “Well, we’ll get a fourth cat.” I don’t know how we came up with that, but it worked! Because when Madelyn saw Boney, I think she just said, “Oh, I just can’t keep up with all these cats.” And she just gave up attacking.

And then we got Gracie. She was at the Shelter and she was diabetic. Gordon was diabetic and we thought, “We’ve got one, why not have two?” We knew how to give shots and all of that. Once you’ve got one, then having two or three is not any more inconvenient. It’s just a matter of buying a little more insulin, a few more needles. And we were already in the routine where we had to be home twice a day to take care of it. We thought we were doing the Shelter a favor; she ended up being a wonderful cat!

by Elisa Hawkes
Coastal Journal staff

The Coastal Humane Society (CHS), located at 30 Range Rd. in Brunswick, saves many animals each year, and matches them with the perfect family. It finds them their “forever homes,” as they say at CHS. 

Some pets are surrendered due to family situations or monetary concerns. Others are stray, or abandoned. Some are ill, and must be nursed back to health. And others are healthy puppies and kittens that just need a home with loving owners.

Whatever the situation, most adoptions result in stories with happy endings. One such story is that of Milo the blue point Siamese kitten. The body of a bluepoint Siamese should be platinum gray with a slight bluish tint, exhibiting a lighter color on the belly and chest. The points, or ears, nose area, tail end, and paws, should be a deep grayish-blue. Siamese cats also have blue eyes, extremely rare in other cats.

Milo was brought in to CHS a short while ago in a cardboard box and “dropped on the front counter.” The staff said they heard tiny mews coming from within the box.