Two Salty Dogs hosted its fifth annual Mutt Scrub to benefit the Lincoln County Animal Shelter and Coastal Humane Society on Saturday, July 29. Besides getting their dogs washed, owners also had the opportunity to have their canines’ nails clipped and participate in a raffle and games.

Among the raffle prizes were a free pet adoption at LCAS and CHS; six months of pet food from Two Salty Dogs; 10-day doggy daycare from Coastal Dog; after hours tasting for 10, from Eventide; five weeks of obedience classes from Mr. Dog Training; Boothbay Railway Village admission for four; bath and groom from Paws Awhile; five-pound whoopee pie from Wicked Whoopee; and gift certificates from Robinson’s Wharf, Boat House Bistro, Ports of Italy, Slick’s Boutique, The Lobster Dock, China By the Sea, Waves, Watershed Tavern, Janson’s Clothing, Coastal Maine Popcorn, TurnKey Vacation Rentals, Orne’s Candy Store, Harborside Tavern, Shannon’s Unshelled, Newcastle Publick House, and Pinkham’s Seafood.

In a musical chairs game, dog owners had to lead their pups around two cones until the music stopped. While treats were fair game, owners could only tell their dog to sit. Later on, in the afternoon, a doggy talent show’s only rule was that anything goes.

Also at the event was Prince, a 6-year-old boxer mix who has been looking for a home.

Liana and Don Kingsbury opened Two Salty Dogs just over five years ago. Downeast Dog News named it “Best Maine Pet Store" in 2013 through 2016.

“We’re big animal lovers and supporters of the shelter,” said Liana. “We started doing this as sort of a fun thing to bring people out and wash dogs … and it sort of evolved. I think the first year we washed 30 dogs.”

Last year, the Mutt Scrub made over $3,800 in donations for the shelters and cleaned 60 dogs. This year, the event raised over $4,000, cleaned just under 80 dogs, and clipped 50 sets of nails.

Also at the Mutt Scrubb was a brand-new animal mobile surgery unit which will serve the two shelters as well as a second Brunswick shelter which has not yet been built.

“(The mobile unit) is to replace what would otherwise have to be three operating rooms in the three facilities that we operate in,” said Evan Weston from CHS. “So, instead of buying three, we were able to buy one which will rotate among the three.”

Weston said the unit was just acquired about a week earlier and would not be functional for another week. However, the shelters save about 5,000 animals per year, and Weston estimated that with the space to do two operations at a time with 13 heated recovery cages, the unit will accommodate 30 to 40 operations per day.

“We are so proud of this thing, you have no idea,” said Weston. “It’s a heartwarming experience to save lives.”

Donations and events like the Mutt Scrub make projects like the mobile unit possible. “Everything is just for donations, so whatever people give we always appreciate,” said Liana. “This is Boothbay Harbor — people love their dogs.”