“Everyone in this room is here for a love of animals and a genuine, heartfelt passion to make this work,” said Joe Montisano, executive director of Coastal Humane Society and now, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter as well.

Members of both boards came together in Boothbay Harbor to celebrate their joining forces on October 21. The celebration was held at the Boardroom at 29 McKown Street, owned and operated by Tom Myette.

“I like to donate the space to deserving organizations, like the shelter and New Hope for Women,” Myette said as he poured a glass of wine for an attendee. After the event, he remarked to Montisano that “(LCAS and CHS) seemed like one organization tonight.”

And now, in a way, they are. About three months ago, Coastal Humane Society took over management of the Lincoln County Animal Shelter. Not in an acquisition, but a trial merger, where each shelter would stay operational and keep their separate identifies, but would be managed under one organization.

The merger has since been made permanent.

“Coastal Humane Society has been through what Lincoln County Animal Shelter recently has faced, a lack of administrative support,” Montisano said. “We (CHS) were very much like that five years ago. We faced similar challenges and made it through.”

“It's comforting to know we are not the only organization to go through this,” Ellen McFarland, president of the LCAS board, said.

Several months ago, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter board of directors hired MacPage, LLC to do a forensic audit of LCAS’ finances. The report showed a lack of fiscal controls in the system and some minor financial irregularities as well. These totaled, from 2007 to 2014, $8,748.90.

Several recommendations were made to fix these issues, which Lincoln County Animal Shelter has implemented since then. The board then reached out to the Coastal Humane Society, whose director of shelter operations, Dr. Mandie Wehr, is a licensed veterinarian who specializes in shelter medicine.

Montisano praised the work of Mary Fifield, who acted as Interim Executive Director for LCAS (and who also did the same for CHS) as “paving the way” for the partnership.

“We are 30 miles apart,” Montisano said. “LCAS has a great location and space and we have the administrative support needed. It's a great fit, a natural fit, and in the end the animals will benefit. I think everyone here agrees that is what's most important.”

As a joint group, LCAS and CHS now serve around 1,000 square miles of Maine. That area includes 40 towns and over 150,000 people.

Dr. Wehr spoke about some of the changes that had been introduced in recent months. Through the partnership, animals that had been at one shelter for a long time were sent to the other one so they could meet a new group of people who might be a better fit to adopt them. According to Wehr, this trading has resulted in 30 more dog adoptions and 50 more cat adoptions in the past three months as compared to the months before. Included in the adoption was Rufus, a senior red tick hound that had been at the Lincoln County Animal Shelter since October of 2013.

Rufus was a dog who needed a unique home — he was nervous in new situations and wasn't fond of other animals. He was exceptionally strong and the shelter staff knew he needed time to bond with a new family, and that he would need a lot of training. As it turned out, the family he needed was just a ways down the road.

Wehr also spoke about the changed adoption process, how instead of just filling out a form the staff now does “adoption counseling” to properly match animals to the right homes they need. The staff now explains what the animals need from their homes through an open discourse, focusing on the animals’ needs first.

“It's an exciting time for all of us,” Tony McDonald, president of the CHS board, said.

“It's a lot like matchmaking,” Wehr said. “And it makes sense. If you're a marathon runner, that chubby pug is probably not the right fit for you. If you work long 12-hour shifts, you shouldn't adopt the Australian Cattle Dog who will have too much energy.”

“I have yet to meet one person who thinks this partnership doesn't work,” Montisano said. “This is a very positive change that will benefit everyone, and the animals most of all.”