Boothbay Railway Village celebrated its fifth annual Rescue Day on Sunday, June 3 and welcomed just under 400 visitors. Eleven rescue shelters had tents on the museum green: Souly Maine Pets Rescue, Kennebec Valley Humane Society, P.A.W.S. Animal Adoption Center, Animal Rescue of Kennebec (ARK of Maine), Pope Memorial Humane Society, Lincoln County Animal Shelter, Little Paws Big Hearts Pekingese Rescue, Long Journey to a New Beginning Animal Rescue, Tall Tails Beagle Rescue, Passion for Pets Rescue, and The Pixel Fund.

BRV Executive Director Margaret Hoffman said Rescue Day was started in 2014 because the museum, which is dog-friendly every day, wanted to do something for the rescue dogs.

“Over the years it's grown into pretty much a big dog festival,” said Hoffman. “We thought doing something for the rescues would be a great way for people to know that they can bring their dogs here and enjoy an afternoon of family time … This is also a way for the rescues to have a venue that they can go to that's free for them.”

Shelters and their pups get free admission and visitors  also get in free in exchange for donating to the shelters’ causes. At the end of the day, shelters leave with loads of donations including food for cats and dogs, treats, cat litter, pee-pads, pens and crates, blankets, toys, and various gift certificates for vaccinations and other pet necessities.

“We do that sort of as a gift to the community and as a gift to the shelters to thank them for what they do for the dogs and cats in our area,” said Hoffman.

Authors Christopher Morin, Kelly Brooks Bay and Jen Blood had tables. The three have written books about or featuring dogs and rescue dogs. But no Stephen King and no Cujos, said Hoffman. "… (Dogs) have to be on a leash, you have to clean up after yourself, ... and they should be dogs that are socialized that are going to be okay being around kids and other dogs."

Also at the event were Maine vendors – Woof and Hoof Designs, Hennessey Jewelry, and Sweeney Ridge Designs – who make or provide dog-related products. Some of the businesses and authors donate their profits to the shelters, said Hoffman.

Flyball MAINEiacs gave demonstrations of the canine-oriented competitive sport which races two teams of four dogs each. The course is 51 feet long and each dog runs in a relay fashion down jumps, retrieves a ball from the flybox, and returns over the jumps to the finish.

Positively Best Friends of Edgecomb gave demonstrations of dogs on the agility course. Event attendees  were invited to let their dogs have a go at running and jumping through the course.

Hoffman said 14 shelters signed up for Rescue Day, but only 11 could make it due to scheduling and volunteer shortages.

"One didn't have any dogs available which was a great story because they all got adopted this week, but the other two people … couldn't come."

Stephanie Millette of Lincoln County Animal Shelter said volunteering is the number one need. Along with taking in and caring for animals of all kinds, LCAS has a foster program, summer camp, and dog obedience classes.

"We are generally a no kill shelter, so we keep dogs for a long period of time and try to find them new homes,” said Millette, adding,  it is not only dogs ands cats they keep, but, "sometimes bunnies, and ferrets, and birds. Right now we have guinea pigs."

About 90 animals are at LCAS on any given day, said Millette, and there are lots of things people can do to help.  "You can volunteer, you can come in and help clean. You can also donate towels or blankets or kitty litter. We're always looking for people to foster especially in the summer when we get a lot of small animals ... There are a lot of ways to volunteer."

One of the big ways to help is to walk and play with some of the animals. It makes them more adoptable, because they are better trained and socialized the more often they are taken out and about, Millette said.

By the end of the day, two puppies and one kitten were adopted from LCAS, one dog from Passion for Pets, one cat from Pixel, and one dog from Tall Tails Beagle. That does not include all the adoptions pending background and veterinarian checks. Hoffman adopted two kittens before noon and said her husband dis not know yet.

The whistle of the train, live music, and chorus of canines set the atmosphere for a large-hearted crowd. BRV not only welcomes the creatures for events like Rails, Tails & Ales and Fall Foliage Festival. Said Hoffman, “They can ride on the train, too."