The Lincoln County Animal Shelter has received a Belvedere grant from the Maine Community Foundation in the amount of $10,000. 

The Belvedere Animal Welfare Fund supports organizations and programs that address population control for cats and dogs through project and capacity-building grants. The Lincoln County Animal Shelter applied for and was granted funding to secure much needed technology in the form of new laptops and database software.

Coastal Humane Society is overseeing the improvements at Lincoln County Animal Shelter, under a 4-month agreement, which may result in a permanent merger between shelters.

“Technology is a critical component to modern shelters’ success; until now, the Lincoln County Animal Shelter owned a single, barely functional computer that was on its last leg,” Dr. Mandie Wehr, the director of shelter operations and veterinarian for both facilities said. “This grant will allow us to purchase new computers and other technology that drastically change the shelter’s infrastructure, revolutionize how animals are managed and ultimately result in improved animal care. 

“Thanks to the Belvedere Animal Welfare Fund, we will unquestionably be able to improve lives for the animals in our care.”

The shelter will utilize laptops and Web-based Petpoint shelter software to manage animal data, as well as purchasing financial and development databases to streamline and organize cash flow and to track donations.

Joe Montisano, the executive director of the Coastal Humane Society and Lincoln County Animal Shelter, welcomes the timely grant award.

“We are ecstatic to have the funding to bring much needed updates to the technology being utilized at the shelter,” said Montisano. “Virtually every aspect of the operation will improve thanks to increased technology. We are so grateful to the foundation for this Belvedere grant award.”