The day Jenny Dwyer decided to leave her abuser was the day she took back her life.

“I honestly don’t know what got stronger in me,” she said. “He had always said every time we fought that if I didn’t like it, I could leave. One day I said, ‘If you say it one more time, you need to mean it.’”

So when her longtime boyfriend said it again, she waited for him to leave for work, packed up her dogs Copper and Kiwi, some of her belongings, and as much money as she had, and drove.

She drove away from Maine. She drove away from an eight-year relationship rife with domestic violence. She drove until she had no money left.

“I knew I had to get far enough away that I couldn’t afford to get back,” she said. “I knew he would be able to talk me into returning if it was in any way possible”

And she drove into a new life full of promise in Florida.

“I was singing to Cher’s … ‘Do You Believe in Life After Love’ at the top of my lungs through tears and mascara,” Dwyer said.

One year later, she returned to Maine — equipped with confidence, an education in skincare and the determination to start over.

Dwyer is a survivor of domestic violence in Maine, where iIn 2012 police recorded 5,593 domestic assaults, up from 5,353 in 2011.

While she doesn’t have children, she does have dogs.

“I felt I couldn’t leave when I should have because I didn’t have a place I could go with my dogs,” Dwyer said. “Leaving them wasn’t an option. And it wasn’t because I thought he’d hurt them. It was because I couldn’t leave without them. They were my kids.”

According to the Maine chapter of the Humane Society of the United States, studies have shown that 48 percent of battered women delay leaving a dangerous situation due to fear for their pets’ safety.

In addition, said Katie Hansberry, Maine state director of the Humane Society of the United States, research has found that homes where women and children are being abused are concurrent with homes where a family pet or animal is also being abused. The pet abuse, experts agree, may be real, implied, or financial, such as withholding medical care or access to food and water.

A 2007 study by Catherine Simmons and Peter Lehmann determined that batterers who abuse family pets use additional forms of violence and controlling behaviors on their human victims. In addition, Simmons and Lehmann noted that these abusers are more dangerous than abusers who do not abuse animals and more likely to hurt a human.

Through a dog’s eyes

Dwyer is the co-owner of Mutt Nose Best, a grooming product manufacturer located at 30 Bomarc Road in Bangor. Her business is more than a year old and is booming. Because of that, she said, it’s time to begin making a difference, one shelter at a time. Mutt Nose Best will do this through its nonprofit foundation: Through my Dog’s Eyes.

“I love the saying that I have on the wall here: ‘My goal in life is to be the kind of person my dog already thinks I am,’” she said. “I love the idea that dogs wake up every day and are happy it’s a new day no matter what. I want the world to become the kind, loving place that is seen through my dog’s eyes.”

Through My Dog’s Eyes “BARKK… to End the Silence” campaign will focus on raising money to equip domestic violence shelters to take pets. BARKK stands for “Because Acts of Random Kindness Kount,” Dwyer said.

“It is our mission to provide grants to domestic violence shelters to help them become equipped to house family pets so these special furry family members are not separated from the humans they love during such a traumatic event,” Dwyer said. “Until that goal is met, we will strive to provide funding for families in harm’s way for emergency temporary, pet-friendly housing, or a temporary foster home for their animals.”

And the impetus came as a tribute to Danielle Lee Reed, a victim of domestic violence who was killed on Nov. 19, 2012, by the same man Dwyer escaped from so many years before.

The Bangor Daily News reported that on Nov. 19, 2012, Scott Reed, 43, stabbed his estranged wife, Danielle, 39, at the couple’s Alton Tannery Road home before shooting and killing himself. Reed’s friend Daniel Young, 41, also was found dead in the Alton home. The investigation into the three deaths is ongoing.

Danielle’s sister, Carmen Folsom Scott of East Corinth, said Danielle had always loved animals. She had a penchant for animal rescue starting at a young age.

At the time of her death she had a yellow lab, Piper; a cat, Callie; and a chocolate Labrador retriever named Brady. According to Scott, Danielle was in the process of ending her relationship with Reed, who had abused her. That resonated with Dwyer and how she had ended her relationship with Reed.

“A lot of times the abuser uses the animals as a way of controlling the person,” Dwyer said. “They know that the person won’t leave without them. [Her death] opened my eyes to the need… and to the idea that a woman can’t just pick up her things and go if she has pets, because there’s nowhere to go with them.”

First steps

Through My Dog’s Eyes has begun to collect funds for grants to domestic violence shelters as well as to provide emergency housing for people with pets attempting to get out of an abusive relationship.

“I think [this issue is] important, and I want to be able to use the platform we have as Mutt Nose Best to make a difference and have what happened [in Alton] not happen in vain,” Dwyer said.

One way that the community can contribute to the cause, she said, is to save the date for a canine-oriented event. That event, BARKK …to End the Silence, will be a “5K walk, run, or woof”  and is being planned for Sept. 28 in Bangor.

“October is domestic violence awareness month,” she said. “We want to usher in October by doing an event in Bangor that will incorporate our venture with domestic violence month. Hopefully we will have raised some money to make our first shelter pet-friendly.”

In addition to helping shelters overcome the barrier of taking pets, Dwyer’s organization will work with a network of pet-friendly hotels and foster homes to enable people to get out with their animals, even if for just one or two nights.

Maine state law includes family animals in temporary and permanent orders of protection from abusers and stalkers. However, a barrier that still restricts people from getting out is the lack of places to which to escape.

“There’s no place for people to go with their pets to escape,” she said. “We need to fill that gap in to keep people safe and keep their pets safe and with them.”

Statewide, initiatives are in place to protect people and pets alike.

The Animal Welfare Society’s Pets And Women to Safety program is held in conjunction with Caring Unlimited, York County’s Domestic Violence program. The PAWS program has helped  hundreds of pets and their owners since 2001, said Gail Crowell, program coordinator for the Animal Welfare Society and chair of the York County Linkage Coalition. The program utilizes a network of foster homes to keep pets safe.

Maine also has a network of Safe Havens. Find out more at the Humane Society of the United States website, humanesociety.org and searching “Safe Havens Directory.”

Learn more about how to contribute by visiting MuttNoseBest.com or call 262-8773.

This series will continue throughout the year on this blog, critters.bangordailynews.com. If you have a story you would like to share about how animals helped you during a crisis, email her at debbell78@gmail.com.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

But today — World Pet Memorial Day — we can honor those pets who have touched our lives and made them better. Remember that special fuzzball with a post on Facebook, or a special nod to heaven.

Or, if you prefer, read this poem and be grateful for the love cast upon you by a beloved pet.

Rainbow Bridge Poem

Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge.

When an animal dies that has been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food, water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable.

All the animals who had been ill and old are restored to health and vigor. Those who were hurt or maimed are made whole and strong again, just as we remember them in our dreams of days and times gone by. The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss someone very special to them, who had to be left behind.
They all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent. His eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.

You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet, you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The happy kisses rain upon your face; your hands again caress the beloved head, and you look once more into the trusting eyes of your pet, so long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.

Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together.

Author unknown

Growing up on the coast, one of my favorite places in the whole world is still sitting in front of the ocean and listening to the waves crash and seabirds sing.

Bill and I have taken Laura with us to the ocean many times and aside from being a little freaked out when she goes past her belly in the water, she LOVES chilling in the salty water.

It is, in a word:  perfect.

So when I was reading about the Maine Boats, Homes and Harbor’s Magazine’s 11th Annual World Championship Boatyard Dog Trials at 10 a.m.on Aug. 11, I knew I needed to get involved somehow.

First, I thought about entering Laura into the competition. However, even though she’s well trained, I think the crowd would get her too excited. Instead of focusing on competing, she’d be focused on lapping the faces of every person there.

Then I thought about being part of the fun in a different way: through my skills as a photographer. I reached out to the show organizers and we agreed to work collaboratively. My pet photography business, Bell’s Furry Friends Photography, will be the official show photographer!

I am so excited! And I can’t wait to see the dogs strut their stuff!

Does your dog have what it takes to compete? Here’s what the Boatyard Dogs website is looking for:

Contestants and their dogs will compete in a series of trials (which must be completed in 8 minutes per contestant pair). Competing dogs and their people are judged on a combination of style and pizzaz (or lack thereof).

1. Dockside Obstacle Course: Dog and handler must negotiate a maze of lobster traps, piles of rope, and other funky dockside paraphernalia;

2. The “Dinghy Hop:” Dog and handler scramble in and out of a very tippy dinghy tethered to a float;

3. A “Freestyle” segment: Consider this the talent portion of the event (although no swimsuits are required). Each dog (and its person) shows off special talents.

Who is eligible: Well-behaved dogs, with preference given to dogs that work in a boatyard, serve as crew on a boat, or are involved in direct operations of any kind on the waterfront. Bonus points go to water-loving dogs!

Here are the rules (courtesy of MBHH):

Rule #1: Either dog or handler must finish contest completely soaked.

Rule #2: Cheating is not only tolerated, but encouraged.

Rule #3: The freestyle event will have a twist to it — the organizers are getting creative and will report back on the details.

Think you might have what it takes? Get your pup a pen and paper and submit a letter of interest, a flattering high-resolution photo, and daytime contact info. Get in the judges good graces by sending in humorous entries (they tell me this is a non-serious competition). Entries are required by June 30 to byd@maineboats.com. Finalists will be notified by July 8.

Want to come instead? That’s cool. But please leave pup at home or in an air conditioned area. Due to liability, no pets are allowed on show grounds except the competitors.

“It wasn’t just the cats and dogs [I feared for], it was the sheep and the chickens,” Walsh told legislators. “I was terrified for their welfare. I knew if I were to leave, he wouldn’t hesitate to kill them. He had done it before. I knew that any animal that I left behind would be dead in 24 hours.”

Unfortunately, she said, she was right.

Walsh isn’t alone. Nationally, studies have shown that 48 percent of battered women delay leaving a dangerous situation due to fear for their pets’ safety, said Katie Hansberry, Maine State director of the Humane Society of the United States. She testified before the Maine legislature appropriations committee on April 4 in favor of a bill adding pets to orders of temporary protection from abuse. In some cases, men are also affected by threats against family pets or animals.

“It is crucial to be able to get animals away from an abuser during the time when things are usually the most dangerous, namely when a victim is leaving an abusive situation,” she said.

Maine has been a leader in legal protections for animals in cases of domestic violence.

In 2006, a landmark law was enacted that gives judges the power to include pets on permanent protection from abuse orders and enables judges to impose penalties ranging from a fine to jail time if the order is violated.

Then in May, the 126th Maine Legislature took that one step further to amend the law to apply also to temporary protection orders. LD 687, proposed by Maine Rep. Andrea Boland, D-Sanford, was sparked by a conversation Boland had with former probate judge and practicing lawyer Donna Bailey of Saco. Bailey encouraged Boland to amend the law to provide protection to family animals — including horses and livestock — during the most dangerous time: when a person leaves. The protections extend to protect pets of stalking victims.

“I feel really honored that the judge would come to me for the presentation of this bill and that I had an opportunity to make what I hope will be an enormous improvement in the lives of [abused people and pets],” Boland said. “They can just be your anchor and love you unconditionally, providing great comfort. They don’t judge you or give you a hard time about much. It keeps us all a bit more humane to have pets in our lives.”

The link between domestic violence and family animals

The American Veterinary Medical Association reports that in 2011 62.9 percent of Maine homes had at least one pet. And animals are often the targets of real and implied harm, especially in a domestic violence situation.

According to the Maine Coalition to End Domestic Violence, domestic violence is “a pattern of coercive behavior that is used by a person against family or household members or dating partners to gain power or control over the other party in a relationship.”

One way an abuser exerts control, experts say, is by using family pets and animals as pawns and targets. The threat of harm may be physical or financial, said Dr. David Cloutier, owner and veterinarian at Veazie Veterinary Clinic.

“In a domestic violence situation we see that in particular, [the abusers] use the pets to control the women and children in a situation,” Cloutier said. “[Telling them that] ‘If you leave me I’m going to kill your cat,’ or ‘if you leave me I’m going to hurt your dog.’”

In addition, he said, the abuser may hurt the animal in front of their partner or children as an outlet for their anger. The American Humane Association reports that 87 percent of the incidents of abuse happened in front of the partner and 75 percent of incidents happened in the presence of children.

“For many victims of domestic violence, the pets are their one comfort,” said Gail Crowell, program coordinator for the Animal Welfare Society and chair of the York County Linkage Coalition. “Children, in particular, bond with the pets because they are both so vulnerable.”

And that, she said, is a reason that many people who are abused choose to stay in the relationship. “Leaving the animals is dangerous and can create unfair emotional leverage at a time when the victim is most vulnerable,” she said.

The link between animal abuse and domestic violence has been studied extensively and extends beyond the household. People who abuse animals, especially at a young age, are more likely to commit violence against people. Serial killers, for example, often begin by maiming, killing, and dismembering animals.

And they start young. Pre-teen Jeffrey Dahmer searched for dead animals then took them home and dissected them. He committed his first murder at age 18. John Wayne Gacy began experimenting on animals at age 11.

“Kids model what they see, for better or worse,” said Bangor child therapist Nancy Webster. “When I talk with parents whose children have been exposed to these serious situations, about 80 percent of the time the parent will tell me that they didn’t see it or they were asleep when it happened. Conversely, I’ll talk to children and they’ll tell me word for word that ‘I was watching out the window when Daddy put the chain around the dog’s neck and dragged him down the street until he killed him.’ These memories stay with them. If children are involved in domestic violence situations, they tend to pick on what’s smaller than them.”

That’s why mental health experts have identified pet abuse as one of the five factors that will predict who will begin other abusive behaviors. And over a 10-year period, 6- to 12-year-old children who were cruel to animals were twice as likely to commit a violent offense.

That doesn’t mean that all children exposed to violence against people or animals will become abusers. In many instances, MCEDV notes, children seek out family pets as a source of consolation and security.

“We know that both adults, and particularly children, who have been victimized turn to animals as a consolation and trusted companion and that they will sometimes endanger themselves in order to be sure that the animals are safe,” Julia Colpitts, executive director of MCEDV said in testimony to the Maine Legislature. “We know that children are the most vulnerable to a misplaced sense of guilt when an abuser takes out vengeance on a defenseless animal left behind.”

And it’s not just dogs, cats and pocket pets that endure abuse. Maine state law extends domestic violence protection orders to cover animals including horses, livestock and birds.

Being “left behind”

“There’s a clear difference between neglect or ‘I didn’t know any better’ and abuse,” Cloutier said. “Many people feel trapped and like they don’t have any options and that animal is their lifeline and the single most important thing in the world [to them].”

So when it comes to making the decision to leave, careful thought is given to all of the factors involved, including the pets. And the decision to leave isn’t one made quickly or easily. It takes coordination, especially when animals are involved.

“Leaving what is known and going into unknown territory is scary,” said Amanda Cost, program coordinator for Spruce Run in Bangor. There are many factors a person faces when preparing to leave an abusive situation. The fear of leaving a pet behind with the abuser is one of them. “Often because it’s a threat that has been made or followed through with.”

Cost said concern for the family pets or animals is a common refrain on the domestic violence hotline.

“We problem solve a lot with somebody — how do we get you to a place where you’re safe and get your pets out, too?” Cost said. Pets are not allowed at Spruce Run; however, the organization works with women to find resources and options locally to provide a safety plan for the pets.

But for people with larger animals such as horses and livestock, finding safe havens for their animals is another barrier. And Joyce Pomeroy, co-owner of Last Stop Horse Rescue in Prentiss Township, speaks with authority: She left an abusive relationship when her husband threatened her animals to control her.

“[Abusers] will use everything that hurts you to [control you],” Pomeroy said. “I couldn’t fight for myself, but I would die for my horses.”

Crowell noted that one abuse victim stated that when she made her husband angry, he would beat her horses. “These are not isolated cases but rather are typical of how abusers use animals to control victims or seek revenge,” Crowell said.

Breaking down the barriers

The legislative changes approved in Maine provides enforceable protection for pets in an order of protection, but many abusers ignore these orders, Webster said, placing the pets and larger animals in danger. And for the animal, it is a situation with no escape.

“There needs to be a true grassroots movement and some consideration that not everyone has dogs and cats,” Webster said. “That horse may be what’s standing between mental health and cracking due to a horrible situation.”

And movements are already underway to provide support for people who escape an abusive relationship to flee with their pets.

Programs like the AWS’s Pets And Women to Safety program held in conjunction with Caring Unlimited, York County’s Domestic Violence program, has helped hundreds of pets and their owners since 2001, Crowell said. PAWS helps women escaping a relationship break the barrier of leaving a pet behind by working with a network of foster homes.

In addition, Maine has a network of Safe Havens. Find out more by going here.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357 or TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

Through my day job at the Bangor Daily News’s Special Sections Department I have the privilege of meeting lots of interesting people and hearing lots of stories. Most of them are happy stories.

Some are not.

And some start out heartwrenching and turn inspiring. I had the honor of hearing one of those stories in May. And it turned into a major two-part series posted in the BDN’s weekly publication aptly named The Weekly.

It started when I spoke with Jenny Dwyer, co-owner of Mutt Nose Best. She has an amazing business creating eco- and pet-friendly grooming products for dogs that can also be used on people. Her business is amazing and you should check it out here.

Then she mentioned that her business was starting a non-profit organization to pay it forward. One initiative the “Through My Dog’s Eyes” foundation is tackling is raising money to help provide grants to domestic violence shelters to equip them to be pet-friendly. The foundation will be holding a 5K walk/run/woof on Sept. 28, 2013 called BARKK to End the Silence. 

She shared her story with me and I know that she will go far. I’ll post the article as soon as it is published so you can read about her amazing story and the amazing work she’ll be doing.

But Jenny isn’t alone. Nationally, studies have shown that 48 percent of battered women delay leaving a dangerous situation due to fear for their pets’ safety.

This topic is an important one to discuss. Domestic violence is important to address. However, the link between violence against family animals and domestic violence is well researched. Animal abuse is one of five markers for violent behavior against humans. And in children it’s even more crucial to pay attention if a child is either abusing an animal or being abused.

So I set out on a mission to understand the issue more. I’m going to share the two stories I wrote for the Weekly with you. I’m also going to continue this look into the connection and link between domestic violence and violence against family pets and animals.

Here’s what you need to know though: It is never OK for anyone to hurt you, physically, emotionally or mentally. It is never OK for them to use your pet as a pawn and an outlet for expressing their feelings. It is never OK for an animal to be hurt or killed as vengeance or penance. And if you know someone experiencing this (or their pets or children are experiencing this) there are resources. I hope my columns can be a resource as well.

If you have a story you want to share, an anecdote or a resource I should talk with about this, please email me at debbell78@gmail.com or comment on this blog.

If you or someone you know is experiencing domestic violence and would like to talk with an advocate, call 866-834-4357, TRS 800-787-3224. This free, confidential service is available 24/7 and is accessible from anywhere in Maine.

Photo by Jesse Schwarcz, Schwarcz Photography, www.jschwarczphotography.com

Before we adopted our seven-year-old greyhound, Laura, we didn’t know much about greyhounds. Sure, we did research, but we didn’t have much exposure to the dogs with the exception of our friend’s grey Houdini. He was a beautiful black boy with failing eyesight, but with a big heart and a quiet demeanor.

Our first stop on our journey to becoming greyhound parents was to visit the breed at a local meet and greet, which was led by Sue Sprague, an experienced greyhound owner (she and her husband Skip have six hounds plus an Italian Greyhound). Skip and Sue are demo leaders for the Maine Greyhound Placement Service, located at 231 Old Belgrade Road in Augusta.

Think of a meet and greet like a big love fest where humans and hounds come together.

Because that’s what it was.

We researched the breed, watched television shows on greyhounds, and finally made the call to MGPS’s Mary Towle to discuss what adopting meant and to tell them about us.

Boy were we green. We just wanted a chill, loving dog to welcome to our home. And we knew the adoption came with responsibilities.

But it didn’t matter. We were ready. Once Mary gave us the go, we set up the appointment for Dec. 27, the day before my birthday. We picked up the necessary supplies: a bed, a kennel, food, bowls, and even a toy or two. We were ready.

Any pet adopter will tell you that you just know when it’s the “the one.” Executive Director Scott Bruns started the matchmaking process with a parade of fawn colored hounds. They were sweet, but no real connection. My husband really loved the fawn color, which was part of why we looking at that color.

I told him that he didn’t have to show us just fawn-colored dogs. We would be happy with any color dog. We just wanted a loving family member.

Then came Laura.

Laura, who upon walking out into the meeting room made a beeline for me.

Laura, who walked poorly on leash while simultaneously staying close to us.

Laura, who when we said we really like her but wanted to look at just one more, gave me the sad eyes. And when another family was accidentally introduced to her, kept trying to come back to us.

That was the moment when I knew: She was the one. My husband wanted to look at “just one more” but I had made my mind up. As it turns out, we lucked out. Stan, a gorgeous fawn, was not cat safe and our Maine Coon kitty’s safety came before any dog.

We all but shouted it from the rafters: LAURA’S THE ONE! And after filling out some paperwork, she was ours.

Ours!

Since that day, the day before my 30th birthday, we’re been on an amazing journey. Laura’s not your typical greyhound, but she’s our greyhound.

Laura is one of the 4,000 greyhounds placed through MGPS since it started in 1993. The organization, which operates as a non-profit placing retired racers with loving retirement homes, has grown to accommodate upwards of 50 dogs at a time from its kennel at 231 Old Belgrade Road in Augusta. The kennel is flanked by the East Coast Greyhound Clinic, which not only provides basic medical care, dentals, and spay and neuter surgeries for MGPS’s greyhounds but also for local animal rescues.

And it’s run by passionate people. This isn’t a fly by night company. It’s an organization with one goal: to care for and place greyhounds that are no longer racing.

And they do it well.

MGPS provided us with a companion (who is a loveable troublemaker!) and they are continuing to do that for other prospective owners.

The organization will hold its annual Open House and Reunion on June 15-16 from 10 a.m.-3 p.m., rain or shine. Admission is $5 per car. No adoptions for new owners will be done during the open house, but veteran owners can inquire about bringing home another grey that weekend.

For more information, visit MGPS here.

But Keeper’s more than just a pretty face. She’s a smart little girl. The 2.5 year old papillon came from a breeder in Maine. Keeper has another papillon ”brother” named Finch and a younger papillon ”sister” named Maybe. The household also has a Yellow Lab named Atticus and an Aussie Shepherd named Reese.

Rebecca Henderson, owner of Renaissance Dogs in Holden, believes all dogs have the power to do anything you ask them to and Keeper encapsulates that view in full.

“I really like this breed because they’re so versatile,” Rebecca told me. “She can do anything I ask her to do. She’s like a Labrador Retriever in a really small package that packs up well and fits under an airplane seat.”

Keeper’s definitely not a one trick pony. She does agility, rally, and is a therapy dog among her many talents.

Speaking of Rally, Keeper qualified in the Rally Novice class for the American Kennel Club nationals rally in 2013 and traveled, by plane, to Tulsa, Okla. to compete against other dogs. It’s a big deal, Rebecca said, because it’s rare that the AKC does things like this.

“How many times can you say that you were there for the very first?”

With the amount of chaos going on at the championships (think 8 rings, hundreds upon hundreds of dogs, a huge live audience and a new place to compete) Keeper and Rebecca held their own, but didn’t place as well as they would have liked.

“Both of us were terribly nervous. We finished course with smiles on our faces. The second time we went out we score 90 out of 100.”

According to the AKC’s press release, “AKC Rally combines elements of obedience and Agility. The dog and handler move through a course of numbered exercises, all while the handler is communicating with and praising the dog.”

And rally is all about teamwork. The AKC notes that it “provides an excellent introduction to AKC Companion Events for new dogs and handlers and can provide a challenging opportunity for competitors in other events to strengthen their skills.”

And it’s just plain fun, Rebecca said.

Photo by Debra Bell

Keeper gave us some facts about her:

I am … 2.5 years old
Mom got me from … Jasione’s Papillons in Windham, Maine.
My favorite thing to do is … play ball
My favorite thing to do in the community is … visit with the children at the Bangor Public Library
I love to go … Anywhere with mom
I’m looking forward to … having fun at agility competitions and *paws crossed* have puppies this summer.

If you live in the Bangor area and get our weekly publication (aptly named “The Weekly”) you may have noticed that I have a “Critters” column in on the first Thursday of every month. The column focuses on something interesting that’s pet oriented and is an accent to this blog.

However, since I get to meet so many different businesses and individuals (and let’s face it, really cool pets too), I want to feature them on this blog.

That’s why I’m starting a new category called “Dogs Around Town.” Likewise, for the feline fanatics out there, there’s a category for you: “Cool Cats.” These new categories will be a Friday feature.

But I need your help to identify great stories! If you have a pet related business (or just a cool story), email me at debbell78@gmail.com and tell me. Include the following in your subject line so I know it’s for the blog: CRITTERS.

Don’t live near Bangor or even in Maine? That’s OK. Send me a photo of your BFF and a short story. I’ll include it on the blog.

I can’t wait to share your stories.

Renaissance Dogs owner Rebecca Henderson helps her pappion Keeper entertain UMaine students in May as part of Fogler Library’s therapy dog days. Photo by Debra Bell

“It’s hard not to smile when you’re around dogs,” said Katie Kiel, a junior art history major at the University of Maine. And smiles abounded at the university’s Fogler Library when the library hosted a week of visits by local therapy dogs.

According to Gretchen Gfeller, Fogler Library public relations manager, the idea came, not from the university, but from its students.

“We have a suggestion board it’s an open board that the students can write anything on it and early in the semester and [the suggestion] kept appearing to ‘please bring puppies for finals,’” Gfeller said.” It made me smile and it came up again and again.”

Gfeller set out to research programs for bringing dogs to the library, one of the largest buildings on campus.

What she found was that UMaine’s initiative is in good company. The University of New Hampshire, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Yale Law and other colleges bring in therapy dogs to help students de-stress in preparation for events such as finals. After speaking with representatives from UNH who praised the program, the next step was to find someone locally to help make therapy dog visits happen.

She reached out to Rebecca Henderson, owner of the doggie daycare and boarding facility Renaissance Dogs in Holden. Henderson has three therapy dogs herself and they participate in the Bangor Public Library’s Read to Dogs program where children gain confidence by reading books to an attentive therapy dog.

Henderson reached out to others who have therapy dogs and before long, Henderson and Gfeller had a team and a plan. Taking into consideration potential stumbling blocks, such as where to situate the dogs, what to do about allergies and how to keep students feeling safe, the university approved the presence of therapy dogs for six days beginning Wednesday, May 1, and ending Wednesday, May 8. No therapy dog visits were held on the weekend.

The dogs represented three therapy dog organizations — Therapy Dogs International, Therapy Dogs Inc. and Love on a Leash.

Therapy dogs are trained to provide comfort, affection and confidence for people in many types of situations including hospitals, retirement or nursing homes, schools, libraries or wherever there are sources of stress. It’s not surprising, Gfeller said, that therapy dogs are being used on college campuses to provide comfort and stress relief to students. Unlike service dogs, therapy dogs are not on duty all day, every day.

“This is our first time on a college campus,” Henderson said. Yellow lab Atticus and papillons Keeper and Finch thrive among the attention, she noted. “Their job as therapy dogs is to visit with people and to bring joy to those around them.”

And that’s just what the dogs involved in the pilot program did.

Therapy dog owner Patty Counihan is an employee of UMaine’s Career Center. Her shetland sheepdog, Joey, had his therapy dog debut at the Fogler Library therapy dog days.

“He has the biggest smile on his face,” Counihan said as she glanced over at Joey who was among a gaggle of coeds. “A number of students have commented that this is just what they needed.”

Junior psychology major Krista Nelson echoed that sentiment. She made sure her days included a stop at the library to relax with the dogs.

“I love animals and this is so relaxing,” Nelson said. “It’s very therapeutic, especially to not have to think about the impending stress of a final.”

But it’s not just the students who have benefitted from the therapy dog days, Gfeller said. Faculty and staff have made a point of stopping at the library for a quick visit with the dogs.

Gfeller said the library would like to continue to offer visits from therapy dogs during key times of the year, including the beginning of the semester and during finals weeks. And that’s because, she said, it’s all about the students and helping them.

“Look at their faces,” Gfeller said. “It’s priceless.”

Mutt Nose Best owner Jenny Dwyer holds Chloe and pets Bandit, the face of Mutt Nose Best at the company’s headquarters at 30 Bomarc Road in Bangor. The products found on shelves behind Dwyer are found in 38 states and soon will be shipped internationally. (Photo by Debra Bell)

Several years ago, when Holden resident Jenny Dwyer’s Australian Shepherd Bandit continually licked off sunscreen applied to his light-colored nose, she wanted a product that would provide sun protection while being safe if ingested. She was already making her dogs’ food so she used her Maine ingenuity and background in skincare to solve a problem.

“I felt guilty that he would lick this chemical off his nose,” she said.

And when she couldn’t find a product, she set out to create one. Using her knowledge of skincare, she began searching for products to create a safe sunscreen that would be beneficial to the skin.

It was a mixture of shea butter, all natural oils and Maine ingenuity that resulted in the Natural Healing Stick. “It’s good for noses to toes and everywhere in between,” she said.

Then Dwyer started creating a shampoo that would be sulfate-free, friendly to the dogs and the environment.

She shared her creations with friends and family who encouraged her to start selling the products.

Today, Mutt Nose Best, located at 30 Bomarc Road in Bangor, is a Maine-made company has grooming products in 630 stores in 38 states including Puerto Rico and Hawaii, and the company is in the process of going global. The facility is not a retail location.

“I never, ever would have thought that it would have taken off like this,” Dwyer said. “We made a commitment to small businesses. We hand craft every batch here and buy local as much as we can. We also don’t use a distributor so that we can stay in control of where the products go.”

Each product Mutt Nose Best creates is first tested on humans, namely her husband Doug, who helps with manufacturing the formula’s base. Working in conjunction with a local chemist, the Mutt Nose Best brand is based off of several main bases with additional ingredients, all locally sourced when possible, added during bottling.

And the business’s fun approach to grooming products has gained it notice throughout the country. Some of the company’s products include U Dirty Dog, U Hairy Dog, U Smelly Dog, and U Itchy Dog are complemented by a hand-crafted approach to skin and coat care.

Where did the names for the products come from? A mis-spelling of his name on a birthday cake “Happy Birthday Dog.” Dwyer’s nephew started calling him “U Dog” and the name fit the businesses concept perfectly.

That approach is part of what separated Mutt Nose Best from the pack.

“It really started with the nose balm,” Dwyer said. Then it moved into developing a special brand for a local groomer. From there, the company blossomed. “We decided to go to market with it. What sets us apart is that we’re from Maine, which represents hard working people and natural products. I know the products better because we use them and I made them for my dogs, so I held them to the highest standards possible. But I didn’t know how to get that across to others.”

That “something” she had searched for came in the form of blueberries.

“I thought about what says ‘Maine’ and it was wild Maine blueberries,” Dwyer said. “I had just read a study about how Europe is starting to use blueberries in skincare products. It was an ‘aha’ moment. At the time there was only one blueberry dog shampoo and it was only a blueberry fragrance. Blueberries are super nutritious and are great topically. Plus, the deep blue pigment brightens whites. Bandit’s coat looks so white when he’s been washed. We use wild Maine blueberries which are scientifically proven to be super nutritious.”

So who are the dogs of Mutt Nose Best? Dwyer’s pack includes 8-year-old Australian Shepherd Bandit, Australian Shepherd Bella and three long-coated dachshund siblings, Sophie, Chloe and Cooper. Mutt Nose Best also has three feline family members.

Dwyer said the business has afforded her an opportunity to continually give back to charitable organizations through the businesses “Paw it Forward” campaign and “Clean Paws for a Cause.”

“We encourage our retailers to have dog wash campaigns,” she said. “Last fall we had one [at Blue Seal in Bangor] where over 100 dogs got washed. Because of that we were able to pay the adoption fees for all of the available dogs at the Bangor Humane Society (about 16 total).”

Dwyer is excited to look ahead at a rapidly expanding business. And her small, but dedicated staff is ready to keep the momentum going.

To learn more about Mutt Nose Best, visit muttnosebest.com or find them on Facebook.