 our mission
Our mission is to provide temporary care and shelter for stray, abandoned and relinquished animals, and to place as many as possible into responsible and caring homes. The Animal Refuge League also works to create awareness and support for the humane treatment of all animals and to end animal overpopulation through education and the promotion of spaying and neutering. |
 |
caring for animals in need since 1911
The Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland (ARL) is a private nonprofit animal shelter established in 1911. The vast majority of our funding is made through the generosity of the general public.
The ARL is first and foremost an adoption agency. Every year, we take in more than 4,000 stray, abandoned or owner surrendered animals. Our goal
is to care for them as humanely as possible until we can reunite them with their owners or until someone chooses to adopt them. Our adoption process is extremely thorough in order to ensure that our animals are placed into a loving home for life.
All animals adopted from the Animal Refuge League are spayed or neutered either before or at the time they are adopted from us. This progressive program also allows us to spay or neuter animals as young as eight weeks old. Pediatric spaying or neutering is enthusiastically endorsed by the American Humane Association.
Contrary to misguided beliefs, the ARL does not have a time limit on how long an animal may stay with us. In many cases, healthy and well-adjusted animals stay until a home is found for them. More than 80 percent
of the animals that come to us find their way to a home.
In addition, the Animal Refuge League saves hundreds of injured and ill animals each year by arranging for care with local veterinarians. |
|
our history
The Animal Refuge League opened in 1911 on India Street in Portland and was funded by former Maine Governor Percival Baxter, who believed that humanity had an obligation to creatures of the animal kingdom. Governor Baxter worked hard throughout his life to combat animal cruelty and neglect.
In 1928, due to space limitations, the shelter moved to the corner of Center and Pleasant Streets in Portland. Due to the presence of a live-in superintendent, the facility was able to provide 24-hour service to the public — a unique feature at the time. Whereas the facility on India Street handled about 150 dogs a month, the new shelter tripled the capacity.
| In the mid-1950's, the shelter moved for the last time to an urban setting on Westbrook Street in Westbrook. Percival Baxter (right), an honorary director of the ARL at the time, again funded the construction of the new facility. The shelter was named The Baxter Shelter after the former governor. |
|
Today, the ARL remains a nonprofit refuge for animals, servicing Portland and surrounding communities. The shelter has made several significant improvements over the years and remains a state-of-the-art shelter. The Animal Refuge League continues to thrive because of the continuing generosity and support of the general public. For this, we thank you. |
| |
|
|
The Animal Refuge League currently serves the following communities in southern Maine:
|
Buxton
Cape
Elizabeth
Chebeaque
Gorham
Gray
Limerick
Limington
Long Island
Portland
Raymond
Scarborough
South Portland
Standish
Westbrook
Windham |
|
Can’t make it into the Shelter? You can still meet some of our cats at the following locations:
get a map of all locations  |
Pet Quarters, Falmouth
Pet Quarters, Windham
Kennel Shop, Portland
Kennel Shop, Windham
Blue Seal Feeds, Windham
Falmouth Happy Cats
Pet Pantry, Falmouth |
our nature trail
Need a change of scenery? Take a walk on the one-mile loop walking trail behind our shelter. Bring your dog (on leash, of course) and experience beauty and wildlife in the middle of the city. Open seven days a week, dawn to dusk.
|
|
