To learn more, Downeast Dog News talked with local business owners to get their take on the dog-friendly status of Maine’s Midcoast region. “Damariscotta is one of the most dog-friendly towns in the Midcoast in my opinion,” says Rick Skoglund, owner of Perry Greene Kennel in Waldoboro. Skoglund raises Chinooks, the famous Arctic sled dogs, and operates a boarding kennel on Route 1 in the heart of the Midcoast.
Skoglund is also involved with pet therapy programs at the local healthcare facilities. “People in the community are, in general, very supportive of our activities,” explains Skoglund, who trained two certified therapy dogs for a pet therapy program that began on May 1 at Miles Memorial Hospital. He also volunteers pet therapy services at assisted living facilities at Cove’s Edge and the Lincoln Home in Newcastle.
For outdoor opportunities with your dog, Dodge Point, a 500-acre park on the Damariscotta River, is one of the best places around for dogs to enjoy hiking according to Skoglund and his wife, Martha Kalina. Dodge Point is on River Road, between Newcastle and Edgecomb. Trails are marked and there is a beach for swimming.
If shopping and in-town activities are more your scene, downtown Damariscotta offers a number of opportunities. “The Maine Coast Book Shop in downtown Damariscotta welcomes dogs, and King Eider’s Pub welcomes dogs on their deck and provides water,” offers Skoglund. The same is true of the Mediterranean Kitchen, also in downtown. Nick, the owner, has six dogs and is happy to offer other dogs a spot on the deck.
Dogs are welcome at Damariscotta’s pet supply store, The Animal House, which is actively involved in community events. Every other weekend they host a dog adoption clinic and in August they held WOOFSTOCK 2008, which raised more than $6,000 for local shelters and rescue organizations.
“We have six or seven events each year, as fund-raisers for local shelters, depending on where the need is,” said Aubrey Martin, co-owner of The Animal House. “There is a great network of pet people around here, but it needs to be developed. There are paths and dog walks, acupuncture, holistic vets, pet sitters; these need to be known.”
There may be a bit of tacit competition between the Boothbay Region and Damariscotta for dog-friendliness. “We’re not only pet-friendly, but we’re pet-inspired,” said Lori Mitchell of Boothbay Resorts, adding, “downtown, in the harbor, dog bowls, with water, are put out on the sidewalks.”
Mitchell rents small cottages, where pets can stay free. Eight acres of lawn where dogs can play, unleashed, comprise the resort. “It can be difficult to find a place where you can stay with your dog if you’re travelling,” stated Mitchell. “We usually have 11 dogs on weekends, and we’ve never had a problem. They all get along.”
“Our philosophy is that you don’t pay for your pet,” Mitchell explains, “but if it destroys something, you are responsible. We’ve tried to think of everything.”
Looking for things to do with your dog in Boothbay Harbor? Cap’n Fish allows dogs on its whale watch cruises and the Lobster Dock restaurant permits dogs on its deck.
At Boothbay Region Land Trust (BRLT), dogs are allowed on all the trails, with the one exception of Damariscove Island. On the third Friday of each month, Barbara Gibson and her Bernese mountain dogs lead a “Tails on Trails” walk at a different BRLT preserve. The excursion is free, open to the pubic and well-behaved dogs are welcome.
Dogs are also welcome at some businesses in the Midcoast towns of Round Pond and Edgecomb. Dogs are permitted on the deck at Muscongus Bay Lobster, owned by Dan Reny in Round Pound. “They can come as long as they’re leashed and don’t bark. One or two couples a night will bring their dogs with them,” said Reny, adding that people find out about it by word of mouth. After lunch or dinner, dogs can even enjoy a swim. You might also catch a glimpse of Dixie, the resident husky.
While only a few spots were mentioned as places for dog walks, many others can be found in the “Ultimate Guide to Dog Parks, Beaches and Trails in Maine,” published by Downeast Dog News. This is the definitive guide for dog owners who are looking for a place to go. It contains rules, on- or off-leash designations, locations and contact information for more than 300 dog-friendly parks, beaches and trails. It includes travel safety tips, and transportation—ferries and buses where dogs are allowed—and a list of emergency veterinary clinics in the state.
None of the businesses interviewed discriminate as to the breed of dog that is welcome; a visitor may bring any dog along as long as he is well-behaved. While many lodging places advertise that they are pet-friendly, word-of-mouth is usually the only way to find out about restaurants.
It seems pretty clear, however, that Maine’s Midcoast area is exceptionally welcoming to pets; from restaurants to walks, hikes, places to stay and eat, a dog and her family can readily find something enjoyable to do in the area.
And in most businesses you can go in and there's a resident pet to greet you. One of my favorites is the bulldog at the Postal Center. My only wish is that there was a good off leash dog park close by.