Business goes to the dogs
with paint, elbow grease
By Paula Brewer
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — A local business “adopted” some shelter animals for the day and offered not only labor, but a large donation of supplies.
Staff Photos/Paula Brewer
NEW ENCLOSURES — Shawn Dumais, left, store manager at Lowe’s in Presque Isle, and Ryan Chapman, product service manager, assemble a new enclosure outside the Central Aroostook Humane Society shelter Friday morning. Lowe’s chose the shelter as part of their Heroes Project, and volunteers constructed new kennels, painted, and donated $1,750 worth of animal food and supplies.
HELPING THE FOUR-LEGGED — Central Aroostook Humane Society Executive Director Betsy Hallett, left, and Mark Logan, department manager for outside lawn and garden at Lowe’s in Presque Isle, spend a moment with Lila Friday morning. Lowe’s volunteers donated supplies and spent the morning painting inside and out and constructing new kennels. Lila, approximately three years old, came to the shelter very ill, and with much care, medication and proper diet, she has gained about 10-14 pounds. She has already been adopted by her forever family and will go home when her recovery is complete. 
Lowe’s of Presque Isle, as part of its annual Heroes Project, donated $1,750 worth of pet food and other supplies to the Central Aroostook Humane Society, and several volunteers arrived Friday morning to deliver the goods and offer their help to paint, clean and even build new outside dog kennels for the shelter.
The shelter was a flurry of activity both indoors and out, as some volunteers put up wire enclosures outside the building, others coated kennels in bright yellowa and still others painted indoors.
Working alongside them were appreciative shelter staff and volunteers, who happily showed off some of the work done so far. “This is fantastic,” said Betsy Hallett, humane society executive director, as she surveyed the activity.
Karen Milton, Lowe’s local customer care representative, said the Heroes Project came in two phases this year. Part one was lending some hands to help Ashland build its 9/11 memorial. Employee response made part two a no-brainer .
“They do so much for the entire community,” Milton said of the humane society. “We wanted to do something for them.”
Every year, explained store manager Shawn Dumais, Lowe’s at the corporate level has a volunteer program. “Our employees have an opportunity to select who they want to help in the community, and this year they picked Ashland and the shelter.”
Store personnel asked the shelter what their needs were, and through employee efforts gathered $1,750 worth of dog and cat food, litter, cleaning supplies and paper goods. Dumais said Thursday that about 20 volunteers were expected throughout the morning Friday. Plans included painting all the kennels inside and out, constructing some new outdoor dog kennels, organizing and restocking the storage area, and filling up the food pantry.
“We have a lot of animal lovers here,” he said. “This was an overwhelming pick this year. Our big thing is helping and being invested in the community. We take a lot of pride in that.”
