Leaders of Mary’s Dogs Rescue and Adoption in Northwood say they are desperately seeking community support to acquire a new home, saying a 90% rent increase is forcing the nonprofit out of the Northwood facility where it has operated since 2011.
A building in Barrington, at 12 Commerce Way, seems ideal, they say, and the group has started a capital campaign seeking to purchase it.
“This has placed us in an incredibly difficult and unexpected position,” said Meghan Hart, board president for Mary’s Dogs. “We are committed to saving dogs and serving the community, but losing our facility on such short notice puts that work at risk unless we can secure support quickly. This is not just about our organization — it’s about dogs who have nowhere else to go and the families who depend on us.”
Hart said Mary and John Doane began the Mary’s Dogs with a mission to save dogs from kill shelters in the South and find loving homes in New Hampshire, a no-kill shelter state.
“We partner with quite a few shelters,” Hart said. “When things are flowing smoothly, we try to place the dogs pre-transport. We get up to 20 dogs per transport, and they go through the medical vetting and we do meet and greets with them and their adoptive parents and foster homes.”
Mary’s Dogs saves hundreds of canines each year
Hart estimated Mary’s Dogs has arranged about 6,000 saves, about 500-600 dogs per year. She said it is licensed to have 20 dogs at a time, at the shelter or in foster homes.
“Our dog community believes in us and support us,” Hart said. “Most of our staff and volunteers have been with us a long time, but of course we always welcome more help.”
Hart was familiar with Mary’s Dogs, volunteered upon her retirement, and just adopted her second dog, Bailey. She said the current location in Northwood is part of an older house on Route 4.
“We had a rough winter, frozen pipes, space limitation, and being close to a busy road,” Hart said. “The owner of the space we are looking at has offered us a really fair price, being a supporter of the work we do.”
She said it would be a lease-to-buy agreement and did not reveal the price, stating Mary’s Dogs has raised $20,000 so far.
Mary’s Dogs has about 90 days to relocate. The lease in Northwood expires Aug. 31. At the same time, it will continue rescue operations, medical coordination, foster support, and biweekly transport arrivals.
Barrington building already a dog-centric location
If Mary’s Dogs is successful in acquiring the Barrington property, it will already have a tenant. Sentinel Canine Academy uses part of the space for dog daycare, boarding and training.
Chad Alden, owner of Sentinel, said he is thrilled at the prospect of Mary’s Dogs being its new landlord. Alden, who has operated his business for almost 12 years, said he is promoting Mary’s Dogs’ fundraiser on his business website.
“I have trained dogs rescued from here over the years,” Alden said. “Having been doing this work for a while, I have seen hundreds of rescues over the years, and I can say they take great care of the dogs. The team they have in place is amazing. I think this will be a good fit.”
Hart said buying the 5,500-square-foot building would give Mary’s Dogs more security for its work and possibly open the doors for future services, such as rescuing more dogs, training and rabies clinics.
How to help Mary’s Dogs
Donations to support the purchase of the new facility can be made through Mary’s Dogs’ capital campaign at zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/good-dogs-deserve-good-deeds.
Businesses, individuals, and community partners interested in sponsorships, naming opportunities, or matching gifts are encouraged to contact Mary’s Dogs Rescue & Adoption by email: info@marysdogs.org or phone at 603-817-9655.
This article originally appeared on Fosters Daily Democrat: Mary’s Dogs has rescued thousands. Now it needs help for a new home.
Reporting by Karen Dandurant, Foster’s Daily Democrat / Fosters Daily Democrat
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
