MSSPA dedicates new intake barn in Windham

By Ed Pierce

Abused and neglected horses now have a “Safe Place to Land” to heal and recover as the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals has officially opened and dedicated a new 2,400-square-foot intake and quarantine barn on its farm in Windham.

Guests tour the new 'McCulloch Family Barn' during a 
dedication for the new equine intake barn and facility at
the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals
in Windham on Sunday, May 31.
PHOTO BY RICHARD SAWYER

MSSPA Advancement Director Peg Keyser said as the number of horses arriving at MSSPA has surged in recent years with many coming from cases of severe neglect, abuse, or with significant medical challenges, the urgency for a dedicated space where incoming horses can receive care they desperately need continues to grow.

She said the new intake and quarantine barn is designed to offer every horse a safe and supportive beginning to their journey of healing.

“The horses coming into this new barn are in quarantine and as you can imagine, many horses come to us with challenging health concerns, and often with no medical records or medical history,” Keyser said. “Many have not had much,if any, vet care. All horses are quarantined for 28 days while they receive an intake exam, do necessary bloodwork, receive vaccines, and begin their journey to rehabilitation.”

A horse will not be integrated into MSSPA’s resident herd until staff there have a thorough understanding of its health challenges and have begun the process of re-feeding, caring for, and returning the horse to optimum health.

“Even after quarantining for 28 days, some horses will stay in the McCulloch Family Barn if they have medical challenges that keep them from joining the resident herd,” Keyser said. “Some need more time simply to get strong and gain weight.”

A $1.5 million fundraising campaign was created last spring to build the new intake barn and facility under the leadership of Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director and it immediately got a huge boost when MSSPA received a matching gift of $500,000 from the McCullouch Family of Southern Maine who were extended the opportunity to name the new barn as the “McCulloch Family Barn.”

Dave McCulloch and other members of his family were on hand Sunday, May 31 as the new barn and intake facility was dedicated. During that event, MSSPA staff, volunteers and community supporters got a chance to tour the barn and explore what it has to offer.

The barn and its paddocks and adjacent pastures sit on seven acres at the farm. It has eight stalls, with two stalls each opening into one of four corner paddocks. Each corner paddock also has two run-in enclosures – three sided, covered open enclosures, so that while horses are out in a paddock, they have a place to go into to get out of the elements, sun, rain, and snow.

“Many of the horses that come to us have lived outside 24/7, so unless they are critically compromised or ill, they do well outside with a run-in shed for protection around-the-clock,” Keyser said. “This barn gives us amazing flexibility to accommodate horses in all stages of health and to also receive larger groups of horses. Now we can do that safely and efficiently.”

She said that the fencing was designed and installed so there is no nose-to-nose contact between paddocks.

“We even re-did much of the pasture fencing so that those large pastures also feature no nose-to-nose contact,” Keyser said. “That entire corner of the farm gives us many options to receive small and large herds of horses in varying stages of health.”

According to Keyser, the MSSPA’s goal for each horse is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

During the dedication ceremony, Keyser said MSSPA has teamed up with the Safe Voices Domestic Violence Program of Lewiston to create a “Safe Shelter” program to offer respite care to the horses of domestic violence survivors who need to house their horse somewhere while they flee an abusive situation.

“We are very proud of this program, and we have already welcomed one horse whose owner was able to leave her abusive situation and work to re-establish a new residency,” Keyser said. “That horse left the farm last week to re-join his mom. Those incoming Safe Shelter horses will also be housed at the McCulloch Family Barn.” 

Along with the Safe Voices program, MSSPA teamed with RedRover and Greater Good Charities for grants to secure funding and support of the “Safe Shelter” program.

For 154 years, the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) has been a sanctuary for Maine’s most vulnerable horses including those rescued from abuse, neglect, and heartbreaking circumstances. Its mission is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected.

The new intake barn was funded thanks to 269 donations and gifts, Woodbrey said.

J.M. Brown was the contractor, sitework was done by Shaw Brothers Construction and fencing completed by Main Line Fence. The site plan was done by Andy Johnston at Atlantic Resource Consulting, and the Owners Representative was Blaine Buck at Cordjia Capital Investments. <

Surrendered herd of donkeys adjusting to new surroundings at MSSPA in Windham

By Ed Pierce

Five donkeys and two miniature horses have a new lease on life after being surrendered to the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham in November.

Surrendered donkeys Kevin and Diane are all ears as they
settle into their new paddock at the Maine State Society for
the Protection of Animals in Windham. The animals were
part of a group of seven equines who arrived for care
and rehabilitation at MSSPA in November.
COURTESY  PHOTO 

Three of the five donkeys went immediately into veterinary care before coming to the MSSPA farm with two of them gelded and one had her hooves worked on while under sedation. All seven of the equines were part of a surrender from a location in Maine and were dubbed by MSSPA staff as “The Thanksgiving Angels.”

Peg Keyser, MSSPA Advancement Director, said that the donkeys and miniature horses had not had veterinary care in a very long time.

“Two donkeys, a mother and son, Olive and Yahtzee, and two miniature horses, Harry and Marv, came directly to the MSSPA and three donkeys, Finn, Kevin and Diane, all traveled directly from the site of the surrender to a nearby vet for immediate care,” Keyser said. “Diane is 15 years old and had terribly overgrown feet. She had not been handled much, and initial foot care needed to be done under sedation at a veterinary hospital. Diane also needed extensive dental care which was also done under sedation.”

Keyser said that Kevin, also 15, needed to be gelded which is something that is more of a major surgery when an equine is older. Finn, only 18 months old, was gelded as well. Both Kevin and Finn had their feet done under sedation as well.

“About five days after the first influx of these angels, Finn, Kevin and Diane also came to the MSSPA from the vet hospital,” she said. “They were officially the first residents of the MSSPA’s new McCulloch Family Barn, A Safe Place to Land, and their arrival marked all seven angels being in residence here at the farm.”

Since their arrival, the little herd is adjusting to life at the MSSPA farm having finished a quarantine period and are being integrated into the MSSPA larger herd. Each equine in the group has their own rehabilitative plan, such as the miniature horses were quite overweight and needed to lose some weight which is not typical of MSSPA’s incoming equines.

“Olive and Yahtzee were weaned, a routine process of separating mother and offspring, and Yahtzee joined Finn together in a paddock,” Keyser said. “They are like two brothers. And they act like two brothers and happily greet visitors at the fence. There is little that is cuter than a ‘baby’ donkey like Yahtzee, and we are pretty sure he knows it.”

She said that Olive is enjoying her new space and is doing well. She now shares a paddock with Kevin and Diane.

“Diane had substantially corrective trimming on her feet, and when she arrived, you could tell it felt different, and good, to be walking normally. However, you can imagine that it will take time for her legs and muscles to adjust which is what is happening,” Keyser said. “Diane, who wanted very little to do with humans when she got here, is slowly warming up to staff and volunteers and quietly shows interest in interacting with humans. Kevin had a more difficult time healing from his gelding surgery as an older equine, and this surgery is harder to heal from. It took him a while, but with patient care, he is now doing beautifully and has fully recovered. Finn and Yahtzee are soaking up whatever sun appears in this cold weather and enjoying each other’s company.”

Keyser said that the donkeys are smart and strong.

“Since this little herd had not been handled much, MSSPA’s staff has worked to halter and lead them which at times has taken two staffers,” she said. “They are all so loveable and staff have wasted no time enjoying their company. They each have lovely personalities. So far, they have settled right into life at the MSSPA. There is a great deal of interest in these donkeys. Their adoption timelines will be different for each one, based on the care and rehabilitation that they will still need.”

According to Keyser, Harry the miniature horse weighed 375 pounds when he arrived, nearly 100 pounds more than he should weigh.

“While most of our arrivals present in various stages of starvation, these two miniature horses needed to lose weight. They both also needed immediate farrier care as their feet had not been attended to in years,” she said. “Both Harry and Marv settled right in, have had their feet done, and are slowly shedding the pounds, although it is hard to tell this with their very thick winter coats currently in place. They have also been moved into the bigger herd and joined matriarchs Cherry and Autumn in their paddock.”

Based in Windham, the mission of the MSSPA is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected. The MSSPA’s goal for each horse or equine is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director, said taking in the surrendered donkeys and miniature horses demonstrates the organization’s commitment to preserving equine lives.

“The MSSPA exists to protect equines from abuse and neglect, and this case is a powerful reminder of why that work matters,” Woodbrey said. “Today, these donkeys and miniature horses are safe, receiving the care, training, and patience they need to heal and thrive. Now, that comes with extensive rehabilitative costs – both at the outset and going forward – but because of the generosity of our supporters these equines will have a second chance at futures they deserve. All of us at the MSSPA are deeply grateful to the compassionate community that makes this life-saving work possible.”

She said that if the public wants to help support the rehabilitation of this herd, they can make a donation through the MSSPA website at https://www.msspa.org/give/. <

MSSPA launches campaign to build new intake barn

By Ed Pierce

The future is now for the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham and a new $1.5 million fundraising campaign will help the organization build a new intake barn for abused and neglected horses to heal and recover.

The Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is
conducting 'A Safe Place to Land' fundraising campaign to
raise $1.5 million to build a new eight-stall intake barn
at their facility on River Road in Windham. The project
includes improved paddocks and better footing for healing
horses. Shown is an artist's depiction of the new barn.
SUBMITTED PHOTO     

Kathy Woodbrey, MSSPA’s Executive Director, said that plans for the “Safe Place to Land” intake barn have been carefully weighed and discussed for the past two years, and the fundraising campaign has already reached more than halfway toward its $1.5 million goal.

“This will such a huge upgrade for us,” Woodbrey said. “Our current facilities, while functional, no longer meet the needs of our mission. This new barn is so much more than a barn, it’s a promise. A promise to every horse that has a safe place to land, to recover and to start life anew. Everything about the new barn has been discussed, from how the stall doors open to how the fencing is to be configured.”

MSSPA Advancement Director Peg Keyser said that in the last five years, the number of horses arriving at MSSPA has surged with many coming from cases of severe neglect, abuse, or with significant medical challenges. As the complexity of these cases grows, so does the urgency for a dedicated space where incoming horses can receive the care they desperately need.

Keyser says that the “Safe Place to Land” Capital Campaign is an opportunity to create that space, an intake and quarantine barn designed to offer every horse a safe and supportive beginning to their journey of healing.

“This vital facility, along with secure paddocks and necessary footing improvements, will provide the foundation for every horse’s recovery,” she said. “By working together, we can ensure that incoming horses are cared for in an environment that protects their health and wellbeing from the moment they arrive.”

For 152 years, the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA) has been a sanctuary for Maine’s most vulnerable horses including those rescued from abuse, neglect, and heartbreaking circumstances. Its mission is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized equines. MSSPA does not charge for its shelter services and seeks no reimbursement from any public source. Horses cared for by the MSSPA come from Maine law enforcement officials and most of them have been abused or neglected.

According to Keyser, the MSSPA’s goal for each horse is rehabilitation and a new home, but if no suitable adoption is found, horses may live out their natural lives at the organization’s farm.

The “Safe Place to Land” campaign has already a matching gift of $500,000 from the McCulloch Family of Southern Maine who will be extended the opportunity to name the new barn. MSSPA also has been fortunate to receive donated thousands of feet of fencing and run-in sheds from the Dyke Horse Farm site in Windham, and RSU 14 now that the school district is building the new Windham Raymond Middle School at the Dyke farm site.

The site for the new intake barn sits on 7 acres of MSSPA’s 124-acre property on River Road in Windham. Plans call for the intake barn to be open-air with eight wooden stalls. The contractor for the intake barn project will be J.M. Brown and sitework will be completed by Shaw Brothers Construction.

Keyser said that the 3,000-square-foot barn will be built on the other side of the MSSPA property from where other horses being cared for are kept. The new barn will feature space for equipment and the project also will include the installation of an electronic security gate at the property.

The new barn will feature dedicated stalls for each equine arrival, reducing potential disease transmission and offering a dry, warm space for horses to heal. Its secure paddock areas and improved footing will allow horses to slowly acclimate to their new surroundings and room for veterinarians to perform health assessments. Because of its location away from the MSSPA herd, the new barn also will have separate grain and medication stations to prevent cross-contamination of food and medicine and streamlines operations for MSSPA staff.

Woodbrey said there is tremendous interest in this project and MSSPA’s engaged donor base consists of horse lovers willing to help.

“We welcome people to make a donation of any size,” she said. “We’re happy to give donors a tour and we really want to make it easy to support this project. The tens of thousands of dollars and donations we’ve received so far represents the best of this community and we could not be more grateful.”

To make a donation online, visit msspa.org/asafeplace or in person at MSSPA, 279 River Road in Windham.

Donations may also be made using the QR code: