By Jennifer Davis
What began with a ribbon cutting ceremony
on Friday, October 26 led to a weekend long celebration at the Maine State
Society for the Protection of Animals (MSSPA), welcoming guests to the farm to
tour their new facility. With lots of hard work and donations throughout the
past year, MSSPA was able to construct their new building. Despite the frigid
temperatures, visitors flocked to MSSPA to take a look.
The new building, the Lawrence J. Keddy
and Marilyn L. Goodreau Equine Rehabilitation Facility, is a $2 million
expansion project, that was entitled “Help, Hope, Home”. It features a
full-size indoor equine training arena together with a humane education
classroom, administrative offices and infrastructure upgrades. “This
is a big change for MSSPA as this is the first time the administrative offices
are on campus and can be hands on to what is going on day to day,” said Meris
Bickford, CEO of MSSPA. “We are all really excited.” The old administrative
offices were previously held off campus on Gambo Road.
The building was named after Keddy and
Goodreau, who dedicated their lives to MSSPA, beginning in 1972 when the
organization was simply an office on Exchange Street in Portland. At that time,
there were no shelters or
rehabilitation centers for horses in the state, so Goodreau and Keddy set out
to find the perfect location. Through their efforts and dedication, MSSPA’s
current location eventually became that safe haven.
The open house offered light refreshments
and giveaways as well as items for purchase to support the organization. The
refreshments were held in the new building overlooking the indoor arena in the
viewing room. As people mingled, they
could watch as the staff took the horses around the arena for their first time.
“This is the first time the horses have visited the arena,” said Jeff
Greenleaf, Barn Manager. “The horses may
be a little nervous, but this is a great spot to train the horses and prepare
them for adoption.”
MSSPA is a non-profit organization that
offers refuge and rehabilitation for abused or neglected horses in Maine. The
hope is that the horses that arrive on the farm are adopted but some of the
horses live out the remainder of the lives at the farm. The horses are cared
for by a compassionate staff and a large group of volunteers. As a result,
MSSPA are always accepting volunteers.
“Volunteering at MSSPA is wonderful,
said Ev Lennon, volunteer at MSSPA since January 2018. “It is great way to help out, get exercise
and be around beautiful creatures that need our help.”
Visitors this past weekend had the honor
of touring the new facility as well as other areas of the property. They also
got to visit with the horses currently residing at MSSPA. But if you were
unable to make it to the grand opening celebration, do not despair. MSSPA is open
daily for tours from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. For
those interested in volunteering, visit msspa.org and complete a volunteer
registration form.
