These animals are very lucky to have someone that cares so deeply for them. The horse that gained 700 pounds was was an amazing story, it's almost unfathomable to me that someone could allow a horse to be so underfed and undernourished. I like that Debbie takes the time to go visit the animals that have been adopted out to check up on them. High 5 Debbie, keep up the great work!!

Have you ever been to this so-called shelter? It's a total dump, over crowded, inadequate fencing and stabling. I double dare you to go visit this place. You will be appalled. I don't know why the BDN gives McLain so much press. Is she a friend of yours Ms. Mack? or perhaps a relative? There are plenty of excellent shelters in the state, that offer high-quality care. Why don't you feature Spirited Hope Farm, Open Gates, Rockin' T as often as you highlight this place. Again, I urge everyone who thinks this place is Horsie-Heaven to take a drive to Deblois and go see for yourself... I am betting you wouldn't leave your animal there.

Sorry, that should be "Spirit of Hope" Farm ....I can't type when I am so angry!

Oh and No Ms. Mack - DELAS is NOT the only shelter north of Augusta licensed to take large animals. DO YOUR HOMEWORK...

Already held captive by rent, heating oil, food prices and gasoline, I myself can't afford to help.

But I have come up with a couple of ideas... Maybe she could open the farm to tours by schoolchildren at $1/child, OR,

she could talk to local teachers about their classes adopting animals to care for and visit on the weekends (free for the adopters).

Tom

in response to Reader 10: I have been to the shelter and yes, it is not an up to date facility but it need not be. All the animals do have access to shelter, feed, water, vet care. The animals don't care; they only want shelter /food and she provides this adequately. The come out of horrible situations and this is a huge relief to them. She doesn't live to the highest standards herself but has a dry, safe, clean plase for her family also. She and her facility are a god send to many, many animals. Unless you are willing to open up a room at your place and help some of these aniamls you don't have a leg to stand on. She should get all the news print she can to generate funding for helping more animals that are in need and that people just discard. More people should be screened before being allowed to have an animal, much less children, and with the economy as it is, there needs to be welfare places for the animals; they have no voice or DHS to protect them until it's usually too late. READER 10, GIVE HER A DONATION, NOT SLANDER.

yea really. reader10 you need to close the hole in your face.

donnelly -- succinctly put!

I DO have a licensed Shelter. That's why I am so upset. I will not use this forum or this newspaper for FREE ADVERTISING. I have a legitimate, incorporated non-profit horse shelter. I do not take in more horses than I can handle then cry "poor me." I can only help so many at a time. My shelter consists of adequate dry shelters of 10 x 10 or larger for EACH animal taken in. Working electric fencing, sturdy corral panels, or split rail fencing. Not flimsy page wire fencing that is dangerous to horses, not pallets leaning against a tumbled down shed as fencing. Nor are my shelter horses forced to stand in knee deep mud. They all have a dry place to stand even in the muddiest, wet weather.

I know a few facts about this person. Fact that I have not published here because they would be very detrimental to her "business." Facts cannot be construed as slanderous. However, I simply encourage people to go see for themselves that there are many other better options. She does have a the right intentions - maybe - but there are other shelters in the state that do a far better job. She is not doing the animals any favors when the situation becomes so overcrowded. And no, they are not necessarily in a better place. She takes surrendered animals from people who are ABLE to but no longer WILLING to care for them. That doesn't mean they came from worse conditions.... believe me - I have seen and know more than you know. She needs to stop taking in more animals than she can safely and adequately care for.

As with the case of ANY shelter: Check them l out before you go running with a fistful of cash. That's all I am asking.

I for one am happy that DELAS exists! And Horsepower is absolutely correct--even though the farm may not be of the highest standard, it is by far a step above what these creatures had before. I cannot critize anyone making an attempt to better an animal's well being after mistreatment but I can DONATE to assist that person. Hint hint Reader10! Tomdduke also makes a good point with children and school trips--that is the kind of thing we did when I was in school versus joy parks. I also believe Mrs. McLain should charge a nominal fee for adoptions; say $50 for a large animal, $10 for smaller ones and I think that is quite reasonable. During my college days, I worked parttime with a large animal vet so I know what alot of rural farms really look like and what animal neglect is. My heart went out to the mistreated and neglected animals then and still does now. I will contact DELAS shortly to make a good size contribution to a wonderful cause! And the next time I'm back in Maine, I will include a day trip to Cherryfield and thank Mrs. McLlain for her efforts and large, loving heart.

reader10, it's so nice this day and age to come across a rare, untainted soul who will resist an opportunity to take advantage of FREE ADVERTISING. GOD BLESS YOU.

reader10 - Have you seen "before" pictures of these animals? Have you stepped up to the plate, gotten by on the bare minimum for yourself to help dozens of starving/abused/abandoned animals? I can guarantee if Debbie got a million dollars tomorrow that she would not buy new clothes, an Ipod or go on vacation. She would be creating a way to care for animals. She doesn't get well broke trail horses dropped off at her place, she takes the worst of the worst and makes the best of it. She has worked hard every day of her life with obstacles you know nothing about or have any right to judge. Would you take YOUR last dollar and buy hay - doubt it, because if you would, you would be helping, not slamming. There are other facilities out there that have fancier buildings and people that do great work, but that doesn't mean that they are any better than DELAS. The issue is the animals, the care they got before and the care they get now. ALL of Debbie's animals are loved, and they know it. I have seen children less wanted and cared for than Debbie's animals. They do not need luxury, they need adequate feed,shelter, vet care and love, which they get and more. Look at the pictures, is that HAY on the ground, is that a BARN??? Give me a break.

Reader 10, Sorry, guess you do know about stepping up to the plate, I'm big enough to admit when I misconstrue something. BUT, this is NOT a case of free advertising and it being a bad thing. If your shelter could care for more animals by getting donations, that is exactly what you should be doing. The holier than thou standards that people love to tout are not the only way. Just because someone's way is different, does not make it bad. I have known Debbie for 25 years or so, long before there was DELAS. Her intentions are the best, I assure you, and those animals don't care that they don't have pretty fences.

dwneastnative - apparently you can't read or you would have noticed I AM HELPING! I have a shelter - DO YOU???

I give up. I have to go take care of some animals, not chat with a bunch of blind morons who have absolutely no idea what they are talking about.

On the pawnation portion of the AOL homepage on 9/30 they ran a story about how horses are being givin up due to the economy and how alot are being sold for meat, this just sickens me because I love ALL animals (sometimes more than people). It also listed some options for horse owners having to surrender their beloved pets, such as donating the horse to a therapy group so it can be used for people with autism, or children and adults with other disabilities which has been proven to help.

Reader10, your last post had some good points about taking too much on and I understand your concern. But look at this way, Mrs. McLain is trying to a good thnig and needs help with it. Simple as that to me. I also don't feel this is the forum to negatively comment on someone trying to do a good thing and I do appreciate your restraint from making going into further details that may or may not be true. And finally, I APPRECIATE you running a non-profit shelter as well and applaud your efforts.

As to the concerns of FREE ADVERTISING--that is what ALL non-profit orgs need! I suggest you contact BND and get a story done on your shelter as well and let the people choose who they wish to support.

reader10 I must say I'm disheartened by the anger you seem to have penned up for others...I feel you're doing yourself and the animals you shelter a disservice with your comments.....I would never give to someone that cares so little for others as to try to undermine their good efforts....name calling will not make people want to give to you....but it has made me give to Mrs McLain....she loves her animals...your action lead me to believe you only think of yourself.

Reader10 hopefully doesn't live in a glass house.

It sounds to me like Ms. McLain has a heart a lot bigger than reader10's mouth. The place doesn't have too be a showcase for me to understand. If the animals are well fed, grazed, and watered and she wont take on new adoptions then she is taking care of business. If she weren't rescuing there might be a fancy new coat of paint on the barn.

Reader10- WOW!! ... I am glad that you and other shelters have to extra money to build beautiful shelters- It shows that you have the extra money and do not need the donations that some others do. I'd rather give money to a shelter that cares for their animals and takes in as many a possible as long as they are feed- then some place that budgets white picked fences over hay. I am glad you did not advertise your company with your comments; you would have lost donations. Great job Ms. McLain!! Maybe someone reading the article will not have any money but may have the abilty to help you out with fencing and other areas that could use improvement.

"I must say I'm disheartened by the anger you seem to have penned up for others...I feel you're doing yourself and the animals you shelter a disservice with your comments.....I would never give to someone that cares so little for others as to try to undermine their good efforts...."

Exactly what I was thinking searoses. I can't imagine why one would choose to donate to a person with such an attitude. Maybe reader10 is just way better with animals than people.

I'd like to point out a misquote in the story. I know for a fact that this shelter DOES INDEED charge an adoption fee. It is part of the way they recover some of the money spent in feeding and care of these animals. As for inadequate shelters... I personally have put a new roof over their barn, and I'm in the process of now building a new shelter to keep Ben the Ox out of the winter weather.

The comments were " this place is a dump " I do believe. Well it is not the Taj Mahal for farm animals. Debbie runs the place on almost a shoestring at times, and donations ARE a great help. I have seen her use money to buy things for the farm animals -- money she could've been using to make home improvements or buy a few nice things for herself. YES this farm is a " dump " -- a place where people can dump their unwanted animals. I have loaned my horse trailer numerous times and have gone with her to pick up or deliver adopted animals. I have gone with her to pick up as many as 500 bales of hay at a time. I don't have money to donate... so I offer my assistance as often as I can. I volunteer work as time permits, and believe me it is appreciated.

My feelings about the severely negative comments are this : many times Debbie will get calls from people who want something for nothing. They figure she got the animals for free why can't she just " give " them away ? I personally know of one individual who adopted out a horse then tried to sell it for a profit. Others have called about Ben or the other cows, wanting them for free so they could put them in their freezers for free meat. THAT'S NOT what this shelter is about ! So for those of you who whine about the fact that this shelter is getting " Free Publicity ", maybe YOU should take a page from this playbook and get your own feature in the paper. It's called INITIATIVE -- look it up in the dictionary.

Thank you, Debbie, for what you do for these animals and their down-and-out owners. There are not enough people like you. You're an angel of the first degree.

Enough with the propaganda and new industries being created off spent animals. Put spent animals down, period.

kaje52201 boy you're all kind and cuddly....I have six animals that I have saved and given a "forever" home I'd take in more if I had the money to do so...

For those of you who are knocking Debbie for her efforts... let me tell you, having things all "perfect" doesn't equal a good home. I know "people" who have big beautiful homes, but treat their children and animals horribly, they're never there for them, think that McDonalds drive thru is a great way to feed kids, and there is violence in the home . I also know people who have next to nothing, but give their children and animals everything they can, including lots of love, adequate food and shelter, as well as tons of attention.

Sounds like Debbie could use the money, and it also sounds like donated funds won't be spent frivolously on things that aren't for anything but the shelter.

I just think that it is quite pathetic for a person in a certain type of business to verbally "go after" another person in the same type of business. Debbie does the best she can with what she has got. No one has ever told her that she had to do this. She does this out of the kindness of her heart. What is the reason that reader10 does it? And what makes reader10's accomodations so much better than Debbie's and does she take care of as many animals as Debbie does? No matter what the reason, I see it as absolutely unforgivable for reader10 to be putting Debbie down the way he/she has. Sounds to me that there might just be a little bit of a JEALOUSY factor there. What do you think?

Cat got your tongue reader10?

What a wonderful place and we need more people in this world like Debbie McLain! What a truly good and caring person. Even with her allergies, she takes care of all these animals!! I hope more people will be able and willing to help her in the future....with a donation or however they can help. Let's hope Debbie is able to continue to provide this home for these animals in need. Bravo to her!

I too help out in the rescue business. When I lived in Maine my horses could come & go at will.....they was outside 90% of the time! I now live in the hotter climate and my horses still can come & go at will....they spend 90% of thier time inside with the fan going! Debbies animals look fine & happy to me. When you see horses with hair gone becouse they are so starved you appreciate seeing horses that look like hers do!

Sometimes the best places are not REALLY the best! Page wire fencing? Just went to a fencing seminar....page wire was rated higher then CENTAR! Why? Becouse centar if left with the electric off will stretch!! We just had a horse we placed in a # 1 rated facility....electric fencing coated with thick white plastic, stretched tight. Horse got feeling better, got running and got into the fence...cut her leg off! Not half way...OFF!!

This woman sounds like she is trying, in this day and age with horses, good horses going for 50 bucks or less to the killer buyers, we should be thankful for what she is doing. As far as her taking in unwanted horses that other people cannot handle? In my opinion a horse only knows as much as it's owner. Not the horses fault. And I have seen alot of those horses do a turn around and become great horses with the right person working with them!!!

" I have seen alot of those horses do a turn around and become great horses with the right person working with them!!! "

Tabutoo is right. Some but NOT ALL of the horses Debbie gets are turned around. One horse story that is great is the one about a horse named " Buddy ". This horse couldn't be ridden without tossing his head -- and many times the rider. Recently Debbie took this horse on a 6 day riding trip. She camped out in a tent and rode 10 miles a day for the full 6 days -- 60 MILES TOTAL on Buddy. After the first day the horse had small sores from the girth, so rather than cancel the trip, Buddy was treated for the small sore spots AND DEBBIE RODE THE REMAINING TIME on a saddle with no girth. Just placed the saddle on his back. Not once did the horse act up or spook at anything. Buddy is just ONE of the numerous success stories to come from the DELAS farm. I should know, as I sponsored the trip and was there every step of the way.

Keep in mind that horses are not the only animals at DELAS. This is not just a horse shelter. There are every type of animal from cats and dogs all the way up to really large cows. This is not an equine facility... there is very little fencing since Buddy will NOT stay behind a fence. The horse mingle with the cows, the goats, dogs, sheep, and other animals. The animals that are fenced are the ones in quarantine initially, and those that pose a risk to people. So how is the shelter overcrowded when 90% of the animals are free to roam the entire 42 acres at will ?

As I have said before, I currently have 13 rescued animals. The 3 sheep, 2 goats, 1 horse and 1 cat live in the barn. My six little dogs live in the house. My children are grown so this is my hobby. I have always had animals. My husband has agreed to build me a bigger barn in the spring so I can adopt a second horse. My two year old "Trigger" needs a horse pal. I am very excited that I will be able to help at least one more neglected animal. I admire the people Debbie McLain and Lorna and her staff who run The Ark animal shelter in Cherryfield. These people truly love the animals they care for.