Midcoast Humane, a well-established nonprofit  providing animal welfare services to 39 municipalities in the state of Maine, announced the appointment of five new board members and the promotion of Jess Townsend to permanent executive director.

Townsend, an animal welfare professional of 15 years, joined the organization in August and began serving as the interim executive director in October. Since then, she has added eight new staff members, reopened the organization’s Edgecomb shelter to adoption appointments,taken steps to modernize operations, and revitalized the organization’s building campaign.

Bill Muldoon, president of the Board of Directors of Midcoast Humane, stated, "We are excited to welcome Jess Townsend as Midcoast Humane's executive director. Jess' depth of experience in animal welfare and shelter management will be extremely beneficial as Midcoast Humane prepares to move to our new headquarters this spring."

“I am honored to have the opportunity to lead and be a permanent part of Midcoast Humane,” Townsend stated. She continued, “With myself and the new board of directors in place, Midcoast Humane is poised to strategically advance its vision while providing stability to our community for years to come.”

Adding to the organization’s strength are five newly appointed board members who come from a variety of locations throughout the organization’s service area, and all share a common goal – to make life better for animals and people in Midcoast Maine. The recently appointed individuals include:

• Beth Chiquoine, Harpswell, academic administrator, (Ret.)

• Jennifer Jones, Falmouth, licensed clinical social worker

• Kathy Hirst, Harpswell, biostatistician, George Washington University (Ret.)

• Mason Palmatier, Brunswick, owner, Little Dog Coffee Shop

• Julie Beane, Brunswick, Maine Development Foundation

"The five new members of our Midcoast Humane Board of Directors bring to our organization a range of vital skills in fundraising, business management, communication, and strategic planning,” stated Muldoon. “The work of the board during the coming months will be sharply focused on transitioning to our new headquarters and expanding Midcoast Humane's presence in the 39 communities we serve."

The recent appointments come as the organization prepares to moves its Brunswick headquarters to a newly renovated, 24,000 square foot sheltering facility. Midcoast Humane plans to move into the new facility, located at 5 Industrial Parkway in Brunswick, once renovations are complete in the second quarter of 2022. The shelter at 30 Range Road will be sold and the facility in Edgecomb will continue to provide services to constituents in that region.

For further information as it becomes available, please continue to visit the organization’s website at www.midcoasthumane.org or follow on Facebook and Instagram.

About Midcoast Humane

Brunswick Animal Shelter was founded in 1950 by a group of Brunswick citizens concerned with the welfare of the area’s stray animals. The modest accommodation was operated and maintained by volunteers in an old barn not far from where the shelter currently stands at 30 Range Road. In 1965, the Brunswick Animal Shelter was dissolved and replaced by the Brunswick Area Humane Society which was incorporated as a non-profit. Known for decades as Coastal Humane Society, the nonprofit took over operations for Lincoln County Animal Shelter in Edgecomb, Maine in July 2015, and officially merged operations with that shelter in October 2018. The two organizations were rebranded as Midcoast Humane which serves 39 municipalities in the state.

To see dogs, cats, puppies and kittens (and the occasional bunny, bird or guinea pig) available for adoption, please visit www.midcoasthumane.org or call 207-449-1366.