Welcome to the Somerset Humane Society Animal Shelter.

Our Mission Statement:

The Somerset Humane Society is dedicated to promoting compassion, preventing animal cruelty, and providing shelter and care for animals in need. We strive to provide animals with dignity, respect, and the highest quality of care possible.

We are committed to creating a compassionate society for animals. Through our core values, goals, and programs, we work daily to improve the lives of animals in need. Together, we can create a world where animals are treated with dignity and respect.

SHS is a 501(c)3 no-kill shelter located in Skowhegan, Maine that relies primarily on private donors to fund our programs and services. We do not receive any federal tax money and we are not affiliated with any other humane organization in the United States. We are committed to providing temporary housing and care for stray and abandoned animals from the many towns we serve. We do our best to return lost pets to their owners and find suitable homes for the pets that are not reclaimed, as well as taking in owner surrendered pets as space permits.

When you donate to SHS, your money stays in the community and helps displaced pets in the surrounding towns. Not only does your donation help unwanted pets find new homes, it also helps rehabilitate injured pets and educate the public about pet overpopulation. You can use the donation button found on this page to make a one-time donation through PayPal, or you can set up a monthly recurring donation. No amount is too small and every penny helps keep the shelter running.

We appreciate all donations and use whatever we are given. Click HERE to see a detailed list of new and used items that we are always in need of. Without the help of our supporters, we would not be able to help as many animals as we currently do. Thank you!!

Sasha needs your help!

This past Sunday, (1/4/2026), this beautiful young female German Shepherd Dog came into our care and was given the name Sasha. We learned that Sasha had been on the loose since the beginning of November in the Ripley/ St. Albans area and was believed to have been hit by a car.

Thankfully, many caring people were looking out for her, and with the help of Pine Tree State Pet Trapping, Sasha was safely and successfully caught and brought to our shelter by the Animal Control Officer. We are beyond grateful to everyone who played a role in getting her to safety.

From the moment she arrived, it was clear she was in pain. Her right back leg was extremely swollen and painful, so we immediately rushed her to the Emergency Vet in Brunswick for an assessment. The initial exam confirmed our fears…. her leg was broken and had already begun healing incorrectly. In addition to her injury, Sasha also tested positive for two tick-borne diseases, which she is currently being treated for. Thankfully, her blood panel otherwise came back with good results.

On Wednesday, (1/7/2026), Sasha was seen by a veterinarian who specializes in canine orthopedic surgeries to determine what could be done to help her.

The specialist determined that Sasha has a 90-degree fracture of the distal fibula (the calf bone near the ankle). She also has minimal range of motion in her tarsus, meaning the joints in her mid- and hindfoot cannot move normally, something that greatly impacts her ability to walk and live comfortably. Because the fracture began healing while still fractured, the body’s natural repair process caused nearby healthy tissue to be pulled into the injured area, resulting in scar tissue and structural complications.

Now we need your help.

Sasha’s repair surgery was on January 19th, and the total cost was $6,217.31. She ended up having a plate and pins put in to stabilize her leg and ankle. The veterinarian is expecting that she will regain 75% of her mobility, though she does have some arthritis starting in her toes. This surgery gave her the best chance at a comfortable, pain-free future…. but it is quite a significant expense for our small shelter.

Despite everything she has endured, Sasha is already showing us just how resilient she is and she is recovering well from the surgery so far. She is currently in a wonderful foster home, where she is thriving and being showered with love. Her foster family is hoping to officially make her a permanent member of the family once she has recovered fully from her surgery and spayed.

We also want to sincerely thank everyone who has called, reached out, and already offered donations or support for Sasha. Your kindness has not gone unnoticed! So far, we have raised $2509 towards the surgery cost.

If you are able to donate in any way to help towards the cost of Sasha’s surgery, we would be incredibly grateful. Every single dollar truly makes a difference for her.

Ways to donate:

• Securely through our PayPal link

• By calling our shelter to make a donation over the phone: (207) 474-6493

• By Mail: Somerset Humane Society PO Box 453 Skowhegan, Maine 04976

Sasha survived for months on her own, injured and afraid…. now she needs our help to finish her journey to healing. Thank you for standing with Sasha and supporting her second chance.

Now Hiring: Dog Care Technician

Do you love dogs and want to make a real difference in their lives? The Somerset Humane Society is looking for a dedicated, hardworking individual to join our team caring for the dogs in our facility.

A love for animals is important, but this job also requires a strong work ethic and the ability to handle physically demanding daily cleaning and care tasks. The work can be busy, messy, and fast-paced, but it is also incredibly meaningful.

Every kennel cleaned, every walk given, and every meal served helps a dog move one step closer to their forever home.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

This job includes:

Extensive cleaning every day (kennels, floors, dishes, laundry, etc.)
Feeding, watering, and providing enrichment, attention, and basic care for the dogs
Taking dogs outside every day, in all weather conditions
Working both indoors and outdoors
Monitoring dogs for health or behavior changes

Because we currently have a large number of dogs, the right person must have:

Strong time management skills
The ability to be self-motivated and stay on task
Comfort working in a busy environment that can change quickly

This job also requires:

Physical strength to safely handle large, strong dogs
Being on your feet for most of the day
Reliability and a positive attitude, able to work independently while also being part of a team
Rotating weekend availability & some holidays

Previous dog handling experience is appreciated but not required.
We are happy to train the right person who has compassion for animals and a willingness to work hard.

Why This Work Matters

Animal shelter work can be physically and emotionally demanding at times, but it is also incredibly rewarding. Staff members get to know the dogs, learn their personalities, help them feel safe while they’re here, and play an important role in helping them find their forever homes.

If you’re looking for more than just a job and want your work to truly make a difference in the lives of animals, we’d love to hear from you.

How to Apply

Please complete a job application on this website and include a short message telling us why you would like to work with shelter dogs. This helps us get to know you better, and we can only consider applicants who take the time to complete this part of the application.

http://shsanimalshelter.com/applications/job-application/

If you’re someone who works hard, cares deeply about animals, and wants to help dogs get their second chance, we encourage you to apply.

Robert Graf donated his valuable time to install a new heat pump in the new room we have been finishing in the garage, not to mention getting us a good deal on the heat pump itself. This was a huge savings for the shelter. We thank Mr. Graf for his services and time. If you need any help with plumbing & heating, give Graf Services a call at 207-474-3910 or 207-431-3842.

We also want to thank Quinn’s Plumbing. We had a major plumbing issue in our dog kennel area and this plumbing service responded to us quickly and came out the next day to figure our that we had a major clog and why we had the clog. They worked tirelessly for almost a whole day to figure out the issue and didn’t charge the shelter for any of their time. This was way above and beyond what we expected and we are so thankful for their kindness.

Here is their website: http://www.quinnsplumbingmaine.com

Be sure to check them out for a full list of services.

We want to send a shout out to Rachel Corey, EMT. She donated her time last Saturday and gave the SHS team a crash course in CPR for people and pets! If your business needs a trainer to help improve your safety standards, give Rachel a call, she was wonderful and made taking this course a breeze!