Midcoast Humane Marks 75 Years With Jubilee in Bath

Midcoast Humane brought together supporters and community partners on December 6 for a 75th Anniversary Jubilee at the Maine Maritime Museum, a milestone event that blended celebration with critical fundraising. Presented by Bath Savings and Damariscotta Hardware, the evening included local food and cocktails, a live auction, and keynote remarks by Dr. Jeff Young of Animal Planet. Organizers framed the gathering as both a recognition of volunteers and adopters, and a renewal of support for the nonprofit’s lifesaving work across Midcoast Maine.

The event served immediate local needs by directing philanthropic dollars toward operations that help animals and their owners in Sagadahoc County and neighboring towns. Fundraisers such as this reduce pressure on municipal animal services by supporting rescue, adoption and community outreach programs that are often funded primarily through donations. For local vendors and the museum, the Jubilee also provided a short term economic boost through catering, hospitality and event services, reinforcing the role that nonprofit events play in the county’s small scale economy.

Beyond the night itself, the Jubilee highlighted longer term trends in regional animal welfare. Seventy five years of continuous service speaks to a shift from ad hoc rescue to organized, community based systems that rely heavily on volunteers and local donors. As towns face constrained budgets, sustaining these volunteer dependent organizations through events and partnerships has become central to preserving services such as rehoming and emergency response.

For Sagadahoc County residents who adopt, volunteer or partner with Midcoast Humane, the Jubilee underscored the mutual benefits of community investment. Honoring longtime volunteers and adopters reinforced social ties that translate into steady volunteer time and recurring donations, both of which are essential to keeping programs running. As Midcoast Humane moves into its next decade of service, the funds and visibility generated by the Jubilee aim to strengthen its capacity to respond to animal welfare needs across the Midcoast region.