Hi! This is me, Alesia, and one of my dogs, Omar. He is a pit bull mix I rescued from the Coastal Humane Society in Brunswick, Maine in 2001. My other non-human family members are Penny (another rescued pit bull mix), Nixie (an ex-feral calico kitty), Clover (a fuzzy, ever-hungry Shetland pony) and a small flock of laying chickens.

I grew up on a working farm and have been surrounded by animals, especially dogs, cats and horses, my whole life. While much of my professional life has been in the arts, I have also worked in an animal shelter and am experienced in companion animal behavior, first aid, temperament assessment and basic training. I am gentle and patient with animals and I do not believe in using choke chains or any sort of training that involves pain or cruelty. Positive reinforcement, making new experiences pleasurable and plenty of physical and mental stimulation are the keys to a well adjusted, happy animal. I am dedicated to animal welfare causes and I enjoy taking courses and workshops through American Humane and The Humane Society of the United States.

Greetings! My name is Bobbi. The picture to the right is Itty, one of my five cats, when she was a kitten. I rescued her from the Kennebec Valley Humane Society when she was just five weeks old in 2008. My other cats are Apollo, a 5 year old black domestic long hair, rescued in 2009, Deimos a 14 year old Maine Coon/Siamese mix who really belongs to my boyfriend, but I consider him mine too, and my two tail-less wonders, Mella and Raisah also rescued in 2008. I think of my pets as part of my family and treat them no different then I do my own brother and sisters.

Growing up I was mostly around cats and hamsters. I was taught responsibility for my pets at an early age, learning to clean and feed them and especially making sure to spend quality time with them. Ever since I was little I have been the proud 'mom' of various creatures. I also have experience and a strong interest in salt water aquariums.

I have two years experience working in an animal shelter handling cats, dogs, birds, rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils, ferrets, and rats and during that time I learned a lot about animal behavior, their needs, how to approach and all of the diverse and wonderful personalities that animals can have. I believe in respect, compassion, and understanding for any animal - big or small.

If you have any questions, feel free to contact us.

Here are some helpful links:

Maine State Animal Welfare Program - Report animal neglect and cruelty here. Also an excellent resource for learning about Maine's animal welfare laws.

Help Fix Me - Maine's Low Cost Spay/Neuter Program

Dog Rehabilitation Center of Maine - Help for serious K9 behavior issues with Sergei Bachkovsky, also a dog rescue organization.

At Home Veterinary Care - Fabulous vet care in Gardiner, Maine; this is where I take my animals!

Naturally Good Pets - Fantastic pet shop in Farmingdale with a large variety of treats, foods and toys; the knowledgeable and friendly staff is a plus!

Lincoln County Animal Shelter - A no-kill animal shelter with a caring, attentive staff. Located in Edgecomb right off of Route 1.