This page pulls together local resources for pet owners in Buckfield, Hartford, Sumner, West Paris, Stoneham, and the Oxford County Unorganized Territories. Whether you need help with food, spay and neuter costs, veterinary assistance, cat rescue and placement, or finding a new home for an animal you can no longer care for, this page is a starting point. If you have questions about any of these resources or need help figuring out where to turn, contact me through dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0.
Pet Food Pantries in Our Area
Pet food is available at the following human food pantries in the coverage area. Supplies depend on donations and vary month to month. If you are able to donate pet food or volunteer at any of these locations, please reach out to the pantry directly.
Buckfield
Buckfield Community Church
76 Turner Street, Buckfield ME 04220
Second Wednesday of each month, Noon to 2 PM and 5 to 6 PM
207-336-2776
Sumner
Sumner Food Bank at East Sumner Congregational Church
50 Main Street, Sumner ME 04292
First and third Monday of each month, 9 AM to Noon
207-388-2610 or esumnercc@gmail.com
Sumner Food Bank information
West Paris
Neighborly Niche Food Pantry
14 Church Street, West Paris ME 04289
First Tuesday of each month, 1:00 to 3:00 PM
Hours and availability change. Call ahead before your first visit.
About the PAWS Fund
PAWS is an informal community fund I manage to help cover veterinary emergencies and other animal welfare needs that fall through the cracks across the coverage area. It is not a formal nonprofit.
Local Veterinarians
These are the veterinary practices closest to the coverage area. Any of these offices can help with routine care, sick visits, and referrals.
Oxford Hills Veterinary Hospital
136 Western Ave, South Paris ME 04281
207-743-9271
Monday through Friday 7am to 6pm, Saturday 8am to 1pm
Accepts CareCredit financing.
oxfordhillsvet.com
Norway Veterinary Hospital
10 Main St, Norway ME 04268
207-743-6384
Monday through Saturday
norwayvet.com
Well Point Veterinary Service
86 Roberts Rd, Norway ME 04268
207-743-6441
Monday through Friday
Mechanic Falls Veterinary Hospital
40 Park St, Mechanic Falls ME 04256
207-345-3216
Monday through Friday
Fryeburg Veterinary Hospital
203 Bridgton Rd, Fryeburg ME 04037
207-935-2244
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 7:30am to 6pm | Tuesday 7:30am to 5pm | Thursday 7:30am to noon then 2pm to 5pm | Saturday 8am to 4pm
Emergency call care available 24/7. Accepts CareCredit.
fryeburgvet.com
Bethel Animal Hospital
179 Walkers Mills Rd, Bethel ME 04217
207-824-2212
Monday through Wednesday 8am to 6pm | Thursday and Friday 8am to 5pm | 1st and 3rd Saturday of the month 8am to noon by appointment
Full service including exotics, birds, reptiles, and pocket pets.
bethelanimalhospital.com
MWV Mobile Veterinary Clinic
Fryeburg, Maine (mobile — serves western Maine)
207-256-7215
mwvmobilevet@gmail.com
mwvmobilevet.com
Mobile veterinary clinic serving the greater Mount Washington Valley and western Maine. Provides routine and emergency care for all species including dogs, cats, horses, farm animals, birds, and exotics — at your home. By appointment, with 24/7 emergency availability based on the vet’s availability.
Low Cost Spay and Neuter
Maine Animal Health Alliance (MAHA)
231 Old Belgrade Road, Augusta ME 04330
207-480-1001
maineanimalhealthalliance@gmail.com
maineanimalhealth.org
MAHA is the most affordable veterinary option in this region for residents with financial need. They offer spay and neuter surgeries, wellness exams, and handle some urgent surgical cases on a case-by-case basis. All services are by appointment. If you are not sure whether they can help with your situation, call or email them directly.
Cat Coalition of Western Maine
ccowm2010@gmail.com
Facebook: Cat Coalition of Western Maine
Cat Coalition of Western Maine runs a monthly spay and neuter clinic in Harrison and has been actively supporting the West Paris TNR colony program. Cats and community cat colonies are their specialty. Email them to schedule. You can also check their Facebook page for current clinic dates and availability.
Help Fix ME
1-800-367-1317
ACF.HelpFixMe@maine.gov
Maine’s statewide low income spay and neuter program. Available to residents receiving SNAP, TANF, SSI, SSDI, or other qualifying assistance. Cost is $10 per cat and $20 per dog. Feral cats are free with no income requirement.
Note: Help Fix ME is not currently accepting new applications as of spring 2026. Check maine.gov/dacf for current status before calling.
Rozzie May Animal Alliance
Conway, NH
603-447-1373
rozziemayanimalalliance.org
Serves western Maine with low cost spay and neuter for cats and dogs. Dog clinics held in Conway, NH.
Community Spay-Neuter Clinic
321 Lewiston Rd, Topsham ME 04086
207-721-8395
Wednesday and Thursday only, by appointment.
communityspayneuterclinic.org
Harvest Hills Animal Shelter
1389 Bridgton Road, Fryeburg ME 04037
207-935-4358
harvesthills.org
Runs a low income cat spay and neuter clinic once per month. Call the shelter for current dates.
Cat Rescue and Community Cat Resources
Community Cat Advocates
Buckfield, Maine
communitycatadvocates.com
Facebook: Community Cat Advocates
A 100% volunteer licensed rescue based right here in Buckfield focused on TNR, taking feral cats from shelters, trapping and relocating feral cats with no caretaker, and occasionally taking in cats who would not do well in a typical shelter setting. A direct partner in community cat work across western Maine.
Cat Coalition of Western Maine
Harrison, Maine
ccowm2010@gmail.com
Facebook: Cat Coalition of Western Maine
TNR program, sanctuary, and monthly spay and neuter clinics. Actively works with community cat colonies in western Maine including the West Paris colony.
Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills
9 Swallow Road, South Paris ME 04281
207-743-8679
responsiblepetcare.org
No-kill nonprofit shelter for cats and kittens. Cats are spayed or neutered, tested, vaccinated, and treated for parasites before adoption.
Rescue Organizations
Fairy Tails Rescue
Turner, Maine
fairytailsrescueme@gmail.com
fairytails-rescue.weebly.com
Facebook: Fairy Tails Rescue
Foster-based 501c3 rescue serving central and western Maine. Their mission is to keep pets in their homes through financial assistance and community support, and to help find the best placement when that is not possible. A valuable resource for residents on the eastern edge of the coverage area.
Oxford Animal Resource Center
Oxford, Maine
207-743-7217
Focused on humane education, animal protection, and community outreach in western Maine.
Shelters and Adoption
Shelter capacity changes constantly. Always call before assuming a shelter can take your animal. Your local contracted shelter is always the right first call.
Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills
Contracted shelter for Buckfield, West Paris, and Hartford.
9 Swallow Road, South Paris ME 04281
207-743-8679
responsiblepetcare.org
Harvest Hills Animal Shelter
Contracted shelter for Sumner, Stoneham, and Oxford County Unorganized Territories.
1389 Bridgton Road, Fryeburg ME 04037
207-935-4358
harvesthills.org
Greater Androscoggin Humane Society
Lewiston, Maine
207-783-2311
gahumane.org
Animal Refuge League of Greater Portland
217 Landing Road, Westbrook ME 04092
207-517-3946 (admissions line)
arlgp.org
Surrenders are by appointment only. Call the admissions line to start the process.
Kennebec Valley Humane Society
168 Leighton Road, Augusta ME 04330
207-626-3491
pethavenlane.org
Midcoast Humane
5 Industrial Pkwy, Brunswick ME 04011
207-449-1366
midcoasthumane.org
Two campuses, Brunswick and Edgecomb. Also offers low-cost vaccination clinics, spay and neuter assistance, and a pet food pantry.
Animal Welfare Society
46 Holland Road, Kennebunk ME 04043
207-985-3244
animalwelfaresociety.org
A Note on Surrenders
I am not able to accept animal surrenders or facilitate transfers directly. If you need to find a new home for an animal, please contact the contracted shelter for your town first. Buckfield, West Paris, and Hartford residents should contact Responsible Pet Care of Oxford Hills. Sumner, Stoneham, and Oxford County UT residents should contact Harvest Hills Animal Shelter. If those shelters are at capacity, reach out to other local options listed above. Getting in touch with shelters directly gives your animal the best chance at a fast placement. If you are not sure where to start, contact me through dispatch at 207-743-9554, option 0, and I can point you in the right direction.
Emergency Veterinary Care
Animal Emergency Clinic of Mid-Maine
37 Strawberry Avenue, Lewiston ME 04240
207-777-1110
aec-midmaine.com
The closest after-hours emergency option for most residents in the coverage area. Open weeknights from 5pm to 8am, and 24 hours on Saturday, Sunday, and major holidays. No appointment needed, but call ahead if you can.
Portland Veterinary Emergency and Specialty Care (PVESC)
739 Warren Ave, Portland ME 04103
207-878-3121
pvesc.com
Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Full specialty care available including internal medicine, oncology, and neurology. A good option when your situation requires more advanced care than a general emergency clinic can provide.
Eastern Maine Emergency Veterinary Clinic
15 Dirigo Drive, Brewer ME 04412
207-989-6267
Financial Assistance for Veterinary Bills
If cost is the barrier keeping your animal from care, there are programs that may be able to help. Most pay the veterinarian directly rather than reimbursing you. You will generally need a diagnosis and a written cost estimate before applying. Apply to multiple programs at the same time — that is how the system is designed to work.
RedRover Relief
Emergency grants averaging $200 to $300. You must have a diagnosis and treatment plan in place before applying. Household income must be under $60,000. Cannot cover exam fees or diagnostics. Apply while your animal is being seen — do not wait until treatment is finished.
Frankie’s Friends
Grants up to $2,000 for emergency or specialty care. Requires a diagnosis and good prognosis. Pays the veterinarian directly.
Brown Dog Foundation
Bridges the full gap between what you can raise and what treatment costs. If they cannot cover the full difference, they do not commit partial funds.
Paws 4 A Cure
New England based nonprofit that helps dogs and cats with any illness or injury. No breed, age, or diagnosis restrictions. Pays the veterinarian directly.
The Pet Fund
Covers non-urgent chronic conditions only — things like cancer, heart disease, and endocrine disorders. Not for emergencies. Has a wait list. Email them before submitting an application.
CareCredit and ScratchPay
Financing options accepted at many veterinary offices. Ask your vet if they participate. Both can be applied for online or at the clinic.
Additional Statewide Resources
Maine Animal Welfare Program
207-287-3846
Toll free: 1-877-269-9200
animal.welfare@maine.gov
SpayMaine.org
Statewide directory of low cost spay and neuter resources.
spaymaine.org
Maine Humane Pet Food Pantry Network
Interactive map of pet food pantry locations across all 16 Maine counties.
mainehumane.org/our-work/resource-sharing/pet-food-pantry
