DOVER — The Pope Memorial Humane Society – Cocheco Valley recently announced the completion of its new outdoor pavilion.
The Dover Chamber of Commerce will host a ribbon-cutting for the new pavilion on Wednesday, July 31, from 9 to 11 a.m., at the facility at 221 Country Farm Road.
The pavilion was generously gifted by Lyman Pope Jr. Back in 2017, Pope also made a million-dollar contribution that allowed the shelter to build a much-needed new building and rebrand itself from Cocheco Valley Humane Society to Pope Memorial Humane Society - Cocheco Valley.
A Pope family member will be present to assist with the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Construction of the 3,250-square-foot pavilion began after receiving the generous donation from Pope in 2022.
“The shelters are always in trouble,” Pope said. “They never have enough money. It doesn’t take long to become empathetic, very sympathetic, because it’s a difficult thing for the people who manage them and for the animals who are in there.”
Nestled directly behind the shelter, the pavilion boasts a fully fenced surface area as well as lush grassy space, bringing to life a long-awaited dream for the staff and volunteers. The timing couldn't be better, with the pavilion's completion perfectly aligning with the hot summer months.
Pope Memorial Humane Society volunteers have started making the most of the new outdoor area, regularly bringing dogs out for enrichment, playtime, and games of fetch. The pavilion even features running water and electricity, allowing amenities like a play pool where pups can cool off.
This additional off-leash time, volunteers say, is incredibly beneficial for shelter dogs, helping them burn off energy and spend more time outside their kennels, leading to happier and healthier pets. Volunteers have also been working diligently with the many shut down, scared and aggressive dogs that the organization sees come through their doors. Previously, the only free space the shelter had to have dogs off leash was their conference room. A much smaller, indoor space; they were very limited in what they could do.
The pavilion is also used for meet-and-greets with potential adopters and possible canine siblings, as well as training and behavior programs for shelter dogs and those from the community.
Matt Miller, training and behavior manager, is enthusiastic about offering a variety of low-cost classes to the community. Miller, along with dog trainer Naomi Smith, already have a long list of offerings for July and August.
Classes include Puppy Kindergarten, Manners 101, Loose Leash Training, Recall Training, and special courses for reactive dogs, which is Miller’s specialty.
"It’s incredible to see the transformations in these dogs from week one to the end of the program. That’s why I do what I do," said Miller. “None of this would have been possible without Mr. Pope’s financial support.”
To donate to Pope Memorial Humane Society- Cocheco Valley, visit https://bit.ly/3Vc3Vva.
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