Marilyn L. Goodreau, President of the non-profit Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals in Windham, has been named an Exemplary Honoree by Governor Paul LePage for her tireless efforts to eliminate equine abuse and neglect.
Ms. Goodreau was honored, along with other award-winning volunteers, in a State House ceremony hosted by First Lady Ann LePage on Tuesday, April 12, 2016.
The mission of the Maine State Society for the Protection of Animals is to provide refuge, rehabilitation, and placement of seized horses; support the placement of surrendered animals; and educate the public. The vision is to strive toward the elimination of equine abuse and neglect.
The Society uses its resources to provide direct care to horses who have suffered abuse. The MSSPA promotes humane treatment, training and use of horses through education and hands-on experiences. It collaborates with other animal serving agencies to maximize the resources of all.
One of Ms. Goodreau’s greatest contributions is a lifetime of service; she epitomizes the concept of volunteerism in Maine. Working without pay or vacation, she has logged more than 89,000 hours of volunteer service with the MSSPA. A testament to the power and pleasure of volunteer service, hers has been a labor of love for the animals and a very generous gift to Maine taxpayers. In part, as a result of Marilyn’s dedication, the Society continues to provide Maine with more than a million dollars a year in donated animal shelter services. Absent Marilyn’s devotion to the Society, it is unlikely that the organization would exist today.
Learn more about New England’s largest horse shelter by visiting its River Road farm, which is open each day from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. During June, July, and August the farm is open until 6:00 p.m. No admission is charged and visitors are welcomed!
On April 24th from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. in conjunction with the ASPCA, the Society will be celebrating National Help A Horse Day by hosting the 2nd Annual Maine Horse Jubilee. “The ASPCA Help A Horse Day contest and Maine Horse Jubilee are wonderful opportunities for the Society to welcome the residents and businesses of the local area into the barn to help raise awareness about the horses in our community who are in need of loving homes,” said Meris J. Bickford, CEO of the MSSPA. “Horses are majestic, social animals, and we hope our local supporters will turn out on April 24th to help the Society win a $25,000 grant to continue its lifesaving efforts.”
To celebrate the day, the MSSPA will host the Second Annual Maine Horse Jubilee featuring an array of fantastic activities, including a horse training demo by horse expert Debbie Little, a presentation by New Equine Photography, discussions with author and artist Vince Bruni, farrier demos, equine veterinarian exposition, children’s activities, a visit from Baxter, the MSSPA mascot, and much more! The event is free and family friendly.