Southern Maine Dog Rescue Forced to Pause—Because There Aren’t Enough Homes

If you've ever thought about fostering or adopting a dog, now’s the time. Pittie Posse Rescue & Sanctuary, a Maine-based nonprofit that’s helped thousands of dogs find loving homes, is in crisis mode. They’ve had to put all out-of-state transports on hold because they simply don’t have enough local fosters. That means countless dogs—many facing euthanasia in overcrowded southern shelters—are now stuck waiting for help that might not come.

According to a report by News Center Maine, the number of people fostering has dropped significantly, and without those temporary homes, Pittie Posse can’t keep rescuing at the scale they normally do. It’s heartbreaking and avoidable—and it’s a situation that hits close to home for me.

Back in October, I adopted Dusty, my sweet, goofy pittie, from Pittie Posse. From start to finish, the experience was incredible. They were thorough, supportive, and clearly passionate about matching dogs with the right homes. Dusty has become the most loyal, affectionate, snuggle-loving dog I’ve ever met. It’s wild and heartbreaking to think that he was on the euthanasia list and his 13 month life was just days from being cut short, due to not having a home. 

They get it—finances are tight for a lot of people right now. That’s why they run a pet food pantry, helping keep pets with their families instead of ending up in shelters just because their humans are going through a rough patch. 

Pittie Posse co-founder Britt Bolnick also co-owns The Barkyard in South Portland, a place that offers positive training and enrichment—something that’s central to the rescue’s mission of helping dogs thrive, not just survive. 

“Fostering and adopting from Pittie Posse Rescue is unlike any other rescue experience you’ll have.

We pride ourselves on positive training, lifelong support of our dogs and our adopters, and a deep commitment to education to help us all be more worthy of the dogs we love :-)”  - Britt Bolnick

Let’s be real—pit bulls get a bad rap. But the truth is, any breed can have behavioral issues. What matters most is how they’re raised, loved, and cared for. Pitties are some of the most loyal, people-loving dogs around. They just need someone to see past the stereotype and give them a shot.

The Pittie Posse has a few great fundraising events lined up. Saturday, 6/7,  they’re teaming up with Pawz Unlimited Search & Rescue for a karaoke fundraiser at Lucky Pigeon Brewing in Biddeford.

Then on Sunday, swing by The Bark Yard in South Portland for a big yard sale—proceeds go directly to helping the rescue. And stop by and see them at the Portland Pride Festival, where they’ll be selling limited-edition Pride merch that’s only available during June.

Pittie Posse is doing amazing work, but they can’t do it alone. If you’ve got room in your home and your heart—even temporarily—please consider fostering. And if you’re ready for a forever friend, now’s the perfect time to adopt.

For more info on how to get involved, you can visit the Pittie Posse website.