RUMFORD — Marsha McKenna, owner of McKennels Animal Adopt, Board and Groom Agency, says she’s had a passion to care for and rescue animals since she was a child but when she was young her father didn’t let her bring any into their home.

It was probably a good thing, she joked, because she might have become “an animal hoarder or something.”

On Thursday, McKenna marked her 30th year in business.

As a young adult McKenna knew she wanted to work with animals but she wasn’t sure in what capacity.

“I didn’t know if I wanted to be a trainer or breeder,” she said, but eventually decided saving or helping animals was her mission.

She took online classes to become a veterinary assistant, worked at the Rumford Animal Hospital and eventually became the animal control officer for Rumford, writing a column titled “Need a Friend” for The Rumford Falls Times.

“I always tried to feature a little story (and would explain) what I got called out for and then at the end of the story I would list what (animals) came in this week. It instantly took off, there was such a huge need in this area,” she said.

From her newspaper column, phone calls came from people needing assistance to find animals or place animals or who had questions about animals. The response lead her to build an animal shelter on about 10 acres she purchased.

A lot has changed in the past five or six years, she said.

“The business is flip-flopping and now it is mostly my boarders, which is a good transition as I get older,” she said.

“It’s been a ride, I’ll tell you – it’s been a lot of fun,” McKenna said. “I’ve got to say I’m probably the most blessed person ever because to be able to do what you want to do with loving animals and being surrounded by them all day long – it’s been a huge dream,” she said.

Adoption stories

About 15 years ago, Nancy Theriault of Mexico asked McKenna if she had any small dogs. She did. It was a Pomeranian no one claimed, so Theriault and her partner Jim hurried to the shelter to see it.

“When we walked into the shop the dog came ahead of Marsha because she was on a 16-foot leash and as soon as Jim laid eyes on her he said, ‘She’s coming home with us.’

Will Keyes, an eye doctor at Mountain View Eye Care in Rumford, got his mixed breed puppy Trixie at McKennels about three years ago.

“She’s always looked forward to going hiking on Wednesday nights,” he said. “She loves to kind of hike with new people, and she’s a very friendly dog, she loves meeting anybody new,” he said. “Between her and my cat they crack me up.”

Nora Downs of Rumford usually keeps four or five cats at a time and thinks McKenna has a good sense for pairing her with animals that get along well with her and her other pets. However, McKenna showed her a large male Maine coon cat named Winston.

“When I first saw him, that big giant cat, after I just lost my female, I thought, ‘this guy isn’t going to replace that beautiful girl,'” she said. “But I mean that cat was the best cat I’ve ever owned. Winston loves people; he’s a great cat,” she said.

Cindy Viger of Rumford lost her 17- and 12-year-old cats and her stepchildren got her two kittens from McKenna. Soon, Lenny and Squiggy became a happy part of her life.

Unfortunately, one injured its back and the other had a disease and both eventually had to be euthanized.

“I had to put (them) down and (McKenna) was there for me the whole time,” Viger said. “I love Marsha, she’s there for me – we’ve just become very close friends.”

mhutchinson@sunmediagroup.net

Marsha McKenna of McKennels Animal Adopt, Board and Groom Agency in Rumford dries Copper after giving him a bath. Copper boarded at McKennels while his family was away on vacation. McKenna maked 30 years in business Thursday.

Marsha McKenna of McKennels Animal Adopt, Board and Groom Agency in Rumford folds towels at her shelter and boarding facility. Her 14-year-old beagle named Bunny Angel rests beside her. McKenna marked 30 years in business Thursday.

Marsha McKenna of McKennels Animal Adopt, Board and Groom Agency was an animal control officer from 1984 to 2009. During that time she wrote a column for The Rumford Times called “Need a Friend,” which helped many animals find good homes.

Nancy Theriault of Mexico got her dog Ginger at McKennel’s about 15 years ago, she said. Theriault’s partner Jim immediately knew that Ginger was the dog for them as soon as he saw her at McKennels.