"These animals aren't damaged, and they aren't broken. They're just waiting."

In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Britney Ellis, Public Relations Specialist at The Animal Orphanage in Old Town, Maine — a no-kill shelter that has been giving lost and abandoned animals a second chance since 1990.

Britney is the voice for animals who can't speak for themselves. If you've seen the adoptable pet segments on WABI TV5, you've seen her work. In this conversation, she walks us through what "no-kill" really means, how strays come into the shelter through police and animal control, and what happens between the day an animal arrives and the day it walks out the door with its new family.

You'll also meet Rex — a striking four-year-old with a big heart and a lot of energy who has been waiting at the shelter for nearly a year. Somebody's perfect dog is sitting in Old Town right now.

Whether or not you're ready to adopt, there are three ways to help: adopt, foster, or donate. Every one of them saves a life.

CONNECT WITH THE ANIMAL ORPHANAGE:

Website: https://www.animalorphanageoldtown.com/

Email: animalorphanagepr@gmail.com

Phone: (207) 827-8777

Visit: 71 Airport Road, Old Town, Maine

READ THE COMPANION INSIGHT:https://mainethriveinsights.com/britney-ellis

BRITNEY'S COMMUNITY PROFILE:https://penobscotvalleythrive.com/detail-page/animal-orphanage

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Maine Thrive Voices — Real Voices. Real Maine.

Hosted by Sandy Smith, Maine's Visibility Consultant, Smith Digital Solutions, Bangor, Maine.

New episodes on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio.

Britney Ellis is a Founding Voice of Maine Thrive Voices — the first circle of twelve Maine voices.

Tony LaPrino was standing in a half-finished new build, picking up a check from his builder, when he said the five words that changed everything: "I'd love to learn how to do this." The room went quiet. The builder asked if he was serious. He was — and one year later, North Star Property Solutions is booked solid across the Greater Bangor area.

In this episode of Maine Thrive Voices, host Sandy Smith sits down with Tony to talk about how a college summer job painting houses in Southern Maine turned into a calling he couldn't shake, why the "handyman" label stopped fitting the caliber of work he delivers, and how he found his niche as a Property Preparation Specialist — the skilled professional who takes on the projects contractors won't call you back about, shows up in weeks instead of months, and leaves homeowners saying "it's like a new kitchen."

Tony and Sandy cover:

- Saying yes before you feel ready — and how one yes built a business

- What a typical week looks like: small remodels, drywall, decks, stairs, and interior/exterior painting

- Why people don't hire drywall repair — they hire a home ready to sell, ready to rent, ready to enjoy, ready for the next chapter

- Integrity as a business model: show up, pick up the phone, do what you said you'd do

Tony also shares his vision for the future, including building affordable ADUs to help address Maine's housing needs.]

Connect with Tony LaPrino:

Website: https://northstarpropertysolutionsinc.com

Phone/Text: (207) 745-5304

Email: tony.laprino@northstarpropertysolutionsinc.com

Read the companion Insight on Maine Thrive Insights: https://mainethriveinsights.com/tony-laprino

Maine Thrive Voices is produced by Smith Digital Solutions, LLC in Bangor, Maine. Learn more at: smithdigitalsolutions.com.

Peter Richmond never grew up with a dog. But when his son got a husky named Luca, something clicked — and it never stopped. What started as a friendship with a dog daycare owner named Hallie Tyler turned into an opportunity Peter couldn't pass up. He took over her property in Glenburn, put his name on the door, and built Woof LLC into the top-rated dog daycare in Penobscot County — two years running. This episode is the story of how a Cape Cod native fell in love with dogs, moved to Maine, and built a business around the belief that every dog deserves a safe, happy place to land.

Key Takeaways

• A tired dog is a five-star review. Peter's measure of a great day at Woof is simple — if the dog gets excited half a mile from the facility on the way in and sleeps the whole way home, they did their job.
• Not every dog is made for daycare — and that's okay. Peter has candid conversations with owners when a dog isn't thriving in a group setting, and he does it with care, not judgment.
• Trust is built one meet-and-greet at a time. New dogs and their owners are invited for a quiet weekend visit before their first full day — no pressure, no crowds, just a chance to get comfortable.
• The whole staff is first aid certified, including dog CPR. It hasn't been needed yet, but Peter wanted to be ready.
• Communication is everything. Peter texts owners during the day with updates — a practice he learned directly from Hallie Tyler and never stopped.

Resources Mentioned

• Woof LLC website: woofllc.com
• Booking software: Ginger (available to sign up directly at woofllc.com)
• Phone/Text: 207-944-0339
• Facebook: Woof LLC

Closing

New episodes of Maine Thrive Voices publish regularly on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, and iHeart Radio. If you know a Maine business owner or community leader who belongs on this show, reach out at smithdigitalsolutions.com.