Lyman Pope is a devoted animal lover who has donated generously to countless animal nonprofits over his life. He understands that shelters’ staffers and volunteers work tirelessly to fundraise so they can properly vet, care for, pay overhead costs, and then rehome their animals. So, in 2000 he made his efforts official--he founded the Lyman Pope Jr. Foundation to grant nonprofits monies.
When asked why he started the foundation, he humbly brushed it off adding it’s a long story. The short story is that he’s an animal lover and wants what’s best for them. Pope said the foundation ran out of funds a long time ago, but he continued donating as needed with his own money. He acknowledged he did well in real estate and has been happy to share the fruits of his labor, particularly for the animal non-profits.
This Jackson, New Hampshire 97-year-old gentleman has donated millions of dollars to five animal nonprofits in Maine, Vermont, and New Hampshire and they bear his name as a tribute. He wanted the quality and comfort of their animals’ lives to be top notch during their stay. Two Maine shelters include the Pope Memorial Humane Society (PMHS) and The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter.
He’d been a longtime backer of PMHS, including a significant donation to their capital campaign for their new 10,000 sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility that opened in 2016. “Lyman Pope has been an extraordinary friend to our shelter for many years, and his generosity helped lay the foundation, quite literally, for our current facility. His gift of $1 million was instrumental in building PMHS in Thomaston, and we are forever grateful for his commitment to animals in need,” said Kasey Bielecki, their Marketing and Public Relations Manager.
The Ark Animal Shelter opened its doors in Cherryfield in 1964. Because of a substantial donation from Pope, a modern shelter was completed last year and renamed The Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter. The staff is all in one building now, which is important for teamwork. The space is light and bright and was designed as a true shelter—larger kennels, soundproof walls, designated quarantine rooms, floor drains, grooming areas, radiant heat, and a backup generator. Dani Bauer, Executive Director at the Ark Pope Memorial Animal Shelter said, “He donated a million dollars to our shelter, and we have nothing but respect for him.”
New Hampshire shelters grateful to him are the Pope Memorial Humane Society – Cocheco Valley in Dover. They faced fundraising challenges for a new facility, so Pope made a $1 million donation to surpass their goal. Their 11,000 sq. ft. facility opened in 2019 and was renamed to honor him. But he didn’t stop there: Pope again donated to fund an expansion for a large play area with a roofed outdoor pavilion for training sessions and potential adoptee meet-and-greets.
The Concord-Merrimack SPCA of New Hampshire was impacted by Mr. Pope’s kindness. Thanks to his pledge of over $500k to their capital building campaign, they opened their new 7,700 sq. ft. shelter in 2019. It was a boost for staff and pets alike; the previous shelter wasn’t serving their needs. They’re now named Pope Memorial SPCA of Concord-Merrimack County.
Pope, a longtime ally of the 27-year-old Frontier Animal Shelter, Inc. in Orleans, Vermont, presented their organization with a financial endowment in 2011 to be used specifically for future capital expenses. To honor him, they changed their name to Pope Memorial Frontier Animal Shelter, Inc.
Other animal nonprofits have benefited thanks to him. Harvest Hills Animal Shelter in Western Maine was able to treat their canines to the new Lyman Pope Jr. Dog Pavilion. And the Bangor Humane Society has received funding from him, and he’s been one of their largest supporters. Additionally, Pope said that a Vermont library needed funds, so he gladly opened his checkbook. In 2018, that N. Conway privately funded nonprofit was able to start a capital campaign with a major donation from him, and the Pope Memorial Library opened in 2022.
One of the latest projects that Pope has supported is the expansion at PMHS. They raised about $700,000 for their new In-House Veterinary Clinic at 17 Buttermilk Lane (next door to the main building). Kasey explained that they were fortunate enough to have an existing structure to retrofit into the clinic. It’s not surprising that Pope contributed generously to this. “We are incredibly thankful for his continued support. That said, this project was truly a community endeavor. The clinic became a reality because of the compassion and generosity of many individuals, local businesses, and partners who believe in our mission.”
Board members - Kath Holland, PJ Walter, Haley Hall, Patrick Chamberlin
The new in-house veterinary clinic at PMHS was designed to be state-of-the-art. “Our team has worked diligently throughout the planning and construction process to ensure the clinic is outfitted with modern, high-quality equipment that allows us to provide top-tier medical care to the animals in our care,” said Kasey. She added, “At the same time, we’re staying true to our mission and being responsible stewards of the generous support we receive from our donors. Every decision has been made with care, balancing innovation with fiscal responsibility, to create a space that will enhance the lives of shelter pets now and for years to come.”
The new clinic will be reserved for animals in their care at this time. She explained this allows them to provide timely, tailored medical care that supports each shelter pet’s journey toward a quick adoption. “While the clinic is currently focused on internal operations, we’re excited about the potential for future growth. Once we are fully situated and operating at full capacity, we hope to offer select public-facing clinic days. This expansion would allow us to support not only our shelter pets but also members of our community and their animals in a more direct and meaningful way.”
They’ll continue to operate with part-time veterinarian Dr. Nicholas Urbanek, BVMS. “He has a wealth of shelter veterinarian knowledge and compassion to his work at PMHS, and we are incredibly grateful for his dedication to the animals in our care. As our clinic grows, we may add a licensed veterinary technician. Two PMHS staff members are working closely under Dr. Urbanek’s guidance as veterinary assistants. Their hands-on training ensures that animals receive timely and attentive care, reflecting our commitment to building a sustainable and impactful in-house veterinary program,” clarified Kasey.
PMHS hosted a Grand Opening on June 12th for the In-House Veterinary Clinic. The community was invited to tour the clinic and light refreshments were provided. “This new clinic is a game changer. It is already helping us reduce the length of stay for animals by allowing faster access to medical care and timely spay and neuter surgeries. It is a milestone made possible by a community that truly cares, and we are proud to honor Mr. Pope’s legacy alongside that shared effort,” said Kasey.
She had a final, important note of thanks: “We’re deeply grateful for the support of our community and the vision of Lyman Pope, whose generosity and dedication to animal welfare helped make this vital step possible.”
