Why Chris Popper Is Sleeping at the SPCA This April.
Apr 06, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by The Witham Family Hotels Charitable Fund.
TRENTON—Some people spend Saturday night on the couch, half-watching a movie and promising themselves they’ll go to bed early. And then there’s Chris Popper, who will spend his night in Trenton in a place of wagging tails, curious whiskers, and the soft shuffle of paws on kennel floors. WDEA’s “sports guy” radio personality is doing it all for the simple belief that every animal deserves a second chance and a warm place to land.
It’s hard not to be jealous.
“If you know me, you know I love dogs. We have three dogs, all rescues, two of which have come from the SPCA of Hancock County, which is located in Trenton,” Popper writes.
He’s bringing some backup.
“They approached me about sleeping overnight at the shelter, to raise money for the Feel Better Fund and I agreed! So Miriam, our ten-year-old pit-terrier mix and I will be heading there on Saturday, April 18 and will be there from noon until noon on Sunday, April 19,” Popper said.
While Popper might be living an animal lover’s dream come true, he’s doing it for a reason. That reason?
It’s to help animals.
You can help him and the shelter raise funds by donating here. They need that money raised to help the animals that they take in and find homes for. They need to give each animal health screenings, a lot need to be vaccinated. Some might be ill or dehydrated or malnourished.
Bringing the animals back to full health can be costly.
“Every animal that the SPCA of Hancock County receives undergoes a full health check-up. Before adoption the dogs and cats are spayed and neutered and everyone receives a chip, so in case they are lost or get free can easily be reunited with their owners. All of this costs money, and lots of it. They are a no-kill shelter,” Popper explains.
The Hancock County SPCA has hosted over 300 animals in 2024, taking care of them all, hoping to find them safe and loving homes.
That intake number was triple 2023’s.
Just in 2020, Maine shelters took in 2,540 stray dogs, 2,271 surrendered dogs, and 6,131 dogs transferred from other areas. 97% of those were reclaimed or adopted.
For cats in the same year, shelters took in 6,813 stray cats, 6,237 surrendered cats, and 3,618 cats transferred from other areas. Of those cats, 85% were adopted and 5% were reclaimed.
The need never stops.
The SPCA of Hancock County’s “Feel Better Fund” makes sure that each animal there can be healthier.
It also makes sure, Popper said, that the “cost doesn’t determine the quality of life or the veterinary services an animal receives. Often times the animals the shelter receives have been in a situation where the dogs or cats have been neglected and are in need of serious medical help.”
The SPCA in Trenton is not linked with the national organization. It receives no funding from the state or federal government.
“As you can imagine, the SPCA of Hancock County has been hit with rising costs to care for all the animals. Food and supplies have all increased in price, and let’s not even mention the cost of electricity and heat!” Popper said.
He’ll be broadcasting during his sleep-over. You can listen (or live vicariously) as well.
“I’ll be broadcasting from the SPCA of Hancock County April 18th-19th. Please help us raise money for the Feel Better Fund by donating HERE!” he said.
By the time the sun comes up over Trenton, Popper will be tired, probably covered in dog fur, and very likely happier for it. Because somewhere in the chorus of barks and purrs is the quiet promise this fundraiser is built on: that kindness, even the stay-up-all-night kind, can help a frightened animal feel safe again, healthier again, and, maybe, before long, lead them all the way to their own forever homes.
LINKS TO LEARN MORE
How A Night At The SPCA Supports Local Animal Care
ADOPTABLE PETS at the SPCA of Hancock County
SPCA of Hancock County’s Facebook page is here.
RECENT PRESS RELEASES AND BRIEFS
To see all the press releases, click here. To see our news, click here. For the full archive, click here. All of these are on our dedicated website.
Mount Desert Island High School Students Fundraising Right Now with Two Big Events to Support their Iceland Trip
Artists’ Reception: Island Inspirations
Mouse Cavorts Under Mushroom for Paint ‘n’ Sip at the Gilley
Registration Now Open for Summer Scrub Club: Health Career Exploration
Follow us on Facebook or BlueSky or Instagram. And as a reminder, you can easily view all our past stories and press releases here.
Bar Harbor Story is a mostly reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Thanks for being here with us and being part of our community too!
Thanks for reading Bar Harbor Story! This post is public so feel free to share it.
If you’d like to donate to help support us, you can, but no pressure! Just click here (about how you can give) or here (a direct link), which is the same as the button below.
If you’d like to sponsor the Bar Harbor Story, you can! Learn more here.
THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR COMMITMENT TO YOUR COMMUNITY
Discover more from Bar Harbor Story
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.