The friendly dog found wandering near Pretty Marsh was safe at the Hancock County SPCA while a community started trying to figure out where he belonged.
Aug 27, 2026
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by First National Wealth Management.
MOUNT DESERT ISLAND REGION—They found Gus in Tremont, over by Pretty Marsh, wandering in Acadia National Park property.
The first photo published of him looks a bit like a meme. His eyes convey something in canine language as he sits perfectly in the backseat of a vehicle, nose pointed in the air, one eye on the camera.
As one social media user wrote, “This dog looks both guilty and ridiculously proud of their escape.”
“What a cutie,” another wrote.
Gus is a handsome boy and he’d lost his people this week.
Either way, he was safe Thursday, August 27, at the Hancock County SPCA, but they knew he’d probably like to get home eventually. That was the goal of the staff there, too.
Later Thursday afternoon, the Hancock County SPCA had an update: Gus was home.
“Maine state law requires a six-day stray hold for dogs. Barry’s (Gus’) stray hold will be completed on September 1, taking into account the day he arrived and the days the shelter is closed,” according to Mindy Wulf, executive director of the Hancock County SPCA said earlier today before his family were found. “Once his stray hold is complete, we can provide veterinary care for any non-acute medical needs he may have. We will keep him with us until his family is found or we can find him a new family.”
So far, Barry which was his name while he hung out at the SPCA in Trenton, has been posted on its social media as well as on MDI Lost/Found Pet Alert and Maine Lost and Found Pets Group. Those shares have multiplied into the hundreds as people worried about him finding his home again.
“He’s safe but we’d love to get him reunited with his people so we are doing another push to find his family!” the SPCA wrote on its social media.
Gus aka Barry is one of many animals that are taken care of by the Trenton organization.
The Hancock County SPCA 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.
“Barry (Gus) is an absolute cuddlebug! He is very friendly and has been enjoying time outside in our yards with our amazing Animal Care staff, where he seems particularly happy soaking up some sunshine,” Wulf said.
The community came together for Gus, led by the SPCA, but there are things that everyone can do for their own pets, too.
“One of the biggest things people can do to help prevent situations like this is to make sure their pets are microchipped and that the contact information associated with the chip is kept current,” Wulf said. “If a pet goes on an unauthorized field trip, a quick scan can help reunite them with their family.”
And for Gus and lost dogs like him?
“Sharing social media posts about found pets is also incredibly helpful. Word of mouth can make a tremendous difference in getting the word out when a stray animal is looking for their people. We also encourage people who have lost a pet to contact their local animal control agency and area shelters as soon as possible if they have lost or found a pet,” Wulf said.
It’s exactly what the community had been doing for the pup briefly known as Barry and truly known as Gus.
“Barry (Gus) is a great reminder of how quickly a pet can find themselves away from home, especially as we are in such a high tourist traffic area. We’re hopeful that his family will see the information that has been shared and that we’ll be able to reunite him with them. In the meantime, he is receiving lots of love, treats, and attention from our Animal Care team,” Wulf said.
Information about how Gus ended up on his own special field trip in Acadia National Park was unavailable at press time.
You can always reach out to the SPCA at either info@spcahancockcounty.org or 207-667-8088.
The Bar Harbor Story is generously sponsored by Rick Osann Art.
LEARN MORE
The SPCA of Hancock County website
The SPCA’s Facebook page.
Acadia National Park’s guide to visiting with pets.
Photos via HCSPCA
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