Lincolnville teen puts entrepreneurial skills to work raising money for PAWS animal shelter
Meghan Austin and Stephanie Smith co-directors at PAWS, with Finn Bennett and Shelly Butler, PAWS executive director. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett counting donations made to PAWS in exchange for free homemade dog bones. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett and his dogs, Bruno and Teddy. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett in the kitchen with his little brother, Jagger. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Meghan Austin and Stephanie Smith co-directors at PAWS, with Finn Bennett and Shelly Butler, PAWS executive director. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett counting donations made to PAWS in exchange for free homemade dog bones. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett and his dogs, Bruno and Teddy. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
Finn Bennett in the kitchen with his little brother, Jagger. (Photo courtesy Rachael Bennett)
While most kids spent hot summer days cooling off in lakes, Finn Bennett, of Lincolnville, spent them on a mission to make a difference.
Finn took the entrepreneurial skills he learned in his business class at Millfield School in England and started a dog biscuit company, Bone Appetite.
Admittedly not very well-versed in the kitchen, he sought expertise from a family friend, who is also a local Camden dog owner and chef, in order to create the perfect recipe, according to a news release about his efforts.
“After getting the ‘paw’ of approval from his own picky dogs, Finn worked with local Camden businesses to strategically place the treats at their front counters,” the release said. “The fee? FREE. The only ask was for a donation to PAWS in exchange for each pack of elegantly-wrapped biscuits.”
He said: “Although I established Bone Appetite because I wanted to understand the mechanics of starting and running a small business, I knew that I wanted to give back to my local community and have the proceeds go to charity. I chose PAWS because I volunteered there at age 13, and I knew PAWS was heavily impacted by COVID and needed support to fund new projects.”
Throughout the summer the dog treats were stocked and re-stocked, sometimes getting snatched up within the day. Donations were given and dogs left happy. By the end of the summer, $2,000 was raised by Finn’s hard work and kindness within the Camden community, all for PAWS.
“Finn is an exceptional young man and his generosity and passion for helping the animals is humbling,” said Shelly Butler, PAWS’ executive director, in the release. “Because of his project, dozens of dogs and cats will receive necessary veterinary care and be spayed and neutered so they can live a happy, healthy life.”
Founded in 1974, PAWS Animal Adoption Center works tirelessly to provide care for homeless dogs and cats until they can be placed in permanent, responsible homes while promoting humane values in our community through outreach and educational programs.
For more information about PAWS, to become a volunteer, or to donate today, visit www.pawsadoption.org.
