For the second straight year, Downeast Dog News’ reader poll named Two Salty Dogs in Boothbay Harbor the best pet store in the state of Maine.

This is the second year the store has been open, and the second year they have won. Don and Liana Kingsbury said opening the store “just made sense” since Boothbay Harbor is so dog-friendly. Many stores welcome well-behaved dogs, and several local dogs are known by just about everyone.

“People always seem happy when they are here in the store, so we must be doing something right,” said owner Liana Kingsbury. “There are a lot of other great pet stores in Maine, and it's an honor to be chosen again this year.”

Three well-known pups in town are the couple three black labs that frequent the shop: Coal (also known as the Old Man), Max (also known as Fat Max) and Auggie (Wiggles). Two Salty Dogs is a small shop, but what it lacks in quantity, it more than makes up for in quality. They carry only products the Kingsburys would give their own dogs.

“If we can get it in Maine, we do. If not from Maine, from New England. If not New England, from the United States or Canada,” Don Kingsbury said.

A common question the Kingsburys get is, “Why is the store called Two Salty Dogs when you have three dogs?” Don Kingsbury will tell them that one of his dogs is not salty and then invites them to lick all three to determine the one lacking salt.

The real reason is that right before they opened, they adopted one of their dogs from a friend who could no longer care for him. That dog was named Cole.

“What else could we do? We took him in; Max and Auggie had a new friend, and his name was changed, to Coal. It was an easy adjustment for him,” Don Kingsbury said.

Two Salty Dogs is located at the corner of Boothbay House Hill and McKown Street in Boothbay Harbor. Animals are welcome, and dog owners should be aware that a few treat bins are at dog nose level. Coal, Auggie and Max have snitched more than a few! They have a large selection for both cats and dogs, and can special order products they don’t currently have in stock for people with other animals such as guinea pigs and birds.