Debby Fitch gives out treats to each of her six dogs.—STAFF PHOTO BY OKA HUTCHINS

HANCOCK —Debby and Terry Fitch’s Bernese mountain dog Truman was an inspiration to everyone who knew him. He lived for only four and a half years, but for the Fitches, his memory will live on forever.

While he was alive, Truman was a practicing therapy dog at Maine Coast Memorial Hospital, Collier’s Rehabilitation and Nursing Center, Courtland Rehabilitation and Living Center and KidsPeace.

He died in 2004 of hemolytic anemia.

It was Debby Fitch’s love of Truman that led her to found The Truman Collar, a canine accessory business that contributes 25 percent of its intake to Meisha’s Hope, a fund established by The Morris Animal Foundation for the research of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

To date, The Truman Collar has donated $10,592.

“His memory is too special to forget — he just had a great personality and he was one of a kind — we had a connection,” said Fitch.

Fitch’s collars range from whimsical to austere. She offers a variety of trims, prints and collar styles. Since she began, Fitch has sold 1,000 collars a year on average. She also sells a variety of leashes and bandanas.

Of her 100 different trims, Fitch finds that edelweiss and Celtic trims are her most popular. She also makes bandanas for Bernese mountain dogs stitched with edelweiss trim.

Once a year, she travels to the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America’s National Specialty with a photo album of Truman in tow, telling his story to other Bernese enthusiasts.

The event, held in Louisville, Ky., last year, draws crowds from across the country. Fitch is a regular at area craft fairs and sells at a variety of local animal emporiums as well. Her collars can be found at the Schoodic Animal Hospital in Sullivan, the Blue Hill Veterinary Clinic, the Bear Brook Kennel in Brewer, and the Paws Down Training Service in Holden. Collars can also be ordered from Fitch directly through her Web site: thetrumancollar.com.

The Truman Collar also takes custom orders. So far, Fitch has been able to create everything her customers have asked for. She has found Patriots prints for football enthusiasts, musical fabric for jazz enthusiasts and has even started a line of 2-inch width collars for sight hounds.

“I think I’ve made people a little more fashion conscious,” she said.

After she donates 25 percent off the top of the retail price of her collars, the rest goes right back into supplies for more, said Fitch.

“A lot of times I am operating on a shoestring and it gets tiring, but my inspiration is still pretty strong — I’ve got Truman to do it for,” she said.

Fitch now has six dogs in all. Brenton, a 4-year-old Leonberger, Mickey a 7-year-old hound mix, Abby, an eight-year-old Bernese, Lindsey a two-year old Bernese and Degen a seven-and-a-half-month-old Bernese. Fitch found Lindsey and Degen through the Bernese Auction Rescue Coalition (BARC).

“After Truman, I didn’t have the heart to get another puppy from a breeder,” said Fitch.

In addition to her pack of dogs, Fitch has five guinea pigs and one cat, Dixie.

“I just always was an animal person and they like me too,” she said.

Truman was named after Billy Bob Thornton’s character in “Armageddon.” Hailing from St. Ambroise, Quebec, the Fitch family dubbed him the “True Gentleman of St. Ambroise.”

When Truman fell ill, “you just couldn’t be sad around him because all he wanted to do then was to cheer you up,” said Fitch.

Truman’s death prompted Fitch to learn everything she could about his illness. Hemolytic anemia is often attributed to over-vaccination, said Fitch, who now makes sure her animals are vaccinated only minimally. Fitch is now a major proponent of educational materials on the disease and other animal health issues. The Truman collar has given her the opportunity to reach out to the community and contribute significantly to the research of Truman’s disease.

As long as her clients want collars, Fitch will keep making them. She spends the bulk of her year on the business, sewing collars, stocking materials and preparing for dog shows and expos.

“I get a lot more out of it than I give,” she said.

(The Ellsworth American’s annual Pet Parade section will appear in the March 20 edition.)