Cats and Dogs Scheduled to Arrive in Massachusetts Shortly After Organization Expands Relocation Capabilities
BOSTON, July 10, 2025 – The MSPCA-Angell is expected to welcome in about 50 animals impacted by the catastrophic floods in Texas that have claimed the lives of more than 100 people, the organization announced today.
The roughly 20 cats and 30 dogs are coming from the Williamson Animal Shelter, which is just five miles from the flood zone and has been taking in animals to help two other local shelters—Lampasas Animal Shelter and Georgetown Animal Shelter, which does not have access to drinkable water at this time.
The MSPCA-Angell also sent two staff members to Texas to aid in the transport.
The animals are scheduled to arrive one day after the MSPCA-Angell opened 1,600 square feet of new transport space at its Cape Cod Adoption Center. They were living in the shelters prior to the floods and are not animals displaced by them.
“There’s a common misconception that transports like this mean people’s pets get lost, end up in a shelter, and are immediately shipped out of town. That’s just not true,” said MSPCA-Angell Animal Relocation Manager, Josie Waldron.
“Texas shelters are overwhelmed caring for stray animals found in the flooding that may be people’s pets, as well as those who need temporary housing because their family’s home was destroyed,” she explained.
“By taking animals that were already living in shelters prior to the floods, we’re freeing up vital cage space there to help those animals now in need.”
The transport flight—arranged by the Bissell Pet Foundation—is scheduled to arrive at Hanscom Field in Bedford the evening of July 11.
Next Steps for Texas Transplants
The cats are all domestic shorthairs and range in age from approximately two-months to seven-years-old. The dogs range in age from roughly three-months to six-years-old. Breeds are expected to include Terrier, Labrador Retriever, German Shepherd, and Alaskan Husky mixes, although details of the transport may change.
Upon arrival, they will be met by MSPCA-Angell vans that will take them to the Northeast Animal Shelter to serve out their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine. They will also receive any medical care they may need before they will be ready for adoption.
“This time of year is already busy for us, but given the immense need in Texas, we knew we had to pull out all the stops to help,” elaborated Waldron. “We’re extremely proud of the resilience, compassion, and skill of our staff and volunteers, without which we couldn’t make something like this happen.”
“But the transport is just the first step—now we have more animals to care for, and our capacity was already extremely tight,” she added, noting that the MSPCA-Angell plans to hold fee-waived adoption events for both cats and dogs later this month.
Information on those events, as well as updates on the Texas transport animals will be shared across MSPCA-Angell social media channels. Interested adopters are asked to monitor those.
Anyone who would like to donate to help offset the cost of caring for the new arrivals are asked to give at mspca.org/Texas.
