MSPCA-Angell Led Group of Six Animal Welfare Organizations Rehomed 900+ Cats and Dogs Since Formation
BOSTON, July 17, 2025 – The MSPCA-Angell and its Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition partners—Berkshire Humane Society, Dakin Humane Society, Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center (TJO), Boston Animal Control, and Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL)—are marking one year since the formation of the group that has helped to rehome hundreds of pets in the Commonwealth, the organizations announced today.
“We formed this coalition last summer because we saw that the animal welfare industry was still struggling to manage problems that started in the pandemic, including an increase in the number of dogs entering shelters and staying there longer,” explained Vice President of the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division, Mike Keiley. “We’re more capable of addressing these huge problems if we team up.”
“An obvious starting point was working together to find homes for dogs faster, and one of the ways we’ve done that is holding fee-waived adoption events throughout the year that have been hugely successful.”
740 dogs and nearly 200 cats have been adopted through special MASS coalition adoption events since its formation in July 2024.
“Fee-waived events are one of the ways we’re helping to increase adoptions, but the coalition is so much more than that,” Keiley elaborated. “It’s a full spectrum approach that includes resource sharing between the groups.”
“We formed a new role within our organization—a behavior outreach manager who travels between coalition shelters to help support dogs with behavior needs, meaning they’re far more likely to be happy and successful in their new homes.”
“We also helped Boston Animal Control build out a volunteer program to provide more consistent animal care.”
“While we’re doing those things, though, we’re zeroing on specific issues in partner communities as well,” he added.
Targeted Solutions for Local Problems
One of those partner communities is Springfield, which experienced an increase in the number of homeless cats and dogs, as well as a significant jump in community disease outbreaks with illnesses like Parvovirus and Panleukopenia that can easily be vaccinated against. These challenges were compounded by a lack of affordable veterinary care in the area.
“There are great organizations like Dakin and TJO that are trying to tackle these kinds of issues, but they don’t have the resources to do it alone,” said Keiley. “So, we wanted to join in because we can accomplish a lot more when we team up.”
Last fall, the MSPCA-Angell expanded its Community Outreach program to Springfield. As a result, nearly 850 animals have received lifesaving vaccines and more than 500 pets got microchips that will help ensure they are able to be reunited with their families should they get lost.
“In the spring, we were also able to help provide veterinary staffing to increase spay/neuter capacity in Springfield partner shelters,” Keiley added, noting that nearly 100 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered since the program started.
In the coalition’s first year, the MSPCA-Angell also created a special partnership with the Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL).
“WARL is the main resource for animals in need in Worcester—the second largest city in Massachusetts—so they found themselves caring for more than staff were able to handle,” Keiley explained. “They had to shut down intake last fall and needed to rework operations before they’d be able to safely resume.”
Through the coalition, the MSPCA-Angell helped WARL improve operations, define a clear capacity for care, and reduce animal length of stay.
“Now, thanks to our expertise and the commitment of WARL’s staff, they’re open for walk-in adoptions again for the first time since the pandemic, and they’ll soon also resume animal intake.”
Getting Help for All Animals in Need Across Massachusetts
Another aspect of the MASS coalition that the MSPCA-Angell will build on in its second year is helping partner shelters maintain manageable populations by taking in some of the pets in their care.
So far, 350 animals have been transferred to the MSPCA-Angell, some of which were in need of specialty medical treatment they would not otherwise have been able to get.
“At the MSPCA-Angell, we’re fortunate to have access to the most advanced technology in veterinary medicine, not to mention world-class doctors, at Angell [Animal Medical Center],” said Keiley. “We’re also lucky to have the Pet Care Assistance fund, which helps both owned and shelter animals get medical care.”
“Through the coalition, partner shelters are able to reach out to us when they have animals in their care who need complex treatment that they aren’t able to provide.”
Such was the case for Ekko, a four-month-old Pit Bull Terrier mix at Berkshire Humane. He had severe pulmonary valve stenosis, a potentially deadly condition that could result in congestive heart failure.
Ekko was transferred from Berkshire Humane to the MSPCA-Angell and underwent successful surgery at Angell on May 21. He is recovering well in a foster home with a family that has fallen in love with him and intends to officially adopt him upon his full recovery.
Looking Toward the Future
“Together, we’ve accomplished so much in the coalition, but this work is extremely hard and it never ends,” said Keiley. “We’ve learned that we’re more powerful when we work together, and we’ve got a really solid foundation to build on as we tackle challenges moving forward.”
“Given the success of the adoption events we’ve held over the past year, we’re definitely going to keep those going, while working together to find additional solutions to problems facing our industry—and we aren’t wasting any time.”
The MSPCA-Angell and coalition shelters are holding not one, but two fee-waived adoption events in July—both of which continue the coalition’s America Runs on Doggos theme.
The first, dubbed “Purr-Over Brews” is being held Friday, July 18, and Saturday, July 19. Fees will be waived for cats that generally stay in shelters longer, including older felines and those with particular medical or behavioral needs. All four MSPCA-Angell shelters—in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod—as well as coalition partners Berkshire Humane, WARL, and TJO will be waiving fees.
Hours vary by location. More information on the event may be found at mspca.org/feewaived.
The second—called “Droolatta”—begins Monday, July 21 and runs through Sunday, July 27, although hours vary by location. Fees will be waived for all dogs aged one and older—including many of the newly arrived dogs from Texas. All four MSPCA-Angell shelters are participating, as well as Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts, Berkshire Humane, Boston Animal Control, Baypath Humane Society, TJO, and WARL. More information may be found at mspca.org/dogs.
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