As the COVID-19 situation quickly evolves, we want to share with you some changes that we have put into place at the MSPCA-Angell so we can continue to serve the pets and people of our community while keeping our staff, volunteers, and clients protected. We recognize the vital role that our hospitals and adoption centers play as a safe haven for animals especially in times of crisis. We are committed to being a resource for our community during the outbreak with services and support. As we adjust to these unanticipated changes, our front line team is grateful for your support and patience.
Angell Animal Medical Center
Wondering how you can support Angell through this crisis? Please support Angell by ordering your Angell patient prescriptions through angell.org/pharmacy versus other online sites. We can ship your order or you can pick it up at our Boston and Waltham hospitals.
Angell remains open for prescriptions and urgent and emergent cases
- Urgent and emergent cases. Angell (in Boston and Waltham) is dedicated to remaining open for those most in need. We continue to serve urgent and emergent cases. Our team has reached out to clients with scheduled appointments to cancel all elective visits.
- New appointments and rechecks. Once we are certain it is safe to see appointments again, we will resume booking new appointments and rechecks. We will post updates to angell.org.
- Prescriptions/Food. Angell continues to fill prescriptions for Angell patients. Clients can submit their prescription requests at angell.org/pharmacy or by calling 617-524-5700. Angell can also mail prescriptions (shipping fees apply). If they are time-sensitive, clients can pick up their prescriptions at our hospital locations. Staff will deliver the medications or prescription food to clients outside the building.
- Current pharmacy operating hours At this time, pharmacy orders can be picked up during pharmacy operating hours:M-F 8a-8p
Sat/Sun/Holidays 9a-5pPharmacy pick-ups for our Angell Waltham facility are also limited, call for details 781-902-8400.Additionally, on nights (after 5p) and during pharmacy business hours on weekends/holidays, curbside order pick-up may only be available every half hour (e.g. 1pm, 1:30pm, etc…), due to our pharmacy’s capacity to both deliver client orders outside while continuing to fill prescription orders inside.Please call the pharmacy when you arrive at 617-524-5700 and we will bring your pet’s order out to a designated pick-up area at our entrance.Please take note – clients who arrive outside of these hours to pick up will not be able to refill or pick up their pet’s order, as there will not be staff available to provide this service.We are grateful to be able to continue to provide needed pharmacy care to your pet, and appreciate your patience and cooperation as we navigate this challenging time together.
How Angell is delivering emergency or urgent care to your pet while minimizing risk of coronavirus transmission
- To help ensure Angell’s clinicians and staff can safely continue to deliver care to critically ill animals, clients currently are not permitted to accompany their pet into Angell’s Boston, Waltham, Danvers and Westford hospitals.
- Communication by phone. Signage outside our front entrance provides specific phone numbers for clients to call from their mobile phones upon arrival. As clients remain outside the building, our team then guides clients on next steps for an emergency, a necessary recheck, or medication/food pick up.
- Highly critical emergencies are instructed to use the intercom in the foyer of our front entryway.
- The emergency/urgent care process. Following the client’s initial phone call at arrival, if deemed appropriate, a staff member will meet the client in the parking lot to take the pet into the hospital.
- Dogs must be leashed. If the client does not have a leash, we will provide one. The client will be asked to exit their car and hand the pet to the employee and return to their car.
- Cats and all other pets must be in a carrier. If the pet is not in a carrier, a temporary box carrier will be provided. The client should place the carrier on the ground and step back 6 feet and then the employee will bring the pet into the building.
- Once the pet is examined, the doctor will call the client on their cell phone (if the client does not have a cell phone the employee can meet the client in the parking lot to discuss care while maintaining a 6 foot distance) and report findings and discuss next steps.
- Payments are accepted over the phone with a credit card. Gloved employees will also accept check and cash.
- Our clinics, Angell at Nashoba in Westford and Angell at Essex in Danvers, will use similar methods to remain open for primary care services with entry into the hospitals restricted to patients and staff.
Please know that though we have cancelled the visiting of hospitalized patients, we will continue to text pictures and updates so that you can stay in close contact with your pet while they are hospitalized. The only visiting exceptions will be for end-of-life scenarios.
You can reach our call center 24 hours a day at (617) 522-7282.
Animal Care and Adoption Centers
- The adoption centers are closed to the general public but have gone virtual! For our animal loving friends who simply enjoy visiting our adoption centers, we ask you to refrain from casual visits at this time. However, we are providing virtual tours of our adoption centers every day through Facebook Live so that you can meet some of our adoptable animals and see our centers. Please join us!
MSPCA at Nevins Farm at 10 AM
MSPCA Cape Cod at 12PM
MSPCA Boston at 1:15 PM
- Animals are still available for adoption – you just need to make an appointment! Finding homes for our current population of shelter animals will be vital for our ability to provide temporary housing and increased surrender intake as a result of the outbreak. Animals available for adoption may be viewed on our Pet Search portal. If you see an animal you may be interested in adopting, please call the adoption center first to learn more about the animal and discuss whether the animal might be a good fit for your home. If the match is promising, we will schedule an appointment for a meet & greet with the animal (observing all social distance protocols during the meeting).
- Animals in need of immediate surrender will continue to be accepted by appointment. If the need to surrender your pet is not urgent, we ask that you wait to bring in your animal. This will allow us to ensure room for emergency cases and keep traffic low. Rest assured we are here to help if needed. Please visit our website at mspca.org/surrender for more information.
- MSPCA Dog Training Classes have gone virtual! We are able to schedule phone or video private lessons for our dog training classes. Please visit our training website for more information. Follow our social media for videos and great tips on enrichment activities for your pets. Join our Positively Great Dog Training Facebook Group for more free content on training!
- MSPCA Humane Education Classes have gone virtual! Our weekly Little Bookworms Story Time sessions are available online! Join our Nevins Farm Humane Education Facebook Group and our Boston Humane Education Facebook Group for these sessions and more activities for your animal-loving children.
- Our Community Outreach teams are working within the hardest hit communities reaching out to clients in our service areas and helping to provide owners and pets with the resources they need.
- Our adoption centers have disaster preparedness supplies available on an as-needed basis in the event of emergency. Supplies include dog crates, water bowls and pet food. Please call our adoption centers if you are in need of supplies. Please follow our social media for tips on preparing your own disaster preparedness kit for your pets.
- Our adoption centers are determining plans for emergency temporary housing for pets whose owners are ill or hospitalized. Please call us to discuss your situation should you need help.
- Spay/Neuter appointments are postponed until further notice.
- Donations of gently used supplies (blankets, toys, etc) cannot be accepted at this time. While we are grateful for your consideration, we are not able to accept these items.
- We are choosing social distancing whenever possible. If you are coming in for a scheduled surrender or adoption appointment, we ask that you respect the 6ft rule, and don’t be surprised if we offer an air high-five in lieu of shaking your hand!
How You Can Help
- Please consider a monetary donation if you are in a position to do so. Now more than ever, animals need your help, as we prepare for more animals surrendered in the coming weeks as a result of economic pressures. Every dollar counts!
- Donations of pet food ARE ENCOURAGED. Cat and dog food (canned and dry, in original sealed packaging) are very much needed to support our community outreach programs and to distribute to local food pantries to ensure people with food insecurity have food for their pets. We have a comprehensive Amazon wish list on our website so you can donate from the comfort of your home! Visit mspca.org/wishlist.
- We encourage every pet owner to develop a preparedness plan should you become ill or hospitalized. Please visit our disaster preparation webpage for helpful information.
- Helping pets in your community – We are encouraging community members to check in with friends, neighbors and relatives that may be living alone with pets or be more vulnerable to this virus to make sure they are ok. If you have room in your home, consider offering emergency housing to those that may need to separate from their pet due to hospitalization.
Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to continue our work on behalf of animals and the people who love them. We are thinking about all of you – our staff, volunteers, supporters, clients, and community partners – and doing everything we can to be here for those who need us the most. The effects of this crisis will be far reaching. By following the latest trusted science and being compassionate and kind to one another, we will get through this.
