July 2025 marked the first anniversary of the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) Coalition, and the MSPCA-Angell is proud to celebrate the incredible progress made alongside the Berkshire Humane Society, Boston Animal Control, Dakin Humane Society, Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, and Worcester Animal Rescue League (WARL).
In just 12 months, 930 dogs and nearly 260 cats have found loving homes through strategic fee-waived adoption events across partner organizations, and more than 350 animals have been transferred from MASS partners into the MSPCA-Angell's care to help reduce capacity issues and deliver specialty medical care to animals in need.
The MASS Coalition formed because the MSPCA-Angell recognized that animal welfare organizations were still struggling with challenges that began during the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increase in the length of time dogs remained in shelters. One of the first solutions was to join forces on adoption efforts, and fee-waived events throughout the year have been hugely successful. But the coalition is more than adoption events — it's a full-spectrum approach that includes resource sharing across all partner groups.
Since the coalition's inception, the MSPCA-Angell has created a new role: a behavior outreach manager position that travels between shelters to support dogs with behavior needs, increasing their chances of long-term success in adoptive homes. The MSPCA-Angell also helped Boston Animal Control build a volunteer program to provide more consistent animal care when staffing resources are limited.
The MSPCA-Angell has also addressed specific issues in partner communities. In Springfield, a rise in homeless pets was compounded by disease outbreaks such as parvovirus and panleukopenia, along with a lack of affordable veterinary care. Last fall, the MSPCA-Angell expanded its Community Outreach program to the area, and since then, 1264 animals have since received lifesaving vaccines, more than 806 pets were microchipped, and close to 137 dogs and cats have been spayed or neutered through increased veterinary staffing support.
In Worcester, the MSPCA-Angell partnered with WARL to strengthen shelter operations and expand impact. As the city's primary resource for animals in need, WARL faced overwhelming intake that forced it to pause last fall. Working together, the MSPCA-Angell helped reestablish operational efficiencies, define clear capacity for care, reduce animal length of stay, and implement socially conscious sheltering practices. By July, WARL resumed intake and, for the first time in five years, opened its doors for walk-in adoptions — removing barriers and welcoming the public back into the shelter.
Together, the MASS Coalition accomplished so much in just one year, but this work is extremely hard and never-ending. The team has learned that they are stronger when they work together, and the Coalition has built a solid foundation to tackle the challenges that lie ahead.
