Largest Transporter of Animals in New England Also Took in 5,000+ Dogs and Cats Locally in 2025
BOSTON, Dec. 31, 2025 – As 2025 comes to a close, the MSPCA-Angell is celebrating a major milestone in the animal relocation program established when the organization joined with the Northeast Animal Shelter (NEAS) in 2021—more than 20,000 animals moved from out-of-state to Massachusetts, where they were able to find new families.
“The only way to address the most pressing issues in animal welfare is to work together, and that’s why we merged with NEAS,” explained Vice President of the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division, Mike Keiley. “Together, we’ve transported more than 20,000 dogs and cats here from out-of-state shelters—a remarkable achievement for the betterment of animals!”
“And that’s not even taking into consideration the number of animals we’re caring for that came to us through local intake.”
The MSPCA-Angell took in more than 4,800 cats and dogs in regularly scheduled out-of-state transports in 2025, in addition to more than 5,300 through local intake—more animals in both categories than any other animal welfare group in New England.
“When we joined together, NEAS became a major resource for animals not just in Massachusetts, but also in other parts of the country through both those regular transports and the robust Natural Disaster Relief program we’ve developed, which ensures we’re available to jump in and help regardless where animals are in need.”
In 2025, that entailed coordinating with shelters as far away as the other side of the country.
Helping Animals Here, There, and Everywhere
In 2025, the MSPCA-Angell brought close to 100 animals impacted by natural disasters to safety in Massachusetts, including cats from Louisiana affected by near-record snowfall, dogs who needed to leave California amid wildfires, and both species from Texas who needed to leave amid catastrophic flooding.
“Regardless of where the disaster happened, we were there to help shelters by taking animals that were already in their care,” explained Keiley. “By doing so, we helped them open up space to house animals who were lost or temporarily displaced.”
“We wouldn’t have been able to do it without the new space at our Cape shelter, which allows us to accommodate about 400 more animals each year.”
More than 900 cats were transported to the MSPCA-Angell Cape Cod shelter in 2025, a 6% increase over 2024, and a number the MSPCA-Angell expects to continue growing next year.
“The space has been vital for not just our transport program, but also locally because it can house animals related to Law Enforcement investigations, which often involve large numbers of cats and dogs in need of a place to go quickly,” Keiley expounded.
All of that activity happened while the MSPCA-Angell maintained a robust schedule of regularly scheduled transports—a lifeline for out-of-state shelters, especially in the South.
Importing Animals, Exporting Knowledge
In 2025, the MSPCA-Angell brought cats and dogs to Massachusetts from 17 different states across the country, most often Tennessee, Texas, and South Carolina.
“We’ve been operating at or over capacity all year so that we’re able to be there for all the shelters that need us, both in Massachusetts and out-of-state,” said Keiley, who noted that the MSPCA-Angell is the number one receiving organization for the ASPCA’s National Relocation program.
“In partnership with Charleston Animal Society (CAS), we’ve also been helping South Carolina-based Berkeley Animal Center (BAC) and Darlington County Humane Society by extending resources to help them manage their free roaming cat population, in the hopes that they’re able to get to a point where that population is low enough that they won’t need to send as many animals to Massachusetts.”
Since 2022, MSPCA-Angell veterinary teams have been staffing monthly spay/neuter clinics as part of a trap, neuter, vaccinate, return (TNVR) program with those shelters—resulting in the spay/neuter of more than 4,500 community cats.
“TNVR is a vital part of addressing animal overpopulation, so it’s important to help establish programs there and give local shelters the tools needed to manage them,” Keiley elaborated.
“We’re really proud that the Berkeley program is now operating independently, but our presence is still needed in the Darlington-area.”
“We’re hopeful we’ll be able to continue this work next year, but we won’t be able to do it without support from the community.”
What’s Next for the MSPCA-Angell
According to Keiley, funding for the MSPCA-Angell’s out-of-state TNVR program is scheduled to sunset in 2026.
“It may seem like South Carolina is far away, but the issues they’re facing negatively impact animals, so helping them is a key part of our mission, as well as helping animals in Massachusetts,” he explained.
“As the saying goes, a rising tide helps all ships. Getting the stray animal population under control in other states benefits animal welfare organizations across the country, including us.”
Those who would like to donate to help the MSPCA-Angell reach its $50,000 goal to fund TNVR efforts are asked to donate at mspca.org/tnvr.
