Transport is the Largest-Ever of the Breed for the MSPCA and the First Since NEAS Partnership
BOSTON and Salem, Mass., May 4, 2023 – It is not often that specialty breed pets come through animal shelters, and almost never do many come at once, but the MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter (NEAS) are preparing to take in close to a dozen Bichon Frisés—small, hypoallergenic, purebred dogs.
The nine dogs are flying to New Bedford Regional Airport on May 4 from Texas, where they were seized as part of an animal cruelty investigation.
“All told, more than 100 dogs and cats were removed from a breeder in Montgomery County,” detailed Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell director of adoption centers and programs, and NEAS executive director. “They were living in unsanitary conditions and they weren’t receiving proper care.”
“Now, they’ve been rescued, and some of the dogs will soon be in Massachusetts, where we’re confident they’ll be able to find the loving homes they deserve,” he added.
A Rare Occurrence
This will be the largest-ever transport of Bichon Frisés for the MSPCA and—while the MSPCA and NEAS have transported thousands of animals together—this will be the first transport of the breed since the two partnered in January 2021.
“The [Montgomery County Animal Services] shelter was near capacity for dogs, even before this surrender,” explained Keiley. “Our goal is always to help shelters through relocation whenever they’re overwhelmed by the number of animals they’re taking in from cruelty cases,” he added, and noted that this was also the inspiration for taking in nearly a dozen purebred Abyssinian cats earlier this year.
The Bichon Frisés range in age from five months to eight-years-old. A one-and-a-half-year-old American Pit Bull Terrier from the same breeder will also come to Massachusetts in the transport.
“This has been a multi-week effort,” expanded Keiley. “We transported 20 dogs from the Montgomery shelter before the surrender, to help ensure they had enough space for all the animals they were taking in.”
“Now, Montgomery is in a much better place, and we’ll be able to match these dogs with eager potential adopters here [in Massachusetts and New England],” he added.
Stopping Bad Breeders
Breeders like the one from which these dogs were rescued are often used to supply pet shops with animals, something that would be illegal under pending legislation on Beacon Hill.
“Dogs in commercial breeding facilities are often bred under terrible conditions,” explained MSPCA Director of Advocacy, Kara Holmquist. “The dogs are crowded into small spaces, they aren’t socialized. They’re inbred and overbred, which can lead to health and genetic disorders. Puppies are taken from their mothers too young, so they have behavioral issues.”
“If pet shops are no longer allowed to sell dogs and cats, fewer will suffer in these kinds of facilities,” she added.
Help These Dogs!
After landing in New Bedford on the afternoon of May 4, the dogs will be transported to NEAS in Salem and the MSPCA Cape Cod Adoption Center in Centerville to serve out their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine. They will be available for adoption following the quarantine and after they receive any necessary medical treatment. The MSPCA will update its social media accounts as the dogs become available.
Caring for these dogs is expected to cost $5,000. Those interested in donating to help offset that cost may do so at www.mspca.org/bichon.
