Dogs’ Arrival Scheduled Two Days Before Start of Week-Long Fee-Waived Adoption Event Across All MSPCA Shelters
BOSTON, April 12, 2024 – The MSPCA is taking in 14 dogs from Animal Care Centers of NYC (ACC of NYC)—an organization operating several shelters around New York City with double the number of dogs in its care than it has capacity for, mirroring challenges that animal shelters across the country are experiencing with too many animals and not enough adoptions.
“People in the Northeast often think that the national dog population crisis is something that only Southern and warm-weather states are dealing with,” explained Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell vice president of animal protection. “But that’s not true, and no one knows that more than ACC of NYC.”
“Right now, they’ve got more than 300 dogs in care when they really only have capacity for 180. Dogs are doubled up in kennels. They’re also using pop-up crates in offices and hallways to expand capacity.”
“So when the opportunity to help them arose, we knew we needed to jump on it immediately,” he added.
‘Unfair Vilification’ of Shelters in Need
“Shelters like this [ACC of NYC] that are dealing with these major capacity crunches are often unfairly vilified, as if the problem is a result of something they’re doing wrong,” Keiley elaborated. “But in reality, they’re just bearing the brunt of the dog population crisis.”
“Through transports like these, we’re hoping to not only rehome more dogs, but to also shine a light on the bleak realities of the crisis that lead to this wildly incorrect viewpoint that shelters are somehow at fault, when really they’re doing everything in their power to help solve this issue in their communities.”
“And so are we, which is why we knew we needed to make this transport happen,” he added.
And the transport could not come at a better time, according to Jessica Vaccaro, ACC of NYC Director of Placement.
“ACC of NYC is so grateful to the MSPCA for this partnership,” she said. “Our shelters in NYC are beyond overcrowded, with double the number of dogs we have room to comfortably house. Being able to relocate so many large breed dogs opens up much needed kennel space and assists us in our mission to end animal homelessness in NYC.”
New Arrivals Just in Time!
The 14 dogs are scheduled to arrive at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem on April 13. They range in age from one to eight-years-old and are mostly large, bully breed mixes. The transport is coordinated by the ASPCA as part of its national Animal Relocation Program.
The group is scheduled to arrive just days before the MSPCA hosts a fee-waived adoption event across all four of its shelters—called “Ready, Set, Dog!” in honor of the Boston Marathon—for all dogs aged six months and older.
“A key piece in the fight against this crisis is eliminating barriers to adoption,” Keiley expounded. “And cost is definitely a barrier for many.”
“We’re really hoping that people in the community hear our need and come out to adopt, because the more dogs we’re able to rehome, the more we’ll be able to help in the future!”
An Ambitious Event
The MSPCA expects eligible New York dogs to be available in the adoptathon, after they have completed their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and after receiving any medical attention they may need.
All told, the organization hopes to rehome more than 100 dogs during the week-long event—including Dove, a nearly two-year-old mixed breed dog who came to the MSPCA on April 9 in a transport with 19 other dogs from Charleston Animal Society in Charleston, South Carolina.
“Dove has experienced a lot of trauma in her short life,” said Keiley. “She was found as a stray and had endured a gunshot wound to her face.”
“But Dove is really special and resilient. She underwent successful surgery in South Carolina and, despite her trauma, staff there said she’s loving and affectionate.”
“Now, it’s time for her to turn the page and start a new life, and what better place to do that than here in Massachusetts,” he added.
More information on Dove and the adoptathon may be found at mspca.org/dogs.
