Organizations Arranged Two Additional Transports amidst Fallout from
Winter Storm Uri
BOSTON and Salem, Mass. – March 19, 2021 – Earlier this week, the MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter welcomed 42 dogs from the Lone Star state—where winter storm Uri’s icy temperatures created a strain on already overpopulated animal shelters—to Massachusetts, where the demand for adoptable pets continues to soar.
In coordination with St. Hubert’s Animal Welfare Center, the first transport of dogs arrived on Monday, March 15, and the second, originating from Chances Dog Rescue and Relocation, arrived the next day. Today, most of the dogs have completed the required 48-hour quarantine, received medical care, and are headed home with their adoptive families.
MSPCA-Angell and NEAS to the Rescue
In the aftermath of what may ultimately be the costliest storm in state history, animal welfare organizations throughout Texas—many of whom suffered power outages, infrastructure damage, and are still without water—continue to find themselves with too few resources and not enough space to care for the thousands of cats and dogs entering shelters.
Last month, two teams from NEAS and the MSPCA, consisting of four vans and eight staff members, traveled nearly 4,000 miles in four days to safely transport nearly 100 cats and dogs from Austin, Texas to Massachusetts. This week, in an effort to offer ongoing relief to the area, the organizations coordinated two additional transports— spanning over 2,700 miles—from shelters in and around Houston, ultimately relocating 42 dogs to Massachusetts to find loving homes.
Mike Keiley, interim Executive Director at NEAS and director of adoption centers and programs at the MSPCA-Angell, said the organizations are committed to Texas.
“In the wake of a disaster like Uri, it’s incredibly important to offer sustained support to the many shelters and communities who are experiencing the ripple effects—which we expect to resume for some time. NEAS and the MSPCA are very fortunate to have transport vehicles and adoption center capacity, as well as adopters eager to give pets homes. We will continue to be a resource for animal welfare organizations, including those in Texas that aim to create more space in shelters to help as many animals, and people, as possible,” said Keiley.
Up Close and Personal: Andy and Amos
Surrendered to a shelter when their family’s home was destroyed by the storm, Andy and Amos are among the dogs travelling from Texas to Massachusetts this week. With nowhere to turn, and unable to afford long-term housing, their family was forced to take up residency at a local hotel indefinitely—making it nearly impossible to care for Andy and Amos.
Like so many in the aftermath of a natural disaster, they were faced with a difficult choice. After exhausting all options, and with no visibility into when or if a future reunification would be possible, Andy and Amos’ family decided it was in the dogs’ best interest to find them a new home.
And that’s where NEAS and the MSPCA stepped in. NEAS’ new affiliation with the MSPCA means the organization can help more animals than either could alone. On the heels of the recent arrival of 91 cats and dogs from Austin, NEAS and the MSPCA sprang into action to ready their teams to care for even more dogs.
NEAS and the MSPCA have asked that anyone able to donate toward the cost of their care do so by clicking www.neas.org/texas.
For more information about the dogs, including Andy and Amos, potential adopters are asked to visit the organizations’ adoptable animal pages here and here.
