MSPCA-Angell Seeking Special Adopters for Five Underweight Young Dogs

Their Arrival Comes as Shelters Face Higher Summer Populations

BOSTON, August 3, 2026 – The MSPCA-Angell is calling on adopters to help five young dogs in need of a little extra care following their surrender from a property in Essex County, the organization announced today.

The dogs are Pit Bull Siberian Husky mixes and roughly one year in age. They were surrendered following the MSPCA-Angell Law Enforcement team’s response to a call on July 29 regarding concerns the dogs were underweight. The dogs were brought to the MSPCA-Angell at Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem.

“We recognize that caring for multiple young dogs can be challenging, and we’re grateful their owner trusted us with the dogs’ care by surrendering them,” explained MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection, Mike Keiley. “Now, we can focus on addressing their medical and behavioral needs while preparing them for new homes.”

“From what we’ve seen so far, the dogs have all been very sweet, and we expect their personalities to really shine through as they gain weight,” Keiley noted. “At the same time, it’s important that we reintroduce food slowly to them to prevent refeeding syndrome.”

“We’re looking for adopters who can not only continue supporting the dogs’ recovery at home, but are also committed to meeting their behavioral needs. Young dogs especially need consistent training and guidance.”

Interested adopters are encouraged to monitor the MSPCA-Angell’s website and social channels for updates on when the dogs will be available, which is anticipated for later this week.

Meeting the Demands of Summer Intake

According to Keiley, the dogs’ arrival comes during one of the busiest times of year for the organization’s adoption centers.

“To most people, a group of five dogs might not seem like much for a shelter to take in at once, but summer is an especially challenging time for the animal welfare community,” said Keiley. “We’re balancing higher intake with a historic slowdown in dog adoptions. This can put a strain on resources, especially when animals like these come to us needing additional medical care.”

Those who would like to donate to support this work and help offset the cost of the dogs’ care—and others like them—are asked to give at mspca.org/justice.

“We want to continue to say ‘yes’ to every animal who needs us, but to do that, we need to keep animals moving into loving homes so we have the space to do so.”

“If you’ve been thinking about adoption, now is a great time to do it. Whether it’s welcoming one of these dogs into your home when they’re ready or another animal currently in our care, every adoption helps make sure we’re ready for the next animal who comes through our doors.”

To learn more about the MSPCA-Angell’s adoption process, visit mspca.org/howtoadopt.

This case is part of an ongoing investigation. MSPCA-Angell Law Enforcement will release updates as they become available.

All individuals are presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.