As 2023 Draws to a Close, the MSPCA-Angell Reflects on the Year’s Top 10 Animal Survivors

Organization Wraps Up Record Year of Adoptions, Out-of-State Transports Amid National Dog Population Crisis

BOSTON, Dec. 26, 2023 – In a year that saw thousands of dogs across the country at risk of euthanasia for nothing more than lack of a home, the MSPCA-Angell is pausing to highlight its work combatting the dog population crisis and spotlight some of the amazing animal survivors of 2023 before turning the page to helping even more animals in 2024.

To celebrate these accomplishments, the organization is out with the top 10 saves of the year:

• Valentina: 12-week-old Chocolate Lab, Valentina, was surrendered to a local veterinary practice in Arizona by a breeder who could not handle the sweet puppy’s medical needs—she was sick and could not keep food down. The veterinarian suspected a vascular ring anomaly, a disorder that results in the entrapment and constriction of the esophagus. It requires expensive corrective surgery that her practice would not be able to provide, so she reached out to the MSPCA for help. Valentina was flown to Boston on February 9 and underwent successful surgery just over a week later. She was then quickly adopted and is now living the happy, healthy life all puppies deserve.
• Dollie: Dollie, the four-month-old Munchkin kitten, was surrendered to the MSPCA by her family late in 2022 after alarming changes developed that could not be ignored—the adorable cat’s ears were sloughing (they did eventually fall off) and parts of her skin were dying. The mystery illness began to affect her extremities, including her tail and legs—something never seen before by anyone in the organization. It took collaboration across Angell’s network of specialists to finally diagnose Dollie with ischemic dermatopathy. Her tail and one leg were amputated, and Dollie was healed after about two months of care. She was then adopted by a Boston-area couple, renamed Mochi, and given her own Instagram page.
• Marty: At 30-years-old, Marty was the oldest Mini Pony ever placed into a new home in the MSPCA’s more than 150-year history. His owner, unable to provide Marty with the geriatric care he needs, surrendered him to Nevins Farm late in 2022. He was underweight and had dental issues that made it challenging for him to eat, but the Nevins team fixed his teeth, got him on a proper diet, and nursed him back to health, which involved helping him gain more than 50 pounds over four months of care. Marty was adopted in May by previous adopters who already have three horses to keep him company, including one on a similar special soaked food diet.
• Rooster: Responders who rescued Rooster, a young buff tabby cat, from a dumpster in Dorchester in June said the poor kitten was lucky to be alive. He was discovered by Boston Animal Control with a broken jaw and his right eye badly damaged. Officers immediately brought him to Angell where they knew he could get the life-saving treatment he needed. Unfortunately, Rooster’s right eye could not be saved, so Angell veterinarians removed it and also surgically repaired his jaw. It is still not known how Rooster ended up in the dumpster, but following his recovery, he was adopted into a new loving home in August and is now living the happy life he deserves.
• Captain: Captain was among several pigs surrendered from a home in Hampshire County last spring, as their owner had too many animals to care for themselves. The surrender inspired a fee-waived adoptathon for pigs—only the second ever in the MSPCA’s more than 150-year history! All but two of the pigs at Nevins Farm were adopted in just one weekend—including Captain, who was adopted along with a rooster by a family that already had pigs on the property to keep the new arrivals company.
• Jobee: Boston Police officers first found Jobee in a Roxbury home in July. He was extremely emaciated, and it is alleged that, shortly after he was discovered, his previous owner abandoned him on the streets. Luckily, officers found the three-year-old Pit Bill mix and brought him to Angell—and not a second too soon. Dr. Kiko Bracker of Angell’s Emergency and Critical Care Service described Jobee’s as the “worst case of intentional starvation” he had ever seen, going so far as to say he was stunned the poor dog even survived. After months of care, Jobee was fully healed and, in November, he was adopted by the perfect family. Jobee’s previous owner is being charged with animal cruelty.
• A Taylor Swift Fan: 2023 was a huge year for Taylor Swift and all of her fans—including a sweet one-year-old cat who was transported to the Northeast Animal Shelter (NEAS) from an overcrowded shelter in Texas last spring. Originally named “Screamer” because he meows loudly when uncomfortable, NEAS staff noticed that the young cat calmed down when Taylor Swift’s music was played. Recognizing a love story, they just said yes and renamed him A Taylor Swift Fan. While in the shelter, the nervous cat formed a close bond with another shy cat, Peanut Butter Jelly, and the two were adopted together in May.
• Roger: An example of extreme animal cruelty, Roger was found by local authorities in Marlboro County, South Carolina with a neck injury so severe a neighbor said it looked like someone tried to cut the poor animal’s head off. Local veterinarians discovered and removed the cause of the awful injury—a deeply embedded buckle collar, but staff at the Humane Society of Marlboro County already had more dogs in its care than staff could handle, so the MSPCA brought the four-year-old Mastiff mix to Massachusetts in June for full treatment and the chance to find the loving home he deserves. NEAS veterinarians removed the damaged tissue on Roger’s neck, closed the wound, and Roger was adopted by a family in New England in July.
• Mouse-a-Palooza: In the fall, capacity for housing small animals at MSPCA Adoption Centers was pushed to the brink following the surrender of more than 500 mice from a single home in Essex County. Some mice were transferred to other area shelters, but the MSPCA still had a daunting task of finding homes for 250 of the small pets, which inspired a fee-waived adoption event dubbed “Mouse-a-Palooza”. The community heard the organization’s plea for help and responded in amazing numbers, with long lines of adopters forming outside the Nevins Farm shelter during the event! All of the available mice found homes in just two days, although more mice have since been surrendered. Anyone interested in adopting is encouraged to visit mspca.org/adopt.
• Gumby: Gumby, a sweet 11-week-old kitten, was transported to Massachusetts from an overcrowded shelter in Texas in November in search of medical treatment and a loving home. Both of his back legs were severely deformed, but he still managed to get around and use a litterbox. MSPCA community clinic veterinarians and Angell doctors put their heads together to discuss Gumby’s best treatment options, but they soon realized that any procedure would be painful without any guarantee of improved mobility. So, MSPCA shelter staff set about pairing Gumby with a special adopter who would be able to accommodate his needs. Enter passionate animal advocate and Boston-area radio personality, Danielle Murr, who adopted Gumby just weeks after he arrived. Gumby was renamed Noodles and is now living in a home with dog, cat, and even hamster siblings!

Help the MSPCA Continue Saving Lives

Incredible saves like these would not be possible without the support of donors and the community. Those who would like to donate to help the MSPCA continue saving lives in 2024 may do so at mspca.org/donate.