December 2020 eNews

Animal Protection News and Updates from Across the Commonwealth

Let’s face it — many of us will not be sad to see 2020 go. It’s been such a hard year! So much stress, fear, uncertainty — and overwhelming need. But thanks to caring friends like you, our services have continued uninterrupted throughout the coronavirus crisis. In extremely difficult times like these, your unwavering support is essential to fund urgent COVID initiatives, such as delivering almost 990,000 pet meals to food banks and individuals, and providing subsidized medical care to more than 3,700 animals for low-income clients. Since the start of the pandemic, almost 3,500 animals have been surrendered to MSPCA, and we’ve completed more than 2,900 adoptions. All this — and more — has been done since the outbreak began! We need your help now to be ready for all the animals we’ll take in during the busy winter season.

The animals in our care will always need your compassion. Thanks again for being there for us. Together, we must continue to look out for animals during these trying times!

New Year, New Session

With the end of 2020 comes a new year and a new legislative session! The Massachusetts 2021-2022 legislative session begins on January 6. With that comes new legislation to help animals, as well as a fresh start for refiled bills that did not pass last session. Now is a great time to become familiar with your state senator and representative, as they might have changed. Most legislators also have a webpage and Facebook, Instagram, and/or Twitter accounts. By following them you can get regular updates on legislative movement, community issues, or general news announcements. Getting to know them now will make asking for their support on animal protection legislation easier down the road! Prepare for next session and learn more tips on connecting with your legislator.

Save the date! Join us and Massachusetts advocates on February 6th for a virtual summit on passing municipal laws to close the puppy-mill-to-pet-shop pipeline, prohibit the use of wild animals in circuses and traveling shows, and ban the retail sale of fur. You’ll hear from advocates who successfully passed ordinances and bylaws in their communities, and from town and city officials about how the municipal legislative process works in Massachusetts. Learn how they did it – and how you, too, can help animals in your community! Keep an eye on our event page for registration information coming soon…

Massachusetts Animal Fund Makes It Into the State Budget

The 2021 state budget allocates $50,000 to ensure the Massachusetts Animal Fund can fund spaying, neutering, and vaccinations for animals in need in the Commonwealth, with a priority to animals in families impacted by COVID-19 and the related economic downturn. The financial challenges created by the pandemic turned many of the assistance requests into urgent pleas for help due to housing requirements or medical emergencies. Thank you everyone who asked their legislators to co-sponsor this amendment. You can use our Animal Scorecard to see if your legislator signed on to this amendment. Find your legislator and scroll to the last column on the right. If you asked them to co-sponsor and they did, think about sending them a thank you!

The winter season is upon us and along with it comes the holidays, snow, and hopefully lots of hot cocoa. While the winter can be fun, it can also present some possible hazards for your four-legged companions. Here are some things to be mindful of to help protect your pets when the temperature drops.

Advocate Spotlight: Liza Oliver Makes Change in Wellesley

In October, Wellesley became the first municipality outside of California to ban the retail sale of fur. Advocate Liza Oliver spearheaded this campaign by immersing herself in the issue, and learning what it takes to pass a bylaw in a municipality with a representative town meeting style of government. Read on to learn about her success, her biggest takeaways, and her hope that this will be the first of many dominos leading to a statewide ban here in Massachusetts.

Happy Holi-neighs!

We always love sharing Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr’s yearly holiday card, which includes adoptable animals from our MSPCA at Nevins Farm. We can’t thank Senator Tarr enough for his continued support of our animal protection programs, and for the time he spends visiting with the us and these beautiful animals. You can find Rosie, Crystal, Dill, and all of our adoptable animals at www.mspca.org. Consider opening your home to a new furry, feathered, or hairy friend this holiday season!

We want to thank you for all you do for animals. Please continue to stay safe and have a wonderful holiday season!  Check out this New York Times article on how to keep pets safe from holiday decor (and vice versa)!