Wellness Waggin’ helps keep pets in homes and out of shelters

This past week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) hosted Boston City Councilor Enrique Pepén at its weekly Wellness Waggin’ stop in Mattapan, to showcase ARL’s efforts to help keep pets happy, healthy, and in homes and out of shelters.

Pet owners are struggling, and ARL is thrilled that Councilor Pepén had the opportunity to see first-hand the organization’s efforts to provide essential services for pet owners in need.

ARL’s Wellness Waggin’ served its first clients in 2019, and serves pet owners in Mattapan, Dorchester, Roxbury, East Boston and Hyde Park.

The Wellness Waggin’ provides low-cost, comprehensive pet wellness services for pet owners in communities that face barriers including lack of access to veterinary care and financial hardship pertaining to pet care.

“Because of this, she’s been able to actually keep the dog and be able to continue to afford giving him services, keep up-to-date with any vaccinations, keep up-to-date with the physicals,” Pepén said after speaking with a dog owner using the service. “So this is, quite frankly, life changing.”

To date, the program has served nearly 17,000 since its inception, 11 percent of which are from Mattapan.

In partnership with Action for Boston Community Development (ABCD), ARL’s Wellness Waggin’ makes weekly stops at ABCD locations in Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, with rotating stops in East Boston.

For 10 dollars, pets receive the following services:

  • Physical exam
  • Rabies vaccine
  • Distemper vaccine
  • Flea treatment
  • Microchip

Not only does the Wellness Waggin’ provide low-cost veterinary services as the aforementioned services would cost upwards of 300 dollars in a traditional veterinary setting, but with its mobility, low-cost, high-quality veterinary care is more accessible than ever for pet owners in these communities.

ARL is a Resource

It has never been harder to own a pet in Boston.

Aside from being the fourth most expensive to live in the U.S., it’s also one of the most expensive cities in the country for veterinary care.

ARL is a resource for pet owners, and the Wellness Waggin’ is just one arm of the organization’s community programs to assist pet owners.

Other programs include the Spay Waggin’®, Keep Pets S.A.F.E. (Supporting Animals and Families Everyday), Temporary Pet Housing, just to name a few.