Program assists pet owners in need, and helps keep people and pets together

Today, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is celebrating the fifth anniversary of Keep Pets S.A.F.E. (Supporting Animals and Families Everyday), a program that provides numerous services to pet owners in need throughout Boston and plays a major role in the organization’s focus to keep pets out of shelters, and in homes with the people who love them.

The inception of the Keep Pets S.A.F.E. occurred during the early stages of the Covid-19 pandemic. Although ARL’s shelter doors were shuttered, the organization knew it needed to continue to be a resource for the community as there were would be pet owners in the coming weeks and months who would be in dire need of assistance.

Keep Pets S.A.F.E. delivers pet food and essential supplies to clients’ homes and partner-supported community housing, and the program also inspired the creation of ARL’s Temporary Housing Initiative, which offers short-term care for pets due to unexpected life circumstances.

Keep Pets S.A.F.E. infographic

“When the world shut down, ARL went to work to find solutions to help pet owners in need and ensure that pets and people would stay together,” stated ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino. “While extremely proud of the impact that Keep Pets S.A.F.E. has had over the past five years, ARL realizes that when people struggle pets struggle, and we remain committed to these types of programs that keep pets in homes and out of shelters.”

An ARL staff member handing a bag of pet food to someone outside of the ARL Transport Waggin' II

Although the inception of the program derived during the pandemic, the demand for these programs over the past five years has not waned they have drastically increased. Requests for Keep Pets S.A.F.E. have increased 100 percent since 2020, and while fulfilling as many as possible, ARL is nearing capacity to be able to do so.

You Can Keep Pets S.A.F.E.

Here are two ways you can help us meet the urgent call for help from our community:

  1. Donate pet food.Pet food can be sent online through our Amazon wish list or Chewy list. Unopened, unexpired, shelf-stable pet food may also be dropped off at any of our three locations in Boston, Dedham, or Brewster (Cape Cod), Wednesday through Sunday, from 1:00pm to 6:00pm.
  2. Make a donation. today to help pets and the people who love them.

ARL is ready to help, but this important work is not possible without your support!