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ARL Caring for Cats and Kittens Rescued from House Fires

House fire cats and kittens brought to ARL through referral from the American Red Cross

Over the past few weeks, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) has stepped up to help families following house fires, providing services from temporary pet housing to pet food and supplies.

The pet owners were referred to ARL through the American Red Cross, a national organization dedicated to helping during times of emergency, to help the families when they had nowhere else to turn for their pets.

Kittens at ARL after being rescued from a house fire.

Following a house fire in Boston last week, ARL took in two cats for temporary shelter while the family picks up the pieces and transitions to new housing.

ARL’s Temporary Pet Shelter program is a critical service that keeps pets and people together, and this family who lost their home will be reunited with their beloved animals once situated.

The program gives pet owners peace of mind, knowing their animal is safe and well-cared for, allowing them to focus on finding and settling into a new situation.

 Two weeks earlier, another family lost their home due to fire in Brockton.

Following the disaster, the family was able to turn to ARL to provide two adult cats and kittens with care and new homes through adoption.

ARL further assisted in this time of crisis by providing pet food and supplies to the family’s remaining pets.

 Pets are family, and ARL works diligently with pet owners to find the best solution for both the animals and people involved.

Pet owners who are unable to care for their pets due to unexpected life circumstances, or need help with pet food and supplies, can call (617) 426-9170 or email info@arlboston.org to see if they’re eligible for the ARL’s Temporary Pet Housing program.

ARL Provides Community Kitten with Life-Saving Care

Community kitten suffered from traumatic leg injury

 An 8-month-old community kitten recently received a life-saving surgery at the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and while not ready for adoption quite yet, she is well on her way to finding the home and life she deserves.

Community cats comprise of friendly strays, feral cats, or owned cats that are allowed outdoors to roam.

Alice after surgery.

Community cat colonies usual form due to a conducive environment like an established food source or protective shelter.

The kitten, named Alice, was living among a colony of community cats in Fall River, and ARL’s Field Services Department was contacted after the kitten was seen with a significant limp.

Once on-scene, ARL trapped the kitten and transported her to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center for an assessment.

Alice’s thorough veterinary exam revealed a previous traumatic injury to her rear leg, causing pain, swelling, and deformation of the limb and joint.

The severity of the injury was beyond repair, and ARL’s veterinary team determined that amputating the leg would give Alice the best chance at a normal, pain-free life.

After surgery, Alice was placed into foster care to fully heal, and will soon be made available for adoption.

With her injury, she likely would not have survived a life living outdoors, as her limited mobility made her more vulnerable to predators and other outside dangers.

Alice is one example of the thousands of community cats and kittens ARL helps annually.

ARL’s Community Cat Program assesses cat colonies throughout Massachusetts, formulating Trap-Neuter-Return plans which includes spay/neuter surgery, vaccinations, and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

 In 2024, ARL’s Community Cat Program helped nearly 1,200 community cats and kittens, with nearly 800 of these animals finding new homes.

How You Can Help 

Without proper care, community cats are at serious risk of illness and injury and ARL is the only large animal welfare organization in Massachusetts with a dedicated agent working with community cats and kittens.

ARL’s intake of these animals continues to increase every year, and the organization is currently offering a donation match to help ARL continue this important work.

From now through June 30, 2025, all community cat donations will me matched dollar-for-dollar to help twice the numbers of community cats in need!

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Press Release: Massachusetts Man Sentenced to More Than a Year in Prison for Dogfighting

Sentence adjudicates first-ever federal dogfighting case in District of Massachusetts

The following is a news release distributed by the U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of Massachusetts

BOSTON – A Hanson, Mass. man was sentenced today in federal court in Boston for possessing dogs at his Massachusetts home for participation in a dogfighting venture.

John D. Murphy, 51, was sentenced by U.S. Senior District Court Judge William G. Young to one year and one day in prison, with the last three months to be served in community confinement, followed by three years of supervised release. The defendant was also ordered to pay a fine of $10,000 and ordered prohibited from possessing pit-bull type dogs. In November 2024, Murphy pleaded guilty to nine counts of possessing animals for use in an animal fighting venture, in violation of the federal Animal Welfare Act. Murphy was indicted by a federal grand jury in March 2024.

View local news coverage on this story.

“Dog fighting is a brutal and inhumane form of entertainment and is associated with other organized criminal activity, including illegal gambling,” said Acting Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD). “We are committed to holding violators accountable. We commend the collaboration between federal and multiple state and local law enforcement agencies in investigating and prosecuting this case.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare,” said Charmeka Parker, Special Agent in Charge of the U.S. Department of Agriculture – Office of Inspector General, Northeast Region.

In 2021, Murphy was identified discussing dogfighting on recorded calls with a New York-based dogfighting target. A subsequent search of his Facebook accounts revealed Murphy’s years-long involvement in dogfighting. Murphy communicated with other dogfighters via Facebook where they discussed the results of dogfights, injuries sustained by fighting dogs, as well as breeding dogs. Murphy also belonged to private dogfighting Facebook groups used to share fight results, buy and sell fighting dogs and exchange information on training and conditioning fighting dogs, among other things.

Photos and videos found on Murphy’s Facebook account showed a pit bull-type dog with scarring and discolorations on its head and leg consistent with that of dogfighting as well as a photo of a pit bull-type dog restrained in a breeding stand. Videos from his account showed pit bull-type dogs physically tethered to different treadmill-like devices that dogfighters commonly use to physically condition dogs for dogfights. One of the videos depicted a live raccoon caged in front of the carpet mill, to serve as a stimulus for the pit bull-type dog to run faster and harder.

In June 2023, a search of Murphy’s residence in Hanson revealed that he was keeping nine pit bull-type dogs at his home. Several of the dogs had scarring consistent with being involved in organized dogfighting.

Animal fighting paraphernalia was also found during the search of Murphy’s residence, including:

  • Flirt poles, used to entice a dog to chase a stimulus;
  • Spring poles, used to build a dog’s jaw strength and increase aggression;
  • Several treadmills, slat mills and carpet mills, used to condition dogs to build stamina and muscle;
  • A jenny mill, used to develop a dog’s endurance and musculature by enticing the animal to run on a circular track;
  • Rabbit training scent for dogs;
  • Break sticks, used to force a dog’s bite open, specifically at the termination of a fight or while training;
  • A dog bite sleeve;
  • Disposable skin staplers, used to attempt to close wounds resulting from dogfights;
  • Several types of steroids and painkillers;
  • Fertility medications and a breeding stand, used to restrain female dogs during breeding;
  • Printouts of fighting dog pedigrees; and
  • Dog fighting literature, DVDs and CD-ROMs.

A forensic examination of Murphy’s cell phone revealed significant additional evidence of his involvement in dogfighting. This included multiple dog fighting videos and WhatsApp messages between Murphy and other individuals discussing elements of dog fighting. In one of the messages, Murphy expressed his anger over having animal control called to his property and the 25 years he invested in breeding and conditioning dogs, and asserting that he will “never never never” quit what he is doing with the dogs.

In March 2024, the United States also filed a civil forfeiture complaint against 13 pit bull-type dogs, seized in June 2023 from Murphy’s residence and another residence in Townsend, Mass., that were possessed for participation in an animal fighting venture. In September and October 2024, the Court ordered the dogs to be forfeited to the United States.

To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General complaint hotline at: https://usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline or 1-800-424-9121.

U.S. Attorney Foley; ENRD Acting AAG Gustafson; USDA-OIG SAC Parker; Geoffrey D. Noble, Colonel of the Massachusetts State Police; and Karen L. LoStracco, Director of the Animal Rescue League of Boston – Law Enforcement Division made the announcement. Valuable assistance was provided by Homeland Security Investigations; U.S. Customs and Border Protection; U.S. Marshal’s Service; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives; U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service; Maine State Police; New Hampshire State Police; Massachusetts Office of the State Auditor; Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; and the Hanson, Boston and Acton Police Departments.

“The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Department is comprised of Special Massachusetts State Police Officers who enforce the animal cruelty and neglect laws of the state. In addition to conducting our own investigations, our department works with local, state and federal partners regularly, providing expertise, training and resources for animal cruelty and neglect investigations,” Stated ARL Law Enforcement Director Karen LoStracco. “These partnerships are vital to ensuring the protection of animals through reducing duplicative efforts, eliminating gaps in enforcement and standing together for animal welfare and advocacy. We appreciate the perseverance of the USDA OIG’s office in pursuing dog fighting investigations and charges under the federal Animal Welfare Act and we value the strong working relationship we have established. Dog fighting is an especially brutal and inhumane act and we are grateful to be called upon for our expertise and resources in protecting the welfare and safety of these animals.”

Assistant U.S. Attorneys Danial E. Bennett and Kaitlin J. Brown of the Worcester Branch Office and Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division (ENRD), Environmental Crimes Section, prosecuted the case. Carol E. Head, Chief of the Asset Recovery Unit for the District of Massachusetts and Trial Attorney Caitlyn F. Cook of ENRD’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section are prosecuting the civil forfeiture case.

ARL Takes in 25 Cats in Two Separate Overcrowding Situations

ARL is a resource for overwhelmed pet owners in overcrowding situations

 In the past two weeks, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) has taken in 25 cats through two separate overcrowding situations where the owners were overwhelmed by the number of animals in the home.

One of 25 cats taken in by ARL due to overcrowding.

The cats are will be made available for adoption soon, however, situations like this put a strain on ARL’s resources and the organization is asking the public for assistance to provide the care and support these animals need.

Both instances of overcrowding are due to lack of accessible and/or low-cost spay and neuter services.

Once the cats began reproducing, the numbers quickly spiraled out of control for the owners, who then reached out to ARL for assistance.

ARL worked with the owners to safely corral the cats, and then transported them to ARL’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center for medical care.

While it is common to see upper respiratory infections and under-socialization in cats from overcrowding situations, these cats were healthy, well cared for, and the majority of the animals are incredibly friendly and social.

They are receiving vaccinations, spay/neuter surgery, and will soon be available for adoption.

ARL is prepared to help anyone who has too many animals in the home, as the organization works with the pet owners to find a solution that works best for both the animals and people involved.

If you or someone you know is in need of assistance, visit our Here to Help page or call (617) 426-9170.

 A sudden large intake of animals strains ARL’s limited resources, as care for these animals is already well into the thousands.

Please consider donating to support ARL and the ongoing care for these cats and animals like them.

Pair of Puppies Found Tethered to Tree Near ARL Dedham Campus

Incident an example of a pet owner in crisis

 The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) recently found new homes for a pair of 4-month-old puppies found tethered to a tree near ARL’s Dedham campus – there was no malicious intent but is yet another example of a pet owner in crisis.

ARL acknowledges that many pet owners are facing tremendous challenges – and when people struggle, pets struggle.

Sid and Poppie in Dedham.

The rising cost of pet care, the housing crisis and financial hardship are all having a tremendous impact and are unfortunately causing some pet owners to make difficult decisions, and in some cases, take drastic actions.

The puppies, Sid and Poppie, were discovered on the grounds of the Nobles and Greenough School, right next door to ARL’s Dedham campus on February 12 and were brought to ARL immediately upon being found by Dedham Animal Control.

The Mastiff-type dogs were wearing matching leashes and collars, and are in good condition – their coats are clean, nails are trimmed and they are both healthy.

 “ARL realizes many pet owners are struggling, and we want the public to know that ARL is a resource,” stated Dr. Edward Schettino, ARL President and CEO. “Through community-based programs and services and reinvesting in the City of Boston to rebuild our animal care and adoption center, ARL’s goal is make every effort to help keep pets in homes and out of shelters, and when surrender is the only option, to offer a safe, judgement-free environment to help pet owners through this difficult decision.”

 If you are a pet owner in crisis, ARL urges you to contact the organization to learn more about what resources may be available to help keep pets in homes and out of shelters.

If surrender is your only option, ARL understands that while difficult, surrendering an animal in-person not only protects the animal, but allows ARL to gather information to help the pet move quickly through the shelter system.

Learn more about how to properly surrender an animal at the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Press Release: Florida Man Sentenced for Dog Fighting

ARL Law Enforcement Department assisted in investigation leading to conviction

The following is a press release distributed by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Public Affairs

Jose Miguel Carrillo, of Spring Hill, Florida, was sentenced yesterday to 84 months in prison after pleading guilty to conspiring to violate the dog fighting prohibitions of the federal Animal Welfare Act and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

According to court filings, Carrillo conspired with others to purchase, acquire, and breed dogs for use in dog fights. Carillo also staged dog fights at his home and traveled to dog fights in Massachusetts, Florida, and Connecticut.

A June 2023 search warrant was executed at Carrillo’s home and led to the seizure of 10 pit bull-type dogs, most of which were later adopted by new owners, as well as a firearm and ammunition. Carrillo also possessed dog fighting paraphernalia including a bloodstained dog fighting box, a skin stapler, syringes, and injectable veterinary medications.

“To its core, dog fighting is a cruel and criminal exploitation of animals for entertainment,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Adam Gustafson of the Justice Department’s Environment and Natural Resources Division. “Today’s sentence sends a strong deterrent message that the Justice Department will vigorously prosecute these cases.”

“Exploiting and endangering the welfare of animals for personal gain is cruel and abhorrent,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Sara C. Sweeney for the Middle District of Florida. “Because of the hard work of our law enforcement partners, justice was served.”

“The Office of Inspector General is committed to working with all of our law enforcement and prosecutorial partners in pursuing individuals who choose to participate in animal fighting activities and engage in violations involving animal welfare, while also committing other serious offenses in our communities,” said Special Agent in Charge Charmeka Parker of the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Office of Inspector General (USDA-OIG).

To report animal fighting crimes, please contact your local law enforcement or the USDA-OIG’s complaint hotline at: usdaoig.oversight.gov/hotline  or 1-800-424-9121.

The USDA-OIG; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives; Pasco County (Florida) Sheriff’s Office and the Fitchburg (Massachusetts) Police Department investigated the case. Assistance was provided by the U.S. Marshals Service, Massachusetts State Police, New Hampshire State Police, Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Law Enforcement Division, U.S. Coast Guard Investigative Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

Senior Trial Attorney Matthew T. Morris of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Environmental Crimes Section and Assistant U.S. Attorneys Erin Favorit and Tiffany Fields for the Middle District of Florida prosecuted the case. Trial Attorney Caitlyn Cook of the Environment and Natural Resources Division’s Wildlife and Marine Resources Section assisted with the transfer of the seized dogs to new owners.

ARL Preparing to Take in Shelter Dogs from Los Angeles Fire Zones

ARL to reduce dog adoption fees this weekend as part of preparation

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is preparing to take in approximately a dozen dogs from Los Angeles animal shelters. This weekend, ARL is reducing all dog adoption fees by $100 to better prepare the organization for the arrival of these special dogs.

This special adoption event will take place through Sunday and apply to dogs of all ages at ARL’s Animal Care and Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham and Brewster.

The devastation and impact of the fires still burning in Los Angeles is unprecedented, and ARL is proud to be a part of a massive relocation effort to find homes for these animals, which will also create much-needed kennel space in L.A. shelters for animals who have been displaced or injured due to the fires.

ARL is coordinating with our national animal welfare partners to bring these animals to New England. In the next week, the dogs will be flown to Delaware, and ARL’s Transport Waggin’ will make the nearly 1,000-mile round-trip to deliver the dogs safely to the organization’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

The dogs will have to undergo a state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and be medically and behaviorally evaluated before being made available for adoption.

ARL will provide updates once the transport is completed.

Injured Stray Dog Recovering at ARL

Stray dog needed emergency surgery

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is caring for a Shih Tzu puppy that was found alone in Jamaica Plain just before the New Year and needed emergency surgery due to an eye injury.

The animal is recovering, but still has a way to go before finding his new home.

Louie after receiving emergency surgery.

Louie, an 8-month-old Shih Tzu, was found along a cold and damp Boylston Street in Jamaica Plain on December 28, and taken to a veterinary clinic for an initial assessment.

Boston Animal Care and Control was contacted to retrieve the dog, and because of the nature of his injury, contacted ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center to provide emergency care and support.

The dog did not have a microchip or identification tags, but had suffered from a ruptured corneal ulcer, causing extreme pain and discomfort; an umbilical hernia was also discovered upon examination at ARL.

ARL’s community and shelter medicine team performed surgery to remove the injured eye and repaired the hernia.

Louie is pain-free and recovering well, however, he will not be made available for adoption until he is healthy enough to go home.

ARL is a Resource

ARL is a resource to pet owners and to partners like Boston Animal Care and Control, but emergency services and surgery do come at a high cost.

To date, Louie’s cost of care is several thousand dollars, and ARL is seeking financial support to help offset the cost of his medical needs. Please consider donating today.

ARL’s Spay Waggin’® Celebrates 80,000th Surgery

ARL partners with the YMCA of Greater Boston for special Spay Waggin’ clinic, improving the health and well-being of people and pets in our communities

Just before Christmas, the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Spay Waggin’ celebrated its 80,000th spay and neuter surgery during a special clinic in East Boston, in partnership with the YMCA of Greater Boston.

ARL’s mobile vehicle, the Spay Waggin’, provides low-cost, high-quality spay/neuter services, and during this special clinic, more than two dozen animals had the important surgery performed, surpassing the 80,000 mark since the Spay Waggin’ was first launched in 2000.

ARL is thrilled to have the opportunity and ability to provide this service to pet owners in East Boston as well as other Greater Boston communities, and to celebrate this occasion with the YMCA of Greater Boston.

“The Animal Rescue League of Boston is a resource for pet owners, and this is a momentous occasion for a program that is now in its 24th year of service,” said Dr. Edward Schettino, ARL President and CEO. “We are proud of our work and the collaborative efforts of human service organizations like the YMCA of Greater Boston who helped innovative ideas become reality, helping countless pet owners in Boston.” 

“We are proud and honored to partner with the Animal Rescue League of Boston to mark this important milestone,” said David Shapiro, CEO Y of Greater Boston. “We were energized to host the launch of this important innovation and outreach seven years ago, and it is incredibly meaningful to play a continued supporting role in collaboratively strengthening the bond between people and their pets, improving the health and well-being of both by removing barriers so all can better thrive in community.”

ARL’s Spay Waggin’ provides spay/neuter services throughout the South Shore, South Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands, and Greater Boston.

Without this program, this vital surgery for pets would financially be out of reach for many pet owners, and the Spay Waggin’ not only provides a low-cost option, but also brings accessible services directly where they’re needed most.

Make a Difference

As the year comes to a close, you have the power to make a life-changing difference for animals in need.

Your support helps provide food, medical care, and safe shelter to vulnerable animals, giving them the care they deserve.

Donate today and help us start the new year with hope, love, and brighter futures for the animals who need us most.

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A True Home for the Holidays — Missing Cat Reunited with Family After Several Months

Microchip made reunion of missing cat possible

This past week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) reunited a Maine family with their 10-year-old missing cat, several months after the cat got out and became lost during a family visit to Cape Cod.

Having the animal microchipped was what allowed for the reunion and for the cat to literally get back home for the holidays.

The cat, named Rosebud, had strictly been an indoor cat, but during the family’s visit to Brewster, Rosebud snuck outside and became lost.

Despite drastic efforts to find her, the family had to return to Maine, devastated in the thought that their beloved cat was gone and began mourning her loss.

However, on December 14, a Dennis resident contacted ARL’s Brewster Animal Care and Adoption Center, saying the cat had been hanging around the property for a couple of months seeking food, and although the cat had a flea collar but no identification tags, the resident believed the cat was an owned animal and then brought her to ARL.

ARL’s staff scanned the cat for a microchip, and then immediately contacted the owners.

Needless to say, the family was stunned, but overwhelmed with excitement that Rosebud was still alive and arranged to make the three-hour drive the next day to pick her up and get her home.

Upon arrival in Brewster, Rosebud’s family stated they were still in shock and it wasn’t until they physically saw her that the shock wore off and the reality set in that the cat was alive and well and ready to go home for the holidays!

Despite being indoors all of her life, Rosebud tapped into her survival instincts, and wandered the Cape wilderness for miles, starting in Brewster, and winding up in Dennis where she was found.

Importance of Microchipping

ARL reminds pet owners that a microchip greatly increases the odds of being reunited with your pet should they go missing.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice that is programmed with an identification number unique to the animal.

It is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and last the life of your pet with no maintenance required.

Make an Impact

More than 35% of ARL’s funding arrives in December – now is a critical time to give to ensure we are ready to help animals and the people who love them today and in the new year.

ARL does not receive any government grants or public funding and relies solely on the donations of individuals like you to keep animals happy and healthy– YOU make our important work possible. 

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