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Tomorrow: Hot Car Demonstration at MA State House Underscores Danger to Pets

Hot car demonstration helps urge lawmakers to protect pets in the summer heat

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and other leading animal protection organizations and citizen advocates are calling on the Massachusetts state legislature to pass S. 2369—An Act to Prevent Animal Suffering and Death—which would enable faster rescue of pets trapped in hot cars, just as summertime temperatures are heating up.

To drive awareness for the plight of pets left in hot cars, which—according to the American Veterinary Medical Association—claims the lives of hundreds of animal lives every year—the MSPCA-Angell, ARL, and HSUS will underscore the threats pets face when trapped in hot cars, all while a thermometer tracks the steadily rising temperature inside a “hot car” demonstration vehicle.

Too Hot for Spot

Stop by the Massachusetts State House tomorrow, July 14, at 12:00 noon to see a live hot car demonstration to see how quickly temperatures rise inside a vehicle on a sunny day.

Stop by to see the live demonstration!
Thursday, July 14, 2016
12:00 p.m
“The well” at the Massachusetts State House

ARL’s Director of Advocacy, Nadine Pellegrini, will be speaking in support of S. 2369, as well as the bill’s sponsors, Senator Mark Montigny and Representative Lori Ehrlich, and officials from MSPCA-Angell and HSUS.

Local law enforcement, fire fighters, and animal control officers who respond to calls about animals in hot cars will also be in attendance.

S. 2369 would give first responders including police officers, fire fighters and animal control officers explicit authority to rescue an animal from inside a car when conditions, such as extreme heat or cold, are reasonably expected to threaten the health of the animal. The bill would also allow an individual to enter a car if the animal is in imminent danger, and no other options exist.

Learn more about S. 2369 and related animal protection legislation currently under consideration in Massachusetts.

More information on summer pet safety.

Conviction Upheld for Inhuamane Confinement & Chaining of Dogs

ARL provided essential testimony in support of “overwhelming evidence” that dogs were kept in filthy and dirty conditions

A Cape Cod woman’s convictions for violating Massachusetts State law by confining her two dogs in a condemned home and a fenced-in yard, has been upheld by the Massachusetts Appeals Court.

Leanne Trefry, of Brewster, MA, challenged her convictions and claimed that she did not violate the law because her dogs were not confined outside. The Court disagreed, finding that keeping dogs in filthy and dirty confinement both inside and outside was, in fact, a violation of law.

Trefry's Shetland sheepdogs, Kenji and Zach, peer through a fence on her property in Brewster on July 2013, just a few days before they were removed. Photo credit: Cape Cod Times

Trefry’s Shetland sheepdogs, Kenji and Zach, peer through a fence on her property in Brewster on July 2013, just a few days before they were removed. Photo credit: Cape Cod Times

The Court found also that the dogs were effectively left alone on the property which was clogged with trash, inside and outside; emitted odors of trash (inside); dog feces (outside); and that there were many items which posed a threat to the dogs’ health and safety.

ARL’s Director of Law Enforcement, Lt. Alan Borgal, was one of the witnesses to the deplorable conditions in which the dogs were kept. He became aware of the situation when Brewster Animal Control Officer (ACO) Lynda Brogdan-Burns told him about the dogs and requested investigative assistance from the ARL.

Lt. Borgal went to see Trefry with the Brewster ACO and she agreed to allow the dogs to be taken to the ARL’s Brewster shelter for veterinary care and grooming because of the tick infestation.

At the time of the rescue, the dogs had effectively been left alone virtually all day every day for over a year with only intermittent contact with friends, a caretaker, and Trefry who provided food and water. One dog had Lyme disease and was limping badly from an injury. Both dogs were both tick-infested and described as “matted”, “ravaged” and “traumatized.”

During the trial, Lt. Borgal told the court that he had visited the home and found that the yard was overgrown, dog feces had not been picked up and removed and that, consequently, the yard itself smelled.

Both dogs were transferred to ARL’s Brewster shelter and were later boarded and fostered by Brewster Animal Control. After the conclusion of the case, the dogs were adopted.

Why is this case important? This is one of the first cases interpreting the Massachusetts law which prohibits cruel and dangerous conditions and inhumane tethering or chaining.

ARL Saves Baby Owl and Kittens during Snowstorm

All in a day’s work: Rescue Services helps newborn critters in New England

A group of kittens in a humane cat trap

ARL’s Rescue Services pulled nine kittens from an old work duct in Jamaica Plain. The kittens are now safe in ARL’s foster care!

On Monday, the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Rescue Service team, Danielle Genter and Mike Brammer responded to a call for help from an employee of the VA Hospital in Jamaica Plain, MA.

The concerned citizen contacted the ARL when the feral cat that she feeds on Monday mornings did not come out as usual. She could, however, hear the animal whimpering and assumed it was stuck somewhere outdoors.

ARL’s Rescue team arrived on the scene and quickly identified two holes near the building. During their initial inspection, they looked into the holes and took photographs, but did not hear anything. Shortly after placing food inside the hole, however, they heard a faint meow coming from one of the holes.

ARL’s expert rescue technicians, Danielle Genter and Mike Brammer, try to place the baby owl back in its nest.

ARL’s expert rescue technicians, Danielle Genter and Mike Brammer, attempt to return the baby owl to its nest.

Read the full story, as reported by Boston.com.

After pulling one kitten out of the small hole under the building, Danielle and Mike were in for a surprise: in total they found nine 4-week-old kittens taking cover from the storm inside the old duct work!

“Gradually, one by one, we pulled all nine kittens out. We were there for about an hour trying to catch them,” says Mike.

Although cold and hungry, all nine kittens were in perfect heath and were transferred to ARL’s foster care program where they’ll stay until they’re old enough to be put up for adoption.

Earlier in the week, the kittens’ feral cat mom had also been taken into ARL’s Boston shelter for spay surgery and later released.

Meanwhile…

While in Jamaica Plain, the Rescue Team also responded to the Arnold Arboretum where a small baby owl was found on the ground below its nest. At first, Danielle and Mike attempted to return the owl to its home.

With the help of arboretum staff and a bucket truck, the baby owl was returned to its nest where its two siblings were waiting. The team was packing up and ready to leave when someone spotted the baby owl on the ground- again! It had either fallen, or been kicked out by its siblings.

Read the full story, as reported by Boston.com.

With the threat of freezing overnight temperatures coming in and the possible predators that could harm the young bird, the team ultimately determined that the baby owl would be safest at the Blue Hill’s Trailside Museum in Milton, MA.

Learn more about ARL’s Field Services team.

ARL Rescues Berlin Raccoon from Utility Pole

The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Field Services team brings an injured raccoon to safety in Berlin, MA

berlin raccoon

ARL’s rescue services team brought a raccoon in Berlin, MA to safety after being trapped on top of a high-voltage utility pole for 3 days!

Earlier this week, the ARL’s Field Services was called in by the National Grid to help rescue a raccoon from the top of a utility pole in Berlin, Massachusetts.

Residents first noticed the injured raccoon perched on top of the high-voltage pole on Pleasant Street last Thursday and became increasingly worried with each day that he remained stuck up there .

Concerned neighbors began calling the National Grid, the Berlin police department, and posting pleas for help on social media. They even scattered bails of hay around the base of the utility pole to soften the fall, just in case the raccoon accidentally slipped.

After 3 days of being trapped with no end in sight, the ARL’s Field Services team was called in to help bring the injured raccoon to safety.

As soon as the National Grid shut down the high-voltage power, the ARL crew quickly began their recovery effort. Using a boom lift to raise them to the top of the pole, ARL’s Field Services carefully scooped the raccoon into a large net and brought him down to safety.

berlin raccoon

The Berlin raccoon, now safe, was transported to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for medical attention and recovery.

There was one additional scare, however! Once on the ground, the raccoon slipped out of the net and scampered away from the crowd and busy street. Fortunately, Danielle Genter on ARL’s Field Services team was able to outrun the injured raccoon and re-capture him in the net before safely placing him in a transport cage.

“The rescue went about as smooth as we’d hoped for, in a high-traffic street,” said Danielle Genter.

Upon initial evaluation, the raccoon appeared to be injured and dehydrated. He was taken to a local wildlife rehabilitation center for immediate medical attention and recovery.

Berlin resident Karen Blakeney reached out to the ARL afterward with this note of gratitude:

“I wanted to thank everyone involved from your wonderful organization for rescuing the raccoon by my house in Berlin today. You did a truly outstanding job and the world is such a better place with people like you in it… Thank you again for the important work you do every day!”

A big THANK YOU to all of the concerned Berlin residents, the Berlin police department, and the National Grid for helping to bring an injured raccoon to safety!

ARL Rescue Assists in Capture of Brookline Cockatoo

Pet bird finally brought in after months on the fly

After several months of living out in the wilds of Brookline, Massachusetts, pet cockatoo Dino is finally back in his cage.

The ARL’s Rescue Services team stepped in to assist the owners of the bird and Brookline police and animal control last week.

Dino Brookline Cockatoo evades capture

Dino, an escaped pet cockatoo, evaded capture all summer long. The ARL rescue services team stepped in to offer assistance in his capture late last week in the hopes of bringing him before winter.

Though residents of the Brookline neighborhood had grown a bit weary of his penchant for eating siding and early morning screeching, they also felt concern for Dino’s well-being with winter on the way.

As temperatures began to plummet late last week, the urgency to bring him in grew.

Working alongside other concerned rescuers, the ARL relied on a bit of bird psychology to bring in this feathered friend.  Cockatoos can become jealous of other birds, so the team set a special trap and with a lure bird to draw Dino’s attention.

Apparently green with envy, Dino entered the cage and his rogue wanderer days were over.

This evening, Dino is headed for a visit with his veterinarian to make sure all is well.

THANK YOU to the Brookline Police, Brookline Animal Control, the other rescue and caged bird groups, and the very patient neighbors and owner of the home that had become Dino’s favorite roosting spot.  Your kindness and compassion for this wayward bird is very much appreciated!

Photos courtesy of The Boston Globe.

 

Steel Leghold Traps: What You Need to Know to Keep Animals Safe

ARL’s director of law enforcement explains the dangers of this illegal trapping device

Earlier this month, we shared the incredible story of Wilson, a 6-year-old stray cat in Westport, Massachusetts who found himself in a very painful situation—an illegal steel leghold trap snapped shut on his right paw.

Read Wilson’s full story

Though Wilson kept his leg, more often animals suffer amputations and even death as a result of becoming trapped in this illegal hunting device.

In fact, the cruel suffering that animals stuck in leghold traps endured inspired the ARL to team up with other animal welfare organizations to push for legislation prohibit their use.  In 1996, the ARL and others successfully helped pass legislation that made it illegal to use or possess a leg hold trap.

Unfortunately, recently proposed legislation seeks to loosen or eliminate restrictions.

Lieutenant Alan Boral, director of the ARL’s law enforcement team, describes the dangers of illegal steel leghold traps (also called foot-hold traps) and why they are inhumane.

ARL Blog: Can you explain to our readers what a steel leghold trap is typically used for and what happens once an animal triggers it?

Lt. Alan Borgal: Of course. Steel leghold traps are a hunting device commonly used to capture so-called nuisance animals to keep them away from communities, livestock, endangered wildlife, and public water systems. People may think that this is the only way to manage certain animals, when, in fact, there are other legal and more humane methods.

leghold traps

In June of 2013, Philbert, a stray from Athol, was rescued and brought to the ARL with an illegal leghold trap clamped to his left leg. Unfortunately, his leg had to be amputated due to the extent of its injuries. Lucky for Philbert, he was adopted by a wonderful family and is now living happy and comfortably.

There are different types of leghold traps, but the overall mechanism is the same. A steel leghold trap is a spring-operated trap that is shaped similar to an animal jaw. It is supposed to be anchored by a short chain attached to a stake in the ground to keep the captured animal in that exact spot. The weight of the animal stepping on the trap triggers the “jaws” to snap shut on the animal’s leg- or other body part- in a vice-like grip.

ARL Blog: How can an animal free itself from a steel leghold trap—or can it?

AB: The force of the steel leghold trap snapping shut on an animal’s leg has already inflicted serious damage and pain. In most situations, the animal can only be freed from the trap by human hands. However, even officials trained in animal rescue cannot always remove a trap without causing further injury.

Sadly, most animals instinctively react to the shock and pain by frantically trying to pull their leg out of the trap. In a desperate attempt to free themselves, the animal often sustains more injuries, such as

bone fractures, muscle and tendon tears, and tooth and mouth damage from biting at their trapped limb and the trap itself.

If a trapped animal is not found soon enough, it can die from blood loss, shock, or starvation—or other deadly circumstances such as environmental conditions and falling prey to other animals.

Breaking News: Cat Caught in Brutal Illegal Trap in Westport, MA Now Recovering and Awaiting Adoption at the Animal Rescue League of Boston

Learn what you can do to protect animals like Wilson!

At the end of May, the Westport animal control and police department contacted the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) asking for assistance with a cat caught in an illegal trap.

cat caught in illegal leg hold trap

A close-up of Wilson’s paw caught in the illegal leg hold trap and after it had been treated by emergency and ARL veterinarians.

A concerned citizen had spotted the approximately 6-year-old stray orange and white cat, now named Wilson, struggling with a heavy metal object attached to his right leg. Officials identified the metal object as an illegal leg hold trap.

Leg hold traps are a hunting tool widely considered inhumane due to the severe injury they can inflict on an animal, such as bone fractures, amputations, or even death. Once a trap is set, any animal can trigger it, putting domesticated animals such as dogs and cats like Wilson at risk.

Once captured, Westport animal control and police rushed Wilson to Mass-RI Veterinary ER animal hospital in Swansea.  After his right leg was freed from the leg hold trap, veterinarians observed incredible swelling in Wilson’s front paw and he couldn’t move his right leg properly. Thankfully, they did believe Wilson’s leg would heal.

Two days later, Wilson came to the ARL’s Boston shelter, where he was examined by lead shelter veterinarian Dr. Erin Doyle. “On initial exam, Wilson’s right paw was significantly less swollen than it had been at the hospital and he was able to bear weight on it approximately 50% of the time.”

The superficial wounds related to the trap itself were healing very well.  Just days after his ordeal, Wilson only had a faint limp when we walked and the swelling in his right paw was almost completely gone.

“Fortunately, Wilson’s injuries were much less severe than they could have been,” Dr. Doyle was relieved to report. “His right front leg and paw will return to normal function.”

According to Dr. Doyle, Wilson is ready to find a new home.  He has clearly become one of her favorite patients: “Wilson is a super sweet cat! Through all of the time I’ve spent with him handling his injured paw, he hasn’t grumbled a bit.”

Unfortunately, difficult stories like Wilson’s are sometimes what bring cats into our shelters. During Adopt-a-Cat Month this June, consider adopting cats like Wilson and give them a chance at a better life!  For more information on Wilson or other available adoptable cats, call or visit our Boston Shelter at or visit arlboston.org/adopt.

illegal leg hold trap

Law enforcement’s photo of Wilson’s fur still caught in the illegal leg hold trap, even after it had been safely removed from his paw.

The ARL and other animal welfare organizations in Massachusetts successfully pushed for legislation in 1996 to prohibit the use of leg hold traps. By current State law setting a leg hold traps is against the law, except in a handful of specific instances.

Registered voters should contact their legislators to oppose any change to the current law. Find your legislator.

MORE WAYS YOU CAN HELP WILSON AND PROTECT ANIMALS:

If you see something, say something. If you have any information about Wilson or the leg hold trap, please contact the Westport Police Department at (508) 636-1122.

Watch out for and report animal traps. Keep an eye on outdoor pets during the summer and report any illegal animal traps that you come across to your local police department.

Donate to help animals like Wilson recover from injury and abuse…and protect them from harm in the future.

ARL Rescue Services On the Scene – Relocates Two Families of Geese

ARL Rescue Services helps geese families get back to nature

Spring is the start of baby bird season—and a busy time for animal rescue as bird parents sometimes choose unsafe places to bring their new babies in Greater Boston!

Last week, ARL Field Services was called in to help two separate families of geese from their temporary urban nests back to the river bank.

longwood_goose6

Danielle Genter, senior rescue technician, carefully approaches the baby gosling who had slipped off onto a second-floor ledge.

In Brighton: News station WGBH called the ARL after a family of Canada geese had made refuge on a small patch of grass on their building’s roof.  One of the baby goslings had slipped off onto a second-floor ledge and was desperately trying to make his way back up to his family.

On the scene, ARL Rescue Services rescued the fallen baby bird and proceeded to wrangle up the mother goose and her other two goslings to move them to safety. The father goose wasn’t all that accepting of the idea his family needed to move and put up the biggest struggle.

ARL’s Danielle Genter told WGBH reporters, “There’s only certain circumstances where we can move healthy wildlife… On a roof where they don’t have access to food – this would be one of those circumstances.”

geese rescues

Mama and baby patiently await rescue from our Rescue Services team

In Boston: Just a few miles down the road, another family of geese was making quite a spectacle at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. ARL Rescue Services made their way to the scene after being notified that four goslings had hatched.

Over the last month, the mother and father geese gained quite a fan base as they made their nest in an empty concrete planter near a parking garage on West campus. In an effort to keep the geese and their un-hatched eggs safe, Beth Israel had thoroughly roped off the area with caution signs warning people to keep a safe distance.

“They kind of became mascots, and people took a lot of interest in them,” said Brendan Raftery, the hospital’s maintenance supervisor. “They became quite the thing here.”

Once all four hatchlings were born safely, ARL was called in to relocate the entire family. Although hospital staff was sad to see the geese go, they felt better knowing they were safe in their new home along the river bank.

Did you know? Not all baby birds found alone or on the ground are in distress. To determine whether or not to intervene, follow this helpful flow chart.

April is Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Awareness Month

Animal cruelty comes in many forms, including physical abuse, neglect of basic care, abandonment, dog fighting, and animal hoarding. Because many studies have demonstrated a strong link between cruelty to animals and other forms of domestic and community violence, prevention plays a critical role in improving the safety and welfare of both animals and people in Massachusetts.

Know your state’s animal cruelty laws

In 2014, the ARL’s Center for Animal Protection assisted in over 300 animal law enforcement cases. Unfortunately, this is a small number when you consider the startling statistic that 4 out of 5 animal cruelty cases go unreported.

We all have a role to play in prevention. Be aware and get to know the animals in your neighborhood. If you suspect animal cruelty, call your local authorities right away.  Help raise awareness and educate others about this issue.

Learn the 7 most common warning signs of animal cruelty and take action!

While most of us recognize that punching, kicking, burning, choking, or hitting an animal with an object are acts of animal cruelty, there are also several more subtle warning signs of animal cruelty to watch for that could indicate mistreatment, neglect, or abuse:

  1. Howling or barking for a sustained period of time or hearing an animal cry in pain with higher pitched, more persistent vocal sounds than usual.
  2. Singed, matted, chronically or excessively dirty hair or fur.
  3. Wounds, unusual scars, hair loss, frequent limping often on different legs, or signs of improper nutrition such as weight loss or prominent visible ribs.
  4. Animals kept caged or tied with little room to move for long periods of time or without regular interaction with people
  5. Lack of protection from the weather or fece- or debris-strewn living areas for animals.
  6. Collars, leashes, or halters so tight they visibly dig into the animal’s face or neck.
  7. A large number of animals coming or going from a property.

If you know of or suspect animal cruelty, report concerns to your local authorities. Click here to learn more about how you can prevent animal cruelty. 

Dog Rescue – Pulled from Icy Stream

ARL Rescue Team on the scene to help

Thanks to fast efforts from his caregiver, park rangers, and the ARL’s rescue services team, a family dog is warming up after he realized a little too late that it wasn’t a good day for a swim.

Energized by the warmer temperatures and sun as he was playing at West Roxbury’s Millennium Park on Tuesday afternoon, the happy-go-lucky dog decided to take a dip in the inviting stream running on the outskirts of the park.

icy dog rescue after

ARL senior rescue technician Danielle Genter gave the chilly dog a towel rub down after his rescue from a stream.

After one pass across the stream, he decided that the water was just a little too cold for his liking.  Unfortunately, an icy shelf stood between him and dry land, and he seemed none to eager to swim back across.  Searchers found him hanging on the icy shelf waiting for help.

Working alongside the dog’s caregiver, Boston Park Rangers, and the Boston Police, senior rescue technician Danielle Genter extended a catch-pole across the narrow stream to grab hold of the dog.

The grateful pup got the picture and allowed Danielle to move him off the ice, back across the water, and on to solid ground.  He hopped right in to the awaiting warm vehicle to get a towel rub down.

The dog appears to be doing well and our rescue team recommended he get a check-up with his veterinarian to make sure all was well.

With fluctuating temperatures, the snow and ice are definitely starting to melt! While this is a happy sign that Spring is just around the corner, it’s also a sign to stay alert with your pet.

Keep your dog on a leash and if you’re walking near “frozen” ponds, lakes, or streams, remember ice is not always uniformly thick or stable.  In addition to the dangers of falling through thin ice, also remember dogs don’t consider the water temperature before bounding in for a swim.  For more winter pet health and safety tips, visit arlboston.org/winter-pet-health

SPECIAL THANKS to Boston Park Ranger Sergeant Al Hurd and the Boston Police Department who provided help and assistance to our rescue team today!