Cats needing surgery came to ARL from separate circumstances

No matter how they come to the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL), every animal is treated with the same level of compassion, care, and medical attention.

ARL recently performed surgery on a pair of cats that arrived at the organization through different circumstances.

Paul, an 8-year-old male cat was rescued off the streets in Raynham, MA, while Elise, a 2-year-old female cat, was part of a transport of cats from an overcrowded shelter in Texas.

Both animals arrived at ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center with varying degrees of medical issues – for Paul, he had dental disease and a number of scars and healing wounds due to a life of living on the streets, while Elise was diagnosed with a heart murmur and mild dental disease.

Paul was found as a stray in Raynham, MA.

Paul after receiving corrective surgery, and he was adopted a short time after!

Elise came to ARL as part of a transport of cats from an overcrowded shelter in Texas.

Elise after receiving corrective surgery.

However, these cats had one medical affliction that required a surgical solution – entropion.

Entropion is a condition where the eyelid is inverted, which can cause painful irritation and if left untreated, could result in corneal scratches, inflammation, discharge, or possible blindness.

ARL’s veterinary team performed surgery on both cats to correct the condition, and once recovered from surgery, with the entropion irritation or pain no loner being an issue, the behavior for both animals drastically improved and their personalities were on full display.

Not surprisingly, once made available for adoption, Paul and Elise quickly found their perfect situations and are thriving in their new homes.

About ARL Community and Shelter Medicine

ARL’s Community and Shelter Medicine Department provides care for every animal at ARL’s three Animal Care and Adoption Centers, while also serving animals and their families in the communities where they live through the Spay Waggin’, Community Surgical Clinic, and Wellness Waggin’.

The Spay Waggin’, a mobile veterinary surgical unit, provides low-cost spay and neuter services to animals in Metro Boston, the South Shore, South Coast, and Cape Cod and the Islands.

ARL’s Community Surgical Clinic provides both veterinary and surgical services twice weekly at ARL’s Dedham local to animals and people in need, including the Community Cat Program.

The Wellness Waggin’ is a pet wellness clinic for residents of Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park and East Boston.

Good Samaritans paying it forward with acts of kindness

A number of animals have recently come into the care of the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) thanks to kind-hearted and compassionate Good Samaritans that acted when seeing an animal in distress, and these acts of kindness made a tremendous difference in the lives of the animals involved.

Whether found in a parking lot, basement, or along the side of the road, the animals recently brought to ARL by Good Samaritans were in varying degrees of health, but all had one thing in common – compassionate and caring individuals who took time out of their day to help an animal in need.

Peanut Butter was found along a busy road in Dedham.

Along with a handful of cats who have already found their permanent homes, ARL is currently caring for an 11-month-old male Pitbull named Peanut Butter, who was recently found along a busy road in Dedham and was in dire need of rescuing.

Wandering along the side of Route 109 at night, the dark-colored dog was in danger of being struck by a vehicle, and additionally, the night he was found, temperatures were in the teens, adding to the animal’s vulnerability.

Seeing Peanut Butter on the side of the road, the Good Samaritans took action, pulling over and getting the dog into the vehicle.

The rescuers brought him home for the night and the next day brought him to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

While in good overall health, Peanut Butter was not wearing a collar, tags and was not microchipped.

ARL made efforts to track down his owner, but to no avail.

He is now available for adoption, and ARL looks forward to finding him the forever home he deserves.

ARL is grateful to all those who pause from their busy daily schedules to help an animal in need, and encourages anyone who finds an animal to contact their local animal control and animal welfare organization to ensure the animal receives the care they need.

Neonatal kittens rescued when mom was injured and unable to provide care

Rescued as a trio of neonatal kittens in October by the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) have completed a remarkable transformation by finding their forever homes just in time for the holidays.

In October, the kittens were discovered in Fall River by a concerned resident who noticed the mother cat was unable to care for the kittens due to severe wounds.

At just 4-weeks-old at the time, the kittens were in an incredibly vulnerable situation, which could’ve been life-threatening without intervention.

ARL’s Field Services routinely works in the Fall River area, an area with countless community cats, and immediately responded when receiving the call about these three kittens.

The kittens and the mom were trapped and transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center, where they immediately received veterinary care.

Koko upon arrival at ARL.

Koko rebounding from an upper respiratory infection and finishing an amazing transformation!

Koko recently found her home for the holidays.

Pippi upon arrival at ARL.

Pippi just before finding her home for the holidays!

Gigi upon arrival at ARL.

Gigi just before going home.

Kiki remains in quarantine but will be available for adoption in early 2024.

The kittens were filthy, and suffering from upper respiratory infections.

The trio received medication for the infections and were placed into foster care so they could be constantly monitored.

The mom cat, now named Kiki, was suffering from multiple puncture wounds, and was also underweight.

The kittens rebounded rather quickly, and once they hit the right age, they were spay/neutered and recently found their forever homes.

For Kiki, because she had wounds of unknown origin, she continues a state-mandated 4-month quarantine with ARL, but she will become available for adoption in early 2024.

About ARL’s Community Cat Program

ARL is the only large animal welfare organization in Massachusetts with staff dedicated to helping community cats, which can be found in any city or town in Massachusetts, and it’s estimated that there are 700,000 community cats living throughout the Commonwealth, 70,000 in Boston alone.

Community cats face many challenges living outdoors. Without proper shelter and care, they are at risk of illness and injury.

Additionally, without spay/neuter surgery, these cats can produce many litters and continue the cycle of large colonies of unowned cats.

ARL’s Field Services Agents will respond to the call of residents who report a colony of cats, investigating the colony to determine the number of cats and kittens residing in that area, the cats’ overall health status, and whether or not a local resident is feeding them regularly and can continue.

After the initial assessment, a TNR (Trap-Neuter- Return) plan is formulated for that particular colony.

TNR is one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness among cats.

Spay and neuter surgeries are low risk and proven to improve the safety and health of these cats as well as the community as a whole.

The plan also includes vaccines, and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

Helping Homeless Animals in Need

For a homeless animal or at-risk pet, your kindness can change their whole life.  

 Your support is a powerful source of hope for the animals we serve, as it will ensure that we are able to provide all animals in our care with the level of compassion and love they deserve.  

 Will you make a gift to help animals experience kindness and joy this holiday season?

Colder weather raising concern for younger community cats and kittens

With mild winters becoming commonplace, there is no such thing as kitten season anymore, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) continues to see a steady influx of community cats and kittens from outdoor cat colonies throughout Massachusetts – and with colder temperatures settling into our area, younger cats and kittens will become more vulnerable and in need of help.

ARL is seeing an influx of community cats and kittens.

To date, ARL has taken in nearly 800 community cats and kittens from all corners of the state, and the organization’s Community Cat Program shows no sign of slowing down heading into winter.

With colder temperatures jeopardizing the health, safety, and possibly the lives of young cats and kittens, ARL is ramping up its efforts to take in as many of these animals as possible and get them the help they need.

Current data estimates there are approximately 700,000 community cats living in communities across Massachusetts, 70,000 in Boston alone.

ARL is committed to caring for these animals and reminds the public to be on the lookout for community cats and kittens.

If you come across these animals, it’s important not to attempt to move them, instead contact ARL Field Services for assistance at (617) 426-9170 (option 1).

Once the cats and kittens are rescued, ARL provides a wide range of veterinary care, including vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery, and the cats are also assessed behaviorally to determine adoption potential.

Adult cats who are truly feral and do not want to rely on humans for care are returned to the field.

While community cats are incredibly resilient, kittens born outdoors are extremely vulnerable to fluctuating weather conditions, predators, illness, among others, and sadly many don’t survive.

Community cats and kittens can be found literally anywhere – under decks, in basements, woodpiles, dog houses – anywhere a mother cat can provide relative safety and warmth for her offspring.

ARL cannot do this work alone and needs help from residents who share concern for the welfare of these vulnerable animals.

For more information about ARL’s Community Cat Program please visit Community Cat Program (arlboston.org)

ARL collaborates with community cat feeder to save homeless kitten’s life

A 5-week-old homeless kitten who was recently found cold to the touch in Berkley, MA, on a brisk November morning when temperatures dipped below the freezing mark, is getting a second chance thanks to the quick actions of a community cat feeder and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL).

The former homeless kitten, now named Applesauce, was discovered amongst a cat colony by a resident who monitors and feeds the colony and was very alarmed when the kitten was found cold and listless.

The finder took the kitten inside, contacted ARL’s Field Services Department, and did their best to warm up the kitten, by using blankets and providing sugar water.

ARL responded to the home and transported the kitten to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Upon intake, the kitten’s temperature was just 93F – a cat’s normal body temperature is typically between 100.5-102.5F.

Applesauce in foster care.

Applesauce in foster care.

Applesauce in foster care.

Bath time for Applesauce!

ARL’s veterinary team used a heated blanket to help increase the kitten’s body temperature and closely monitored him.

Over the course of several hours, the kitten’s temperature had risen to 98F, and he was starting to perk up, indicated by a voracious appetite. Aside from being nearly frozen to death, the kitten was otherwise in good health.

With the kitten stable, ARL placed Applesauce into foster care, where his foster family reported that for the first 24-36 hours the kitten was lethargic and spent most of his time curled up in a blanket sleeping.

However, by the third day in the foster home, Applesauce rebounded, being very vocal, attention-seeking, and purring for hours on end!

At just 7-weeks-old, Applesauce is still too young to find his forever home, however, ARL is thrilled that after the quick actions of the finder, he will have the opportunity to find a family and live the life he deserves. He should be available for adoption in a matter of weeks.

ARL and Community Cats

ARL is the only large animal welfare agency in Massachusetts with staff specifically dedicated to community cats.

ARL’s Community Cat Program rescues hundreds of community cats annually to help slow the cycle of homelessness among cats, providing medical care, vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, and determining whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

There are an estimated 700,000 community cats and kittens residing in Massachusetts, 70,000 in Boston alone. ARL encourages anyone who discovers cats living outdoors to contact ARL Field Services at (617) 426-9170 x563.

Cat from cat colony receives critical surgery upon return to ARL

When a three-year-old cat was recently trapped from a cat colony in Boston, the organization scanned the animal for a microchip, and turns out the cat was adopted from the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) when he was just a kitten.

Snapple peeking out of his kennel.

The male cat, now named Snapple, had been seen around the colony for about a year, so it’s likely he was abandoned at some point in his young life and showing off his survival skills, found and integrated with the colony to be with other outdoor cats.

When he was identified as an ARL alum, he was transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center where he received a thorough veterinary exam, and while he was slightly underweight, the more pressing issue was entropion – a condition where the upper or lower eyelid is inverted and if left untreated can cause corneal abrasions, severe pain, and in some cases eventual blindness.

Both of Snapple’s lower eyelids were inverted, and ARL’s shelter medicine team performed a surgical procedure to correct the issue, saving the cat a life of pain and possible blindness.

Going Home

With the surgery completed and having a few days to recover, the next step for Snapple was to find the permanent and loving home he deserved.

Despite spending an unknown amount of time on his own in the outdoors, Snapple showed to be an incredibly social cat, often leaping into the arms of anyone interacting with him in his kennel.

To no ones surprise, when Snapple was made available for adoption, he quickly found his new home and has already settled in and is thriving with his new family!

About ARL’s Community Cat Program

Community cats face many challenges living outdoors.

Without proper shelter and care, they are at risk of illness and injury.

Additionally, without spay/neuter surgery, these cats can produce many litters and continue the cycle of large colonies of unowned cats.

As part of ARL’s Community Cat Program, the organization’s Field Services agents will respond to the call of residents who report a colony of cats, investigating the colony to determine the number of cats and kittens residing in that area, the cats’ overall health status, and whether or not a local resident is feeding them regularly and can continue.

After the initial assessment, a TNR (Trap-Neuter- Return) plan is formulated for that particular colony.

TNR is one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness among cats.

Spay and neuter surgeries are low risk and proven to improve the safety and health of these cats as well as the community as a whole.

The plan also includes vaccines, and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

Neonatal kittens requiring constant monitoring as mom cat recovers

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is currently caring for three neonatal kittens and their mother, this after recently being discovered in Fall River, MA, by a concerned resident who noticed the mother cat was unable to care for the kittens due to severe wounds.

Community cats can be found in any city or town in Massachusetts, and it’s estimated that there are 700,000 community cats living throughout the Commonwealth, 70,000 in Boston alone.

ARL’s Field Services Department routinely works in the Fall River area, a region with countless community cats, and immediately responded when receiving the call about these three kittens.

Due to her wounds, the mom cat was unable to care for her kittens, which drastically increased the urgency.

ARL recently rescued three neonatal kittens and their mom in Fall River, MA.

The mom cat was wounded and unable to care for her kittens.

ARL responded and transported the kittens and their mom to ARL's Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

The kittens were suffering from upper respiratory infections, but are healthy otherwise.

Currently in foster care, the kittens are not available for adoption yet.

At just 4-weeks-old, the kittens would’ve been in grave danger without intervention and care.

The kittens and the mom were trapped and transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center, where they immediately received veterinary care.

The mom cat, now named Kiki, was suffering from multiple puncture wounds, and was also underweight.

The kittens were suffering from upper respiratory infections and given medication to get the infections under control.

Due to their age, the kittens were placed into foster care so they could be constantly monitored.

Despite their harrowing early-life experience, the kittens are doing well and will be made available for adoption sometime in November.

About ARL’s Community Cat Program

Community cats face many challenges living outdoors.

Without proper shelter and care, they are at risk of illness and injury.

Additionally, without spay/neuter surgery, these cats can produce many litters and continue the cycle of large colonies of unowned cats.

As part of ARL’s Community Cat Program, the organization’s Field Services agents will respond to the call of residents who report a colony of cats, investigating the colony to determine the number of cats and kittens residing in that area, the cats’ overall health status, and whether or not a local resident is feeding them regularly and can continue.

After the initial assessment, a TNR (Trap-Neuter- Return) plan is formulated for that particular colony.

TNR is one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness among cats.

Spay and neuter surgeries are low risk and proven to improve the safety and health of these cats as well as the community as a whole.

The plan also includes vaccines, and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.