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A Round of A-Paws for Our 2024 Paws to Celebrate Sponsors!

With the help of our amazing sponsors, we achieved record-breaking fundraising at our Paws to Celebrate events in Chatham, Truro, Boston, and Dedham!


Thank you to the following businesses and individuals for their generous support:


PLATINUM PAWPRINT

sponsor logos

LEADER OF THE PACK

sponsor logos

BEST IN SHOW

sponsor logos

 

TOP DOG

Cape Cod 5
Chatham Bars Inn
Gourmet Catering
Grossman Marketing Group
Brian Hyde and Joe Fiorello
Walter & Lee Kenyon
Team Guthrie-Mabile
Mintz
Lisa Rachlin
José Rodriguez-Villalobos & Christopher Lapan


TOP CAT

AAFCPAs
The Boatslip
Changing Tides Consignment Boutique
Dedham Savings
Helen Kosinski: Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®
Howard Stein Hudson
Norfolk & Dedham Foundation, Inc.
Arthur & Paula Rabe


ANIMAL ADVOCATE

Angell Pension Group
Avalon at Assembly Row
Bowditch & Dewey
Carlson Audio Visual, Inc.
Chatham Clothing Bar
Cushman & Wakefield
Dell Technologies
Heather Rose & Co.
Hot Diggity
Kirkland & Ellis
Rockland Trust
TD Bank
Veterinary Wellness Center of Provincetown
Doug Zeghibe

ARL Caring for Piglet from Framingham Animal Control

Piglet Surrendered Through Good Samaritan

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is caring for a two-week-old piglet that came to the organization from Framingham Animal Control. On Tuesday, Framingham Animal Control was contacted by a Good Samaritan for surrender after the piglet, now named Magnolia, was brought to them. Because Framingham does not have the capacity to care for livestock long-term, ARL was contacted, and the piglet was transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center for care on Wednesday.

The piglet is estimated to be two weeks old, weighs just six pounds, is in overall good health, is friendly, and has settled in quickly to her new environment at ARL.

a small piglet wrapped in a pink blanket

ARL is not only a resource for pets and pet owners, the organization routinely works with animal control officers throughout the Commonwealth to assist in a variety of ways, including animal transport and surrender.

Given her age, Magnolia will need neonatal care and will not be made available for adoption for at least a month. Donations can be made to support her care.

Anyone facing circumstances that are making it difficult to care for their pets is encouraged to contact ARL and can learn more about how ARL is here to help.

ARL Preparing for Emergency Transport of Animals Impacted by Florida Hurricanes

ARL coordinating with national animal welfare organization

As Hurricane Milton continues its path towards Florida, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is in continuous contact with a national animal welfare organization that has boots on the ground in Florida, and is preparing to take in emergency transports of dogs being removed from areas of the state that are projected to be directly impacted by the approaching storm.

Best Friends Animal Society is working with local shelters in Florida to transport adoptable animals in order to make room for owned and stray animals impacted not only by Hurricane Helene, but in advance of Hurricane Milton.

Best Friends Animal Society Transport van

ARL is preparing for a potential influx of dogs from Florida as soon as Thursday, and is honored to assist Best Friends Animal Society in this important operation.

A sudden large influx of animals presents financial challenges for ARL. To help these animals ARL must rely on the combined strength of its staff, volunteers, and the generosity of donors.

With limited resources and no government funding, donations are critical to providing shelter, medical care, and homes for these animals. The organization is urging anyone interested to support this emergency transport by donating.

Microchip Critical to Upping Odds of Being Reunited with a Lost Pet

There are pet holidays scattered throughout the calendar year, and today is National Check the Chip Day, highlighting an important aspect when talking about tools, in this instance the microchip, to use should your pet go missing.

According to the American Humane Association, approximately 10 million dogs and cats are lost or stolen in the United States annually – and about one in every three pets will go missing at some point in their lives.

While the reasons pets go missing are numerous, there is one measure you can take that drastically increases the likelihood of being reunited with your beloved pet – microchipping.

A microchip is a tiny computer chip, about the size of a grain of rice that is programmed with an identification number unique to your pet. It is non-toxic, non-allergenic, and lasts the life of your pet with no maintenance required.

A study by the American Veterinary Medical Association found that just 22 percent of lost dogs and less than two percent of lost cats that entered animal shelters were reunited with their families. However, for animals that were microchipped, the return-to-owner rate for dogs was more than 52 percent, and more than 38 percent for microchipped cats!

The numbers speak for themselves, microchipping increases your chances that you will get your pet back if it becomes lost or stolen.

But, it should not be the only part of your lost pet strategy. Collars with up-to-date tags are the main form of identification and the quickest way to identify a found pet.

Pepe was missing for nearly two years, but thanks to a microchip he’s now back home.

Tags and microchips are only useful if the contact and registration information is current! Make sure to check the information annually to keep everything up-to-date.

Bottom line, microchipping is effective and at ARL, we have seen numerous animals reunited with their owners thanks to a microchip.

Recently, ARL took in a 15-year-old stray cat who did have a microchip.

Thankfully, the contact information was correct, and the owner of the cat was overjoyed when contacted as the cat had been missing for nearly two years!

Thanks to having a microchip, the cat is now back in his loving home where he belongs.

In that moment of realization that a pet has gone missing, it’s important to stay calm, and take immediate action by following these 5 steps to increase the likelihood of a happy reunion with your pet: 

  • Call your local Animal Control Officer of the town where you live, and of the town that your pet went missing in.
  • File a lost report with the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) either in person, over the phone, or online. This lost report is seen by all three ARL locations. The staff will ask you to provide a photo of your pet.
  • Contact your pet’s microchip company if your pet has one, to notify them that your pet is lost. Be sure to confirm that your contact information is current.
  • File a lost report with every shelter within a 60-mile radius of where your pet went missing. Oftentimes, concerned citizens will pick up a stray pet they see on the side of the road and bring it to a shelter that is close to their destination instead of close to where they found the animal.
  • Don’t give up! Many pets go missing for months before being reunited with their owners. Stay positive, stay vigilant and continue to search for them as long as you can.

Additionally, You can also reach out to local missing pet groups online – Missing Dogs Massachusetts has a large following on Facebook and the more eyes you have looking for your pet the better!

While you may feel helpless when a pet goes missing, remember you are not alone. Networking with other animal lovers to help in your search increases your chances of having your beloved pet returned safe and sound.

National Pet Fire Safety Day

Too Hot for Spot®: “National Pet Fire Safety Day” Tips to Keep Pets Safe

July 15 is National Pet Fire Safety Day and it reminds us that pets are often vulnerable victims of home fires. An estimated 500,000 pets are affected annually by house fires, according to a data analysis by the National Fire Protection Association.

Planning for unexpected emergencies like home fires and taking these precautions are an integral part of responsible pet ownership. The following tips are suggestions for pet owners on how to prevent your beloved pet from starting a fire, as well as how to keep your pets safe.

What you can do to keep your pets safe: Pet emergency decal affixed to window

  • Keep Pets Near Entrances When Away From Home – Keep collars on pets and leashes ready to go in case firefighters need to rescue your pet. When leaving pets home alone, keep them in areas or rooms near entrances where firefighters can easily find them.
  • Secure Young Pets – Especially with young puppies, keep them confined away from potential fire-starting hazards when you are away from home such as in crates or behind baby gates in secure areas.
  • Since Pets Left Alone Can’t Escape a Burning Home – Consider using monitored smoke detectors which are connected to a monitoring center so emergency responders can be contacted when you’re not home. These systems provide an added layer of protection beyond battery-operated smoke alarms.
  • Affix a Pet Alert Window Cling Like Ours – Write down the number of pets inside your house and attach a “Pet Rescue” decal to your front window. This critical information can help save rescuers time when locating your pets. Make sure to update the number of pets listed.

Special thanks to all of the firefighters out there who put their own lives at risk every day to help people and their pets.

More information about summer pet safety.

 

Future Focus: Strategic Plan Goal 2

Support animal health with our professional services

Objective

Advance pet health and well-being through dog training courses and exceptional veterinary care.

Vision in Action

Gigi was adopted from ARL and her new mom, Chelsea, reached out to our dog training team to help provide Gigi with more structure and enrichment. Since completing their first course, Chelsea now has a better understanding of Gigi’s needs and it has improved the way they interact. This is just one of the ways we can help strengthen the human-animal bond and support pet families in our community.

Learn more about ARL’s 2024-2028 Strategic Plan for the Future.

A dog standing looking up at his owner to the side

Gigi and her owner during an ARL dog training class.

ARL Participates in Lobby Day for Animals

Lobby Day for Animals aims to cast light on animal-protection legislation

This past week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) joined a number of animal welfare organizations at the Massachusetts State House to participate in Lobby Day for Animals, to help citizen animal advocates make an impact by meeting and encouraging their elected officials to prioritize animal-protection legislation.

ARL at Lobby Day for Animals.

Dozens of animal advocates representing counties throughout the Commonwealth gathered to learn more about legislation and hear from both advocates and elected officials who are passionate about animals including Senate Minority Leader Bruce Tarr, Senator Adam Gomez, and Representative Sam Montaño.

With the current legislative session ending in July, ARL continues to advocate for a number of priority bills including:

An Act to Increase Kennel Safety aka Ollie’s Law (H.4564; S.2731)

Currently, kennels in Massachusetts have limited standards. This proposed bill would create regulations for kennels, including commercial boarding and daycares. The bill is named after Ollie, a puppy who died from injuries sustained at a pet daycare in Western Massachusetts.

An Act Relative to the Use of Elephants, Big Cats, Primates, and Bears in Traveling Exhibits (H.3245; S.2197; S.2189

If passed, this piece of legislation would end the cruel use of these types of animals in circuses and other traveling exhibits.

An Act to Maintain Stable Housing for Families with Pets in an Economic Crisis and Beyond (H.1367; S.876)

This bill would provide housing protections during states of emergency and immediately afterward, preventing animals from being used as a reason for eviction. It would also prohibit insurance companies from refusing coverage, canceling, or increasing rates on the basis of dog breed.

Get Involved

The Legislature will take up the aforementioned bills in the coming weeks, and ARL encourages anyone invested in animal-protection law to contact their elected officials and as them to consider the current legislation to further propel Massachusetts in being a national leader when it comes to protecting animals.

Learn more about ARL’s Legislative Agenda and how you can become involved.

Digital Resources Round Up
A Moment of Paws: Diabetes in pets text and tabby cat looking at the camera

Video and Event Recording Library

ARL has a number of recording webinars and informational videos you can access any time to learn more about our programs or animal welfare topics.

ACCESS the video and event recordings

Is your Pet Lost?

There isn’t a more sinking feeling then when you realize that your furry or feathered companion might have gone missing.  Whether it’s a door left ajar, a booming thunderstorm, or slipped harness during a walk, our pets can all too quickly slip away from our sight.  In that moment of panic, it’s important to take immediate action by following our 5 steps to increase the likelihood of a happy reunion with your pet.

READ THE 5 STEPS

 

Board Safely®

Did you know there are no statewide regulations that govern boarding kennels and pet daycare facilities in Massachusetts? Our Board Safely® campaign encourages pet owners to do their own research before leaving their pet in the care of a boarding kennel or daycare facility.

LEARN MORE ABOUT Board Safely

Downloadable Resources

Adopting a new animal is very exciting and can also come with a lot of questions. We hope these downloadable tips sheets are helpful.

HELPFUL TIPS

Welcoming Your Adopted Dog into Your Home

Congratulations! You’ve adopted a dog and it’s going home with you this afternoon, so what’s next? After dog-proofing your house and gathering the necessary supplies (collar, ID tag, water bowl, crate, food, toys, and cleaning products), you’ll need to think about how to acclimate your pup the moment his paws walk through your front door.

TIPS TO WELCOME YOUR DOG HOME

Keep Pets Safe During the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us, and ARL is reminding pet owners of some things to keep in mind to help keep our pets safe and healthy as we celebrate with friends, family, food and festivities!

LEARN MORE

Cold Weather Safety Tips

Frigid conditions can endanger the well-being, safety, and the lives of the pets we love.

6 TIPS FOR winter WEATHER

Free Pet Behavior Helpline

ARL’s Pet Behavior Helpline is a free service, and can answer basic behavioral questions about your pet, such as excessive barking, crate training, house soiling, or if you are looking for ways to stave off your pet’s boredom. If you have questions, please call the Pet Behavior Helpline at (617) 226-5666 or via email behaviorhelpline@arlboston.org and an ARL representative will get back to you within 48 hours.

Animal Advocacy 101

Advocacy looks different for every person who decides to get involved. We can advocate for ourselves, for others, and for causes we care about. Advocacy goals can be to change laws, to change regulations, to change practices, and to change minds.

One of the most common ways of advocating is contacting your elected officials. Wherever you live, you are represented by many layers and levels of government. This includes city or town level, county level, state level, and federal level. There are a lot of people who represent and work for you, who have different abilities to change laws and regulations.

ADVOCACY TIPS
A Round of A-paws for our Sponsors!

With the help of our amazing sponsors, we achieved record breaking fundraising at our Paws to Celebrate events in Chatham, Truro, Boston, and Dedham!

Thank you to the following businesses and individuals for their generous support:

 

Leader of the Pack

Best in Show

Top Dogtop dog sponsorships

Top Cat

AAFCPAs

Dedham Savings

The Norfolk Group

Team Guthrie Mabile, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services, Robert Paul Properties

Arthur & Paula Rabe

Wilson Partners

 

Animal Advocate

Scott Allegretti, DDS

Animal Arts

Bowditch

Busy Paws Pet Supply

Carlson Audio Visual Inc.

IDEXX Laboratories

Helen Kosinski: Certified Soul Level Animal Communicator®

Needham Bank

Northern Business Machines

ProPrint

Rutter Networking Technologies

SpeedPro

TD Bank

Three Fins Coffee Roasters

Veterinary Wellness Center of Provincetown

Wegmans

Doug Zeghibe

 

Protecting Pets During the July 4 Holiday Weekend

Fireworks can trigger anxiety in pets

Fireworks and July 4th go hand-in-hand, however, this is also a time of great anxiety for our pets, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) reminds pet owners to take extra steps to ensure our pets are safe and calm during the upcoming holiday weekend.

While exciting for us, fireworks can cause behavioral issues in our pets that may last for a long time, and signs to watch out for include: shaking, drooling, howling or barking, pacing, trying to find a place to hide, and loss of bladder control, among others.

When stressed and exhibiting signs of fear, dogs may potentially redirect that fear into an aggressive behavior. Additionally, the loud noises and bright lights of fireworks may also cause a dog to run off. During this time of year, shelters around the nation typically see an increase in lost dog reports.

The first and easiest step to take is to make sure that your pet is wearing a collar with identification tags, and if they are microchipped, to be sure that the contact information is current and correct; as a precaution just in case they become lost.

You can also set them up in a quiet, temperature-controlled room with some of their favorite toys, turn on some soft music, a television, or a white noise machine to help drown out the noises caused by fireworks.
If you are concerned about the bright lights, you can also move your pet into a room with no windows, however, you may need to prepare for the chance they may run when the door is opened.

There are also medications to help reduce stress and anxiety, however, this is something that needs to be discussed with your veterinarian to determine which, if any, medication would be appropriate for your pet.

Additional Summer Safety Tips

Keep your pet safe and healthy by following these important basic guidelines:

  • Prevention is always your best bet. Whenever possible, leave your pet at home in a cool humidity and temperature-regulated room.
  • If your pet must be outdoors, find a shady spot with ample air flow to prevent overheating.
  • Hydration is key, so keep a bowl of cold water accessible at all times.
  • Limit exercise to the morning or evening hours when temperatures are at their coolest.
  • Never leave your pet alone in a parked car — even with the air conditioner on or the windows cracked. Remember, when the temperatures rise, it’s Too Hot for Spot®

More summer safety tips.