ARL reminds pet owners that abandoning an animal is never an option

The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Law Enforcement Department is currently investigating three separate cases involving abandoned animals initiated in just the past week alone, and is reaching out to the public to obtain information relating to where the animals may have come from.

The latest case involves four doves that were left in a cage in the parking lot of a shopping center in Chelsea.

Chelsea Animal Control contacted ARL in the late afternoon hours on Thursday, October 19 to assist with the birds located at 1083 Revere Beach Parkway.

Surveillance video in the area does show an adult male in a dark-colored Ford Explorer (2006-2010 model) pull into a parking space, place the cage on the ground and then drive away.

The suspect vehicle is also missing part of the roof rack on the passenger side, and has rear quarter-panel damage, also on the passenger side.

The birds were transferred to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center and are overall in good health.

Anyone with information pertaining to this ongoing investigation is urged to contact ARL Law Enforcement at 617-426-9170 x110 or cruelty@arlboston.org.

Additionally, this past week, two abandoned kittens were discovered in a box in an alley along the Fenway, and an owned cat was left in its carrier outside of ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center.

All animals involved have been medically checked by ARL shelter medicine staff, are doing well, and will soon be available to find new homes.

Abandoning an animal is a felony offense in Massachusetts, punishable by a $5,000 fine and up to 7 years in jail.

ARL is Here to Help

ARL’s focus is to keep pets and people together, but understands that circumstances may arise when pet ownership may no longer be feasible, and offers pet surrender services at its Boston, Dedham and Cape Cod locations to assist with this difficult decision.

If you are no longer able to care for your pet and need to surrender, please call 617-426-9170 (follow the prompts for the admissions office closest to you).