MATT REED SHOWS US THE WAGON FROM ROXBURY. HOW IS SHE DOING AT HOME? IT MAY BE SMALL, BUT THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE OF BOSTON’S WELLNESS WAGON IS PLAYING A BIG ROLE IN REDUCING THE NUMBER OF ANIMALS BEING SURRENDERED IN THE CITY. FIVE YEARS AGO, THE NONPROFIT LAUNCHED THEIR MOBILE VETERINARY CLINIC TO BRING HIGH QUALITY ANIMAL CARE DIRECT TO PET OWNERS IN NEIGHBORHOODS WITH HIGH LEVELS OF SURRENDERS, INCLUDING DORCHESTER, ROXBURY, MATTAPAN AND EAST BOSTON. FOR $10, YOU CAN BRING YOUR DOG OR A CAT. A VETERINARY EXAM WITH OUR WONDERFUL TEAM OF VETERINARIANS. ANY VACCINE, YOUR DOG OR CAT MAY NEED. THE WAGON HIT THE ROAD IN 2018, BUT CRITICALLY PARTNERED WITH THE ACTION FOR BOSTON COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT, WHICH GIVES PEOPLE TOOLS TO HELP THEM GET OUT OF POVERTY AND BETTER THEIR LIVES. AND WE THOUGHT, GEE, WE HAVEN’T REALLY EVER CONSIDERED ED THE, YOU KNOW, THE PET NEEDS OF OUR FAMILIES. AND THEY’RE REALLY IMPORTANT. THAT PARTNERSHIP HAS PAID OFF AND HAS HELPED CUT THE NUMBER OF PETS BEING SURRENDERED. TAKE DORCHESTER FOR EXAMPLE. THE ARL SAYS ON AVERAGE, 168 ANIMALS WERE BEING SURRENDERED EACH YEAR BETWEEN 2013 AND 2017. BUT. BETWEEN 2018 AND 2022, THAT NUMBER WENT DOWN TO 105 ANIMALS EACH YEAR, A DROP OF 37%. WE PROVIDE A LOT OF NECESSITIES, BASIC ESSENTIALS IS LET’S MAKE THIS PART OF THAT, THAT COMPREHENSIVE SUPPORT FOR OUR COMMUNITIES, SUPPORTING PEOPLE AND THEIR PETS, WHETHER IT’S A VET VISIT OR JUST GETTING SOME ANIMAL FOOD, DOING WHATEVER THEY CAN TO HELP KEEP PETS IN THEIR HOMES AND OUT OF SHELTERS. OUR DREAM IS TO BE ABLE TO BE ON THE ROAD 5 OR 6 DAYS A WEEK AND SERVICE MORE COMMUNITIES IN BOSTON. THAT IS OUR DREAM. WE’LL GET THERE, BUT WE’RE NOT THERE YET. AND THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE RELIES ON DONATIONS. THEY’RE HOPING THE PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR THE WELLNESS WAGON WILL ALLOW THEM TO EXPAND THEIR SERVICES TO WEST ROXBURY HYDE PARK AND JAMAICA PLAIN, WHICH HAVE ALL SEEN INCREASES IN PETS BEING SURRENDERED. REPO
ARL Wellness Waggin' helping more Boston families in need get medical care for pets
It may be small, but the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Wellness Waggin’ plays a big role in reducing the number of surrendered animals in Boston. Five years ago, the nonprofit launched its mobile veterinary clinic to bring high-quality animal care directly to pet owners in neighborhoods with high levels of surrenders, including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and Easton Boston.“For $10, you can bring your dog or cat, get a veterinary exam with our wonderful team of veterinarians, any vaccine your dog or cat would need and also ask any questions you may have regarding your dog or cat,” said Edward Schettino, the president and CEO of ARL. The Waggin’ hit the road in 2018 but has partnered with the Action for Boston Community Development, which gives people tools to help them get out of poverty and better their lives.“And we thought, ‘Gee. We haven’t really ever considered the pet needs of our families and they’re really important,’” said Sharon Scott-Chandler, the president and CEO of ABCD.That partnership has paid off and has helped cut the number of pets being surrendered, the ARL said. For example, in Dorchester, the ARL said, on average, 168 animals were being surrendered each year between 2013 and 2017. But between 2018 and 2022, that number dropped 37% to an average of 105 animals each year.“We provide a lot of necessities, basic essentials. Let’s make this part of that comprehensive support for our communities,” said Scott-Chandler. Supporting people and their pets — whether it’s a vet visit or some animal food — doing whatever they can to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters.“Our dream is to be on the road five or six days a week and service more communities in Boston. That is our dream. We’ll get there, but not there yet,” said Schettino. The ARL relies on donations, and it's hoping the public’s support for this program will allow it to take the Waggin’ to West Roxbury, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain, which have seen an increase each year in pets being surrendered.
It may be small, but the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Wellness Waggin’ plays a big role in reducing the number of surrendered animals in Boston.
Five years ago, the nonprofit launched its mobile veterinary clinic to bring high-quality animal care directly to pet owners in neighborhoods with high levels of surrenders, including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan and Easton Boston.
“For $10, you can bring your dog or cat, get a veterinary exam with our wonderful team of veterinarians, any vaccine your dog or cat would need and also ask any questions you may have regarding your dog or cat,” said Edward Schettino, the president and CEO of ARL.
The Waggin’ hit the road in 2018 but has partnered with the Action for Boston Community Development, which gives people tools to help them get out of poverty and better their lives.
“And we thought, ‘Gee. We haven’t really ever considered the pet needs of our families and they’re really important,’” said Sharon Scott-Chandler, the president and CEO of ABCD.
That partnership has paid off and has helped cut the number of pets being surrendered, the ARL said.
For example, in Dorchester, the ARL said, on average, 168 animals were being surrendered each year between 2013 and 2017. But between 2018 and 2022, that number dropped 37% to an average of 105 animals each year.
“We provide a lot of necessities, basic essentials. Let’s make this part of that comprehensive support for our communities,” said Scott-Chandler.
Supporting people and their pets — whether it’s a vet visit or some animal food — doing whatever they can to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters.
“Our dream is to be on the road five or six days a week and service more communities in Boston. That is our dream. We’ll get there, but not there yet,” said Schettino.
The ARL relies on donations, and it's hoping the public’s support for this program will allow it to take the Waggin’ to West Roxbury, Hyde Park and Jamaica Plain, which have seen an increase each year in pets being surrendered.
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