Just over two dozen large breed dogs flew to Massachusetts in an emergency transport from Texas — an effort to ease pressure on an overburdened Southern animal shelter and find the dogs new homes here in New England.
The MSPCA-Angell said on Wednesday in a news release that the 25 dogs — ranging in ages from 12 weeks to 10 years old — arrived at Hanscom Field in Bedford on Tuesday. They have been scattered out to the group’s network of four local animal shelters.
The dogs include Pit Bulls, Labrador Retrievers, hounds and Catahoula Leopard Dogs, according to the MSPCA-Angell. After they complete their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and receive any necessary medical care, the dogs will be made available for adoption, the group added.
“Many of these dogs were living at a small rescue operation,” said Mike Keiley, the MSPCA-Angell’s vice president of animal protection, in a statement. “But that group was no longer able to provide the care that they needed, so the dogs started to suffer, and it became clear they needed to be moved off the property.”
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“Unfortunately, it’s near impossible to find transport partners for dogs right now, especially larger breeds, because most organizations are already full up,” Keiley added, referencing a national dog population crisis, which puts animals at higher risk of euthanasia due to overpopulation.
Partnering with the Bissell Pet Foundation and American Humane, the MSPCA said it was able to bring the dogs to Massachusetts as part of this wider rescue effort.
The MSPCA was also able to take in more large breed dogs thanks to a week-long “Ready, Set, Dog!” adoption event it hosted, which found 135 dogs new homes.
“Our own population has been at or near capacity for over a year at this point, but thanks to the success of our last adoption event, were were able to free up some space and knew we had to help,” Keiley said.
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Keiley said adoption events like “Ready, Set, Dog!” have happened periodically to encourage adoptions and “keep animals moving out of the shelters.”
He added that these efforts and collaborations with other animal welfare and rescue organizations are also made possible thanks to the “incredible support” the MSPCA receives from the community and those who foster and adopt dogs.
“This approach has also helped us remain in a position to help with emergency transports like this one,” Keiley said. “Unfortunately, it seems like these situations are only increasing while there are fewer organizations in a position to help, so it’s more important now than ever that we’re able to step up.”
Keiley estimated that “thousands of dogs” have been aided by the MSPCA through their approach of rescuing dogs and helping ailing animal shelters elsewhere in the country.
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“This transport really required all hands of deck,” Keiley said. “Every shelter we have needed to free up space for the dogs to complete their state-mandated quarantines.”
The MSPCA-Angell said that the cost of caring for the 25 dogs flown to Massachusetts is expected to cost roughly $5,000.
Those interested in donating to the MSPCA-Angell to help offset these costs may do so on the MSPCA’s website.
