BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — The bone-chilling cold that New England is now experiencing is not only dangerous for humans: it's downright deadly for homeless animals, especially young kittens.
The Animal Rescue League of Boston is very concerned about kittens being born outside this year during frigid temperatures, which could lead to a number of newborn kittens dying out in the cold.
Michael DeFina, the ARL's Communications and Media Relations Officer, said the league is projecting a big spike in feral kitten births this winter season because of the milder temperatures the Commonwealth saw in November and December.
"About 6 to 8 weeks [they] are really vulnerable," DeFina said. "They don't have the body fat, they don't have the skills either to survive the extreme cold."
DeFina added that it's especially important for residents to be on the lookout for any kittens they may see outside. He added that if you come across any, you can reach out to a local animal control department or contact the ARL's Field Services Department.
"It’s important to get these kittens off the streets,” he said. “We’ll come out, we’ll assess the colony, we can remove the kittens from the outdoors, bring them to one of our facilities to be taken care of. If their mom is with them, we can take the mom as well, [and] get her spade and vaccinated.”
The organization is also reminding residents to always leave kittens with their mother if they see them together.
The Field Services Department can be reached by calling (617)-426-9170.
According to the ARL website, the hours of operation are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. They are closed on Sundays and Mondays.
Kim Tunnicliffe (@KimWBZ) reports.
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Written by Rachel Armany
(Photo: Kim Tunnicliffe/WBZ NewsRadio)