Photo: MSPCA-Angell
BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Animal welfare organizations across Massachusetts are temporarily waiving adoption fees for adult dogs.
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is teaming up with several other shelters to address the decline in pet adoptions. The group plans to rehome dozens of dogs in one week.
Photo: MSPCA-Angell
The influx of animals began during the summer, with more than 1,200 pets surrendered to MSPCA-Angell in July through transfers, surrenders, strays, and out-of-state transports.
Shelters are struggling to support the sizeable surrenders.
Four MSPCA-Angell shelters are involved with the event, as well as MASS coalition partners, including the Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, Berkshire Humane Society, Worcester Animal Rescue League, and Boston Animal Care and Control, along with three non-coalition partners.
Photo: MSPCA-Angell
According to Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell's Animal Protection Division, they must rehome the dogs they currently have in order to help new ones.
“Between all 10 shelters involved, we’ve really got the majority of Massachusetts covered, and we’re not far from other states in New England,” Garabedian said in a statement. “We want to make this event as accessible as possible for as many people as possible in the hopes that we can find great homes for a lot of the dogs in our care.”
Future pet owners can take advantage of the fee waiver from Monday, Aug. 18, to Sunday, Aug. 24.
Photo: MSPCA-Angell