MSPCA Valentine's Day Week Adoption Event Aims To Rehome 100+ Dogs

SALEM, MA — MSPCA-Angell, Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem and its coalition partners across the state are looking to spread the love to more than 100 dogs looking for their forever homes this Valentine's Day season with fee-free adoptions for shelter dogs 1-year-old or older.

During the "Missed Connections" adoption event, which begins Monday and runs through Feb. 23, fees will be waived for all dogs aged one and older at MSPCA shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod, as well as Baypath Humane Society, Boston Animal Control, Berkshire Humane Society, Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center, and Worcester Animal Rescue League.

"Right now, we've got a ton of dogs in our care, and we know that our partners are dealing with the same capacity crunch," said Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell's Animal Protection Division. "Valentine's Day often elicits feelings of love and companionship, things we really want our dogs to experience, so it's the perfect time to call for adopters."

The groups hope to rehome 100 dogs across the nine participating shelters, something Garabedian says could not come at a better time.

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"Our shelters are full because of a decrease in adoptions happening while we're fighting a battle on two fronts — an increase in local surrenders, plus a huge demand for out-of-state transports," Garabedian said. "That includes running our Disaster Relief program on overdrive with the Louisiana snow and California fires, while continuing our regular transports of animals from South Carolina that really are a lifeline for our partner shelters there."

Garabedian said reaching the adoption goal this coming week will allow it to increase its transport program for more dogs affected by the California wildfires.

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"With Los Angeles, it really is a matter of when, not if, we'll get the call to help again, considering how immense the need there is," she said. "But, while all of that is happening, we and our coalition partners are also seeing a lot of animals coming to our shelters through local surrenders."

Last year, local intake of dogs and cats to the MSPCA-Angell increased by 22 percent and 23 percent respectively — meaning nearly 900 more animals needing care.

"Surrenders happen for a variety of reasons — sometimes it's cost, especially when the economy's down," Garabedian said. "Often, it's housing restrictions that force people into making impossible choices. Regardless of why the animals are coming to us, everyone in the coalition wants to be there for them, but in order for us to be successful, we also need adopters, and there's no time like the present.

"We're asking people to come to our adoption centers and speak with our counselors, who are trained to match you with the right pup for each individual or family's situation. There are dozens and dozens of dogs across our organizations, so if you've been thinking of adopting, please come see us."

More information, including hours at each location and links to see what dogs are available, may be found here.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. X/Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)