'Summer Ruff-Fresher' MA Dog Adoption Push Aims To Find 100+ Pets Forever Homes

SALEM, MA — The MPSCA-Angell shelters, Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem and five other partner shelters across Massachusetts are kicking off the "America Runs on Doggos" summer adoption push with a week-long adoptathon aimed at finding forever homes for at least 100 shelter dogs next week.

The "Summer Ruff-Fresher" event runs from Monday through June 29 with adoption fees waived for all dogs 1 year or older.

"Summer is a great time to adopt, not only because families are together at home to help acclimate a new pet, but also because intake at shelters tends to increase, especially in other parts of the country with higher homeless animal populations, including where some of our transport partners are," said Jamie Garabedian, project manager of the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division. "Dog populations increase even more during warm weather for a multitude of reasons, so shelters that are already overcapacity are further strained, and that's not even taking into account the fact that they're also more likely to get inundated with animals due to hurricanes and related natural disasters that happen more frequently this time of year."

All four MSPCA-Angell shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod as well as MASS coalition partners Berkshire Humane Society, Worcester Animal Rescue League, Boston Animal Care and Control, and Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center are participating, as well as non-coalition partner Animal Protection Center of Southeastern Massachusetts.

"It's no secret that there’s been a slowdown in dog adoptions, especially of larger dogs, that's created capacity problems at shelters in Massachusetts and across the country," Garabedian said. "We want to be there for all the animals who need us, but we need to open up shelter space in order to do that."

"One of the great things about the (MASS) coalition is that we're able to meet so many more adopters where they are, with shelters across the state participating. We're hoping the community hears our need and comes out to visit a shelter near them."

All dogs available are spayed or neutered and have been through veterinary examinations.

Those interested in adopting a dog are encouraged to go here to view available dogs and locations.

Additional summer adoption events will be announced in the coming weeks.

(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.)