Treat Yourself To A New Best Buddy During Halloween Fee-Free Dog Adoption Push

MASSACHUSETTS — Those looking for a new little buddy to help lift family spirits during this Halloween and ensuing holiday season can adopt a shelter dog with no fee during the "Creep It Real: Adopt a New Boo!" forever home push from MSPCA-Angell and its coalition shelters.

The latest adoption push comes as MSPCA-affiliated shelters took in nearly 900 dogs in recent months, with shelter space needed in order to accept more surrenders during the upcoming colder months.

"We had great momentum over the summer, but as soon as animals go to new homes, those spaces are filled by others who need to come into our care," said Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell's Animal Protection Division. "We want to be able to always say yes to everyone who needs us, but in order to do that, we need to find homes for some of the dogs already in our care."

Garabedian said MSPCA-Angell has taken in 430 dogs via local surrender and 437 dogs from out of state during the last three months alone.

"Our transport program is a lifeline for our shelter partners in other parts of the country where homeless animal populations are higher and there are fewer adoptive homes," Garabedian said. "We don't want to abandon those animals in need even when we're seeing increases in local surrender, especially now that we're in hurricane season, when many shelters need natural disaster relief."

The fee-free adoption for dogs 1 year old or older runs from Oct. 13 through Oct. 19.

"A huge part of helping animals find homes faster — which is key to having the space needed to help other animals in need — is lowering barriers to adoption, and fee-waived events like this one are a key piece of that," Garabedian said.

"We're hoping that people hear our call and come out to give some amazing dogs the loving homes they deserve."

All four MSPCA-Angell shelters — in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod — are participating in the adoptathon, as well as Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition members Berkshire Humane Society, Boston Animal Care and Control, Worcester Animal Rescue League, and Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center.

Fees will also be waived at non-coalition partners Lowell Humane Society and Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton.

Garabedian said the goal is to find homes for at least 100 dogs in the next week.

“Which we know is a lofty goal, but we've got great support in the community, so we're optimistic," Garabedian.

Adoption fees are being partially subsidized by Melkonian’s North Reading Subaru, Atlantic Subaru in Bourne, Autofair Subaru in Haverhill, and CitySide Subaru in Belmont.

More information and shelter hours can 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.)