Home for the Holidays: Adoption Trends for Dogs During the Holiday Season
December 9, 2024
Close
MSPCA Increases Dog Adoption Push Amid Euthanasia Crisis
01Nov’23
Patch
By: Scott SouzaPublished: Nov 1, 2023
SALEM, MA — The MSPCA and Northeast Animal Shelter have been sounding the alarm for the past six months about the growing euthanasia crisis facing shelter dogs across the country.
Despite the efforts of the two organizations, which have combined to adopt hundreds of dogs through special events since the summer, the backlog of pets that need transportation to New England to avoid euthanasia at overcapacity shelters — mostly down South — is increasing.
Euthanasia rates are up 22 percent year over year, according to the shelter data tracking group Shelter Animals Count, with 96,000 more dogs expected to be euthanized this year because they lack an adoptive home.
“We saw this coming and have been working for months to try to reduce the risk for dogs across the country,” said Mike Keiley, Director of Adoption Centers and Programs at the MSPCA-Angell and board chair of Shelter Animals Count. “The fact that we’ve found homes for hundreds of dogs in just a matter of months without making a significant impact in this crisis speaks to how bleak this reality is — and how critical it is not only for us to continue what we’re doing, but for other animal welfare organizations to join in as well.”
Compounding the crisis is that dog adoption is down more than 1 percent nationwide since last year with about 20,000 fewer dogs adopted in 2023 over 2022 if the trend holds over the next two months.
“There’s a snowball effect when adoptions slow down,” Keiley said. “Shelters that receive transported dogs can no longer take them in, so they’re stuck in shelters that are over capacity.
“When shelters get to that point, they’re in an impossible place. They either have to decide to euthanize healthy animals to make space for new animals in need — or they’re forced to reduce intake, which can lead to desperate decisions from owners who need to surrender — like abandoning pets on the streets.”
He added that this is the worst crisis in years and that dog placement gains before and during the COVID-19 crisis have been erased.
“Now we’re in a really bad place,” Keiley said.
Keiley said, despite the capacity crunch at the shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem and on Cape Cod, the MSPCA and Northeast Animal Shelter still hope to bring about 300 more dogs to Massachusetts through December while continuing to accept local surrenders, which are also up about 40 percent.
He said the shelters will continue to hold special reduced-fee, and fee-free adoption events throughout the end of the year and throughout 2024 to encourage adoptions.
“We’re at capacity right now with now with dozens of dogs in our care who need — and deserve —to find great new homes,” Keiley said. “We’ve actually been operating at capacity basically all year to maximize as many opportunities to save dogs as possible.”
Interested adopters are encouraged to go here to see dogs available for adoption or visit the shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod.
The MSPCA is also in great need of those able to foster dogs waiting for adoption to help keep shelters from hitting capacity. Those interested in being a foster can get more information here.