Rescue Archives - Page 2 of 21 - Animal Rescue League of Boston

Category: Rescue

Neonatal Kittens Rescued in October Find Homes for the Holidays

Neonatal kittens rescued when mom was injured and unable to provide care

Rescued as a trio of neonatal kittens in October by the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) have completed a remarkable transformation by finding their forever homes just in time for the holidays.

In October, the kittens were discovered in Fall River by a concerned resident who noticed the mother cat was unable to care for the kittens due to severe wounds.

At just 4-weeks-old at the time, the kittens were in an incredibly vulnerable situation, which could’ve been life-threatening without intervention.

ARL’s Field Services routinely works in the Fall River area, an area with countless community cats, and immediately responded when receiving the call about these three kittens.

The kittens and the mom were trapped and transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center, where they immediately received veterinary care.

The kittens were filthy, and suffering from upper respiratory infections.

The trio received medication for the infections and were placed into foster care so they could be constantly monitored.

The mom cat, now named Kiki, was suffering from multiple puncture wounds, and was also underweight.

The kittens rebounded rather quickly, and once they hit the right age, they were spay/neutered and recently found their forever homes.

For Kiki, because she had wounds of unknown origin, she continues a state-mandated 4-month quarantine with ARL, but she will become available for adoption in early 2024.

About ARL’s Community Cat Program

ARL is the only large animal welfare organization in Massachusetts with staff dedicated to helping community cats, which can be found in any city or town in Massachusetts, and it’s estimated that there are 700,000 community cats living throughout the Commonwealth, 70,000 in Boston alone.

Community cats face many challenges living outdoors. Without proper shelter and care, they are at risk of illness and injury.

Additionally, without spay/neuter surgery, these cats can produce many litters and continue the cycle of large colonies of unowned cats.

ARL’s Field Services Agents will respond to the call of residents who report a colony of cats, investigating the colony to determine the number of cats and kittens residing in that area, the cats’ overall health status, and whether or not a local resident is feeding them regularly and can continue.

After the initial assessment, a TNR (Trap-Neuter- Return) plan is formulated for that particular colony.

TNR is one of the most humane and effective ways to stop the cycle of homelessness among cats.

Spay and neuter surgeries are low risk and proven to improve the safety and health of these cats as well as the community as a whole.

The plan also includes vaccines, and whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

Helping Homeless Animals in Need

For a homeless animal or at-risk pet, your kindness can change their whole life.

Your support is a powerful source of hope for the animals we serve, as it will ensure that we are able to provide all animals in our care with the level of compassion and love they deserve.

Will you make a gift to help animals experience kindness and joy this holiday season?

Stray Dog Hit by Car Recovering at ARL

Stray dog suffered numerous injuries, including fractured pelvis

A stray dog is recovering at the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) after he was recently struck by a car in Boston and suffered a broken pelvis, among other injuries.

Bingo, a one-year-old Border Collie mix, was found at the intersection of American Legion Highway and Blue Hill Avenue in the early morning hours of November 27 by Boston Animal Control, who immediately transported him to an emergency veterinary clinic to assess his injuries.

Once the dog was stabilized, he was transported to ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center for further treatment and care.

The injuries this dog sustained are consistent with being hit by a car.

Along with a broken pelvis, Bingo suffered a number of lacerations requiring stitches, a chest x-ray revealed moderate to severe lung bruising and a mild pneumothorax.

Bingo is on the road to recovery and will require strict crate rest and short leash walks for the next month or so as his injuries heal.

Despite his condition, Bingo is incredibly friendly and outgoing and while he is not available for adoption right now, ARL is looking forward to finding Bingo the home he deserves in early 2024.

Make a Difference

When you make your year-end gift today, you can help make sure animals like Bingo get everything they deserve this holiday season.

Your generosity means you can be there for animals, every step of the journey home, as long as it takes.

From transports from overcrowded shelters or emergency rescues to veterinary care, enrichment, and behavior training, and finally adoption – you make it all possible.

2,839+ animals in need have already found homes this year.

Will you make a year-end gift to help one more?

ARL Caring for Cat Suffering from Extensive Burns

Second/third-degree burns cover more than 50 percent of cat’s body

A one-year-old female cat found as a stray in Oxford, MA, is facing months of painful treatment and rehabilitation due to second and third-degree burns covering more than half her body, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) veterinary staff is working diligently to save her life and give her the second chance that she deserves.

The cat, now named Era, was found in a work shed in Oxford, MA, and once the extent of her injuries was realized, Oxford Animal Control contacted ARL for assistance and the cat was transported to ARL’s Boston Animal Care and Adoption Center for treatment.

ARL’s veterinary team has assessed that second and third-degree burns cover approximately 55 percent of her body, and treatment has consisted of pain management and twice-weekly wound debridement involving removing dead skin and exposing the new skin underneath to promote healing.

The procedures are intensive and painful, and Era is at the beginning of a very long road to recovery.

At this juncture Era’s condition is guarded, but cautiously optimistic.

It is currently unknown what caused the burns and whether it was an intentional act, but ARL’s primary focus at this time is doing everything possible to save this animal’s life.

Era will continue to have twice-weekly debridement procedures, and will eventually be placed in foster care to give her a quiet and calm environment to further help in the healing process.

Help the Healing

ARL is asking the public for support in helping Era and animals like her.

The cost of her care is roughly $1,000-1,500 per week and at this time it is unknown how long her treatments will be necessary, but it’s anticipated that it will likely be several months.

ARL is committed to giving Era her best chance at life, and anyone interested in donating can visit support.arlboston.org/Era.

ARL Seeing Steady Influx of Community Cats and Kittens

Colder weather raising concern for younger community cats and kittens

With mild winters becoming commonplace, there is no such thing as kitten season anymore, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) continues to see a steady influx of community cats and kittens from outdoor cat colonies throughout Massachusetts – and with colder temperatures settling into our area, younger cats and kittens will become more vulnerable and in need of help.

ARL is seeing an influx of community cats and kittens.

To date, ARL has taken in nearly 800 community cats and kittens from all corners of the state, and the organization’s Community Cat Program shows no sign of slowing down heading into winter.

With colder temperatures jeopardizing the health, safety, and possibly the lives of young cats and kittens, ARL is ramping up its efforts to take in as many of these animals as possible and get them the help they need.

Current data estimates there are approximately 700,000 community cats living in communities across Massachusetts, 70,000 in Boston alone.

ARL is committed to caring for these animals and reminds the public to be on the lookout for community cats and kittens.

If you come across these animals, it’s important not to attempt to move them, instead contact ARL Field Services for assistance at (617) 426-9170 (option 1).

Once the cats and kittens are rescued, ARL provides a wide range of veterinary care, including vaccinations and spay/neuter surgery, and the cats are also assessed behaviorally to determine adoption potential.

Adult cats who are truly feral and do not want to rely on humans for care are returned to the field.

While community cats are incredibly resilient, kittens born outdoors are extremely vulnerable to fluctuating weather conditions, predators, illness, among others, and sadly many don’t survive.

Community cats and kittens can be found literally anywhere – under decks, in basements, woodpiles, dog houses – anywhere a mother cat can provide relative safety and warmth for her offspring.

ARL cannot do this work alone and needs help from residents who share concern for the welfare of these vulnerable animals.

For more information about ARL’s Community Cat Program please visit Community Cat Program (arlboston.org)

Below Freezing Morning Nearly Claims Life of Homeless Kitten

ARL collaborates with community cat feeder to save homeless kitten’s life

A 5-week-old homeless kitten who was recently found cold to the touch in Berkley, MA, on a brisk November morning when temperatures dipped below the freezing mark, is getting a second chance thanks to the quick actions of a community cat feeder and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL).

The former homeless kitten, now named Applesauce, was discovered amongst a cat colony by a resident who monitors and feeds the colony and was very alarmed when the kitten was found cold and listless.

The finder took the kitten inside, contacted ARL’s Field Services Department, and did their best to warm up the kitten, by using blankets and providing sugar water.

ARL responded to the home and transported the kitten to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

Upon intake, the kitten’s temperature was just 93F – a cat’s normal body temperature is typically between 100.5-102.5F.

ARL’s veterinary team used a heated blanket to help increase the kitten’s body temperature and closely monitored him.

Over the course of several hours, the kitten’s temperature had risen to 98F, and he was starting to perk up, indicated by a voracious appetite. Aside from being nearly frozen to death, the kitten was otherwise in good health.

With the kitten stable, ARL placed Applesauce into foster care, where his foster family reported that for the first 24-36 hours the kitten was lethargic and spent most of his time curled up in a blanket sleeping.

However, by the third day in the foster home, Applesauce rebounded, being very vocal, attention-seeking, and purring for hours on end!

At just 7-weeks-old, Applesauce is still too young to find his forever home, however, ARL is thrilled that after the quick actions of the finder, he will have the opportunity to find a family and live the life he deserves. He should be available for adoption in a matter of weeks.

ARL and Community Cats

ARL is the only large animal welfare agency in Massachusetts with staff specifically dedicated to community cats.

ARL’s Community Cat Program rescues hundreds of community cats annually to help slow the cycle of homelessness among cats, providing medical care, vaccines, spay/neuter surgery, and determining whether each cat will be returned to the colony, returned to their owner if microchipped, or admitted to an ARL shelter to be put up for adoption if they are friendly.

There are an estimated 700,000 community cats and kittens residing in Massachusetts, 70,000 in Boston alone. ARL encourages anyone who discovers cats living outdoors to contact ARL Field Services at (617) 426-9170 x563.

ARL Alum Found Living Among Cat Colony

Cat from cat colony receives critical surgery upon return to ARL

When a three-year-old cat was recently trapped from a cat colony in Boston, the organization scanned the animal for a microchip, and turns out the cat was adopted from the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) when he was just a kitten.

Snapple peeking out of his kennel.

The male cat, now named Snapple, had been seen around the colony for about a year, so it’s likely he was abandoned at some point in his young life and showing off his survival skills, found and integrated with the colony to be with other outdoor cats.

When he was identified as an ARL alum, he was transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center where he received a thorough veterinary exam, and while he was slightly underweight, the more pressing issue was entropion – a condition where the upper or lower eyelid is inverted and if left untreated can cause corneal abrasions, severe pain, and in some cases eventual blindness.

Both of Snapple’s lower eyelids were inverted, and ARL’s shelter medicine team performed a surgical procedure to correct the issue, saving the cat a life of pain and possible blindness.

Going Home

With the surgery completed and having a few days to recover, the next step for Snapple was to find the permanent and loving home he deserved.

Despite spending an unknown amount of time on his own in the outdoors, Snapple showed to be an incredibly social cat, often leaping into the arms of anyone interacting with him in his kennel.

To no ones surprise, when Snapple was made available for adoption, he quickly found his new home and has already settled in and is thriving with his new family!