Our Boston location is the heart and soul of our organization, and we are proudly invested in our city.
The current facility in Boston was built in 1956 and though it has a long and storied history, it no longer meets the standards of care our animals deserve.
It cannot evolve with us to adapt to what it will take to meet the needs of pets and families right now and in the future.
As our flagship campus, it serves the most animals and people. Our central location and proximity to public transit ensures our critical programs and services are accessible to those who need us most, especially in neighborhoods that face barriers, including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and East Boston.
With your help, we can rebuild, creating a state-of-the-art center which will address these urgent needs and substantially transform how we care for animals and support pet parents in Greater Boston.
- Construction is underway as of June 2025.
- The Animal Rescue League of Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center, as well as Boston Veterinary Care, remain open.
- Questions or concerns? Email boston-project@arlboston.org
Project Details
The new, three-story, state-of-the-art facility, located at our current home in the South End, will provide animals with the highest standards of care to help them heal and thrive, advance pet health and well-being through exceptional veterinary care and dog training, keep people and pets together, and improve the lives of animals.
It will include:
Animal Care & Adoption Center
Shelter & Community Veterinary Hospital
Hub for support services
for pet owners
Boston Veterinary Care, ARL’s outpatient clinic
Center for dog training classes
Flagship location for the humane education program
First Floor
$5.67M/76% to goal
Steering Committee Participation: 100%
ARL Board of Directors Participation: 100%
The cost of this new state-of-the-art facility is projected to be $48 million.
We are committed to raising a minimum of $7.5 million in cash and $2.5 million in bequest intentions over a five-year period, through philanthropic support from individuals and foundations.
$39.7 million has been secured through a combination of financing and ARL resources, however, if we exceed our fundraising goals, the project will be more financially efficient, reducing interest payments and reliance on assets that support long-term operations and growth.
You can Build our Foundation for the Future
This is the most ambitious fundraising initiative in our 126-year history. We must rely on the exceptional generosity of supporters like you to achieve our goal and make this new facility a reality.
Your generosity will be the backbone of a campaign that will transform how we care for animals and the people who love them in Boston, Greater Boston, and across Massachusetts.
Please join us by supporting the future of ARL through a multi-year investment in this capital campaign.
In recognition of your support, we can offer a range of naming opportunities in the new facility.
For more information, please contact Jackie Smith
