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ARL Offers Tips to Keep Pets Safe During the Holidays

The holiday season is upon us, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is reminding pet owners of some things to keep in mind to help keep our pets safe and healthy as we celebrate with friends, family, food and festivities!

Plants and Decorations

Pet owners should be aware of the holiday plants being brought into the home – mistletoe, holly, some types of lilies can cause a host of issues if they are ingested and additionally, poinsettias, while traditional, can also be toxic. Stick to artificial plant decorations, or opt for a pet-friendly bouquet.

If you have a Christmas tree, make sure it’s anchored so it doesn’t tip over and injure your pet, and also be sure to keep pets from drinking the tree water which could cause gastrointestinal discomfort.

For decorations, with its sparkle, tinsel can be mistaken for a toy, but if ingested can cause vomiting, dehydration or even a blockage in the digestive tract, so in short, if you have pets, leave the tinsel in the box!

Also, be sure to never leave candles unattended, and keep wires, batteries and ornaments out of reach of your pet’s paws.

small dog sniffing sweets in a bowl

Foods to Avoid

We all know that chocolate is a no-no, but there are also potential dangers hidden in many of the side dishes and snacks we enjoy during the holidays.

These include onions, garlic, grapes and raisins, nuts, milk and dairy, and xylitol, which is a sweetener found in many products including candy, gum and baked goods, can all be toxic to our pets.

Do not give your dog bones, either cooked or raw! Bones can splinter, causing intestinal obstructions and even fracture teeth.

Be mindful while cooking – consider keeping pets out of the kitchen and remind your guests not to feed your pets any scraps!

Should your pet ingest any items that may be toxic, contact the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 immediately.

white cat laying on bookshelf

Holiday Gatherings

If your hosting family or friends for the holidays, it could be a stimulus overload for your pet, causing anxiety and overexcitement. And in turn unpleasant behaviors may surface so be sure to set up your pet for success before your guests arrive.

Give your pets get plenty of attention and exercise prior to guests arriving because we all know tired pets are more apt to be better behaved pets!

With guests constantly coming and going, it’s best to remind visitors to be mindful when entering and exiting your home to ensure your pet does not make a great escape in all of the excitement – if they are overanxious they may make a dash for the door!

Additionally, provide your pet with a safe space away from your guests should they need an escape from the excitement.

The space should have fresh water, food, and items to keep them occupied including toys, or perhaps a food puzzle and bedding so they can be comfortable.

With a bit of preparation, you can help ensure a safe, happy, and worry-free holiday season for both you and your pets.

ARL Hosts Adoption Event To Celebrate Hill’s Milestone

Waived Adoption Fees for Boston Pets Ages 1+ Through December 14

ARL is teaming up with Hill’s Pet Nutrition (Hill’s) to offer WAIVED adoption fees for animals at ARL’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center one year and older through December 14th! Adopters will also receive a New Pet Parent Kit from Hill’s, which includes a starter bag of Hill’s Science Diet, a coupon and post-adoption tips.

The event is part of Hill’s “Sweet 16 Million Adoptions Celebration,” which honors the milestone of 16 million pet adoptions supported by the Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program since its inception in 2002.

“We are thrilled to join Hill’s in this national celebration by offering waived adoption fees at our Boston location. This partnership ensures that more deserving animals like Fiona find the comfort of a home this holiday season.” said ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino.

The Hill’s Food, Shelter & Love program provides discounted, science-led nutrition to over 1,000 North American animal shelters every day, including for the dogs and cats at ARL. As a proud partner of the program, ARL is excited to join shelters nationwide in celebrating this achievement and help deserving shelter pets in Boston find homes this holiday season. During the adoption campaign, Hill’s will contribute up to $200,000 to offset adoption fees at select Food, Shelter & Love partner locations in the United States and Canada.

ARL’s Animal Care & Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham, and Cape Cod (Brewster) are open Wednesday through Sunday from 1pm to 6pm.

View all of ARL’s adoptable animals looking for a home for the holidays!

5 Thanksgiving Foods Your Dog Should Avoid

Keep your pup happy and healthy this holiday season

Thanksgiving is all about gratitude, good food, and great company – including our pets! While it’s tempting to slip your dog a little taste from your plate, some holiday favorites can actually cause serious harm.

Before your pup partakes in Thanksgiving the feast, here are five foods to keep off their menu:

    1. Turkey Bones
      They might seem like a classic treat, but turkey bones can easily splinter and get lodged in your dog’s throat or digestive tract. This can lead to choking, internal injuries, or even surgery. So skip the bones and opt for a dog-safe chew instead.
    2. Fat Trimmings
      Rich, fatty foods are tough for dogs to digest and can trigger pancreatitis, a painful and potentially life-threatening condition. Watch for signs like vomiting, abdominal pain, or lethargy, and keep the greasy leftovers far from your pup’s bowl.
    3. Raw Dough and Cake Batter
      Unbaked dough can potentially rise inside your dog’s stomach, causing bloating and severe discomfort. And if the batter contains raw eggs, there’s also a risk of salmonella. Let your pup “help” in the kitchen by supervising, not taste-testing.
    4. Nutmeg
      This seasonal spice adds warmth to pies and lattes, but it’s toxic to dogs. Even small amounts can cause tremors, seizures, and vomiting. When baking, keep spiced treats safely out of reach.
    5. Raisins and Grapes
      Even tiny amounts of raisins or grapes can cause kidney failure in dogs. Since the reason for their toxicity is still unknown, it’s safest to steer clear altogether.

There are safer ways to include your dog in the celebration!

The best way for your pet to partake in the holiday cheer? Stick with traditional treats that are safe for dogs and cats! Food puzzles and interactive toys like a Kong filled with plain yogurt, peanut butter and 100% real pumpkin are a great way to keep your canine entertained and feeling satisfied all holiday long.

Bonus tip: Keep your vet’s emergency number handy. Should your pet become ill, contact your pet’s veterinarian or the local animal hospital’s number! A quick call to either of them can give you life-saving advice or even help you avoid a trip to the ER. 

A Paws-itive Partnership: ARL and Copeland Subaru Find Homes for Dogs

The “Bark & Bagels” adoption event, part of the nationwide Subaru Loves Pets® month, successfully connected local families with adoptable dogs in Hyannis

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) received support for local shelter animals through grant funding from Copeland Subaru Hyannis and an adoption event held on Saturday, October 18 which helped two dogs, Penne and Barney, find new homes in the community. The effort was part of Subaru Loves Pets®, a national Subaru initiative to support the lives of as many shelter animals as possible. ARL brought five dogs to the event and two were adopted. Barney was at ARL for 4 weeks and was the Brewster location’s longest shelter resident.

A black and brown dog sitting outside next to two people.

Barney with his new family!

“Pets make all of our lives better and Copeland Subaru is happy to do our small part in helping to find good homes for our furry friends. We appreciate our growing partnership with Animal Rescue League and look forward to growing this into a year-round event,” said Bryan Scarpellini, Managing Partner of Copeland Subaru Hyannis.

ARL organized the pet event, in collaboration with Copeland Subaru Hyannis, to raise awareness for Cape Cod pets in need. During the month of October, Copeland Subaru Hyannis and over 630 Subaru retailers nationwide worked with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to provide grants to local partner shelters resulting in over $3 million in donations.*

ARL staff posing outside next to a table with ARL materials

ARL staff outside of Copeland Subaru Hyannis

Subaru is proud to have donated over $70 million since 2008 to national and local organizations that help in the adoption, rescue, transport, and health of over 700,000 animals and pets. In addition to hosting the pet adoption event, Copeland Subaru Hyannis helped celebrate the seventh annual National Make A Dog’s Day by encouraging the local community to do something special for the dogs in their lives, adopt a shelter dog, or volunteer at an animal shelter and share the experience on social media using the hashtag #MakeADogsDay.

More information about Subaru Loves Pets.

*Subaru retailers provided grants based on previously selected tier to local shelter before October so it could be used throughout the month.

How to Prepare Your Pet for Spooky Season

In Massachusetts, Halloween means busy city streets filled with trick-or-treaters, neighborhood block parties, and plenty of creative costumes. While it’s a fun and spirited time for people, the holiday can be overwhelming—or even dangerous—for pets. With a little planning, you can help your four-legged family members stay safe and comfortable while you enjoy the festivities.

4 Tips to Protect Your Pets This Halloween:

  1. Keep candy and chocolate out of reach. The bowl of candy that we make easily accessible for tiny trick-or-treaters is also at paws-length for our pets. Even small amounts of chocolate, xylitol (found in sugar-free candy), and caffeine is toxic to dogs and cats and can cause seizures, liver failure, and even death. If you suspect your pet has eaten something dangerous, call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Poison Control Center at (888) 426-4435 right away.
  2. Be careful with decorations. If your goal is to create the perfect spooky ambiance for all the Halloween festivities, keep in mind that many decorations are not pet-friendly. Faux spider webs, glow sticks, and plastic toys can be harmful if swallowed. Lit candles or jack-o-lanterns can be knocked over by curious pets, leading to burns or even fires.
  3. Create a calm space. The doorbell constantly ringing, a flurry of strangers in costumes, and loud noises can overwhelm pets- especially those who are typically skittish or anxious. Set you cat or dog up in a quiet room with their favorite toys and a TV or white noise to help ease their stress.
  4. Check your pet’s ID. With doors opening and closing all night, there’s a risk of pets slipping outside. Make sure their ID tags and microchip information are up to date so you can be reunited quickly if they get lost.

Halloween can be a wonderful holiday for the whole family—but for pets, it comes with hidden risks. By keeping treats out of reach, decorating with care, reducing stress, checking IDs, and being mindful about costumes, you can ensure your pets stay safe and comfortable. With just a few simple precautions, the holiday can be fun, festive, and worry-free for everyone.

Carve Out Some Fun This Halloween!

Download our free pumpkin carving templates featuring cute animal designs.

ARL Reminds Pet Owners to Keep Pets Safe During Heat Wave

Tips to Protect Pets in Extreme Heat

With temperatures soaring over the next few days, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is reminding pet owners to take steps to keep pets safe as we experience extreme weather conditions.

Keep your pet safe and healthy by following these important basic guidelines:

  • Prevention is always your best bet. Whenever possible, leave your pet at home in a cool, low-humidity, and temperature-regulated room.
  • If your pet must be outdoors, find a shady spot with ample air flow to prevent overheating.
  • Hydration is key, so keep a bowl of cold water accessible at all times.
  • Limit exercise to the morning or evening hours when temperatures are at their coolest. Aside from the heat, the high humidity can cause respiratory issues for animals, particularly short-snouted animals (e.g., pugs).
  • When the temperatures rise, it’s Too Hot for Spot®! Never leave your pet alone in a parked car — even with the air conditioner on or the windows cracked.

It is illegal in Massachusetts to keep an animal confined in a vehicle during extreme hot or cold conditions, and when a weather advisory is issued, it is also illegal to keep dogs tethered for longer than five hours in a 24-hour period. Dogs also cannot be tethered outdoors between 10 PM and 6 AM, unless for not more than 15 minutes, and when the owner/keeper is present.

See an animal that is in imminent danger or distress? If so, contact your local animal control or police department immediately.

More summer pet safety tips.

ARL Rescues Kitten from Storm Drain Near I-95 On-Ramp in Canton

Kitten was underweight, now in foster care

A six-week-old kitten is safe and sound in foster care after being rescued from a storm drain near the on-ramp to I-95 in Canton by the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Field Services Department.

ARL received a call on July 19 from a passerby who spotted the kitten wandering on Neponset Street in Canton and given his size and the fact he was alone, ARL immediately sprang into action to ensure the safety of the animal.

Pigeon in ARL’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center.

Once on-scene, ARL agents scoured a wooded area where the kitten was spotted and after a short time, could hear him crying – from inside a storm drain.

Once the exit pipe was located, agents set a humane trap and played kitten sounds to lure him out of his hiding place.

After a short wait, the kitten came out and was immediately drawn to the food that had been placed in the trap.

When he began ravenously eating, the trap closed, and agents prepared him for the short transport drive to ARL’s Boston Animal Care & Adoption Center.

The kitten, now named Pigeon, was very thin, weighing just over a pound, and was extremely dirty, but was otherwise healthy.

He will remain in foster care for several weeks to gain weight and reach the appropriate age to be neutered and will then be made available for adoption.

ARL reminds the public that anyone who spots a domestic animal in distress or danger is urged to contact ARL Field Services for assistance at (617) 426-9170 x563.

ARL Partners with New England Patriots for Training Camp Adoption Event

As the New England Patriots kicked off the first day of training camp, a special adoption event at Gillette Stadium with the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) kicked off a lifetime of love for more than three dozen families who took home a new furry family member.

ARL joined two other animal welfare organizations to find homes for 41 puppies and young adult dogs, the first such event to held at Gillette Stadium during training camp.

New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft and his wife and ARL board member Dr. Dana Kraft have a deep love for animals, particularly their dog Heisman, and the adoption effort was largely spear-headed by Dr. Kraft.

“Dana is on the board of ARL and she mentioned to me that the number of dogs in shelters is higher than it’s ever been,” said Mr. Kraft. “I don’t know if that’s because of what’s going on with the economics of our country right now, but I do know how these dogs can bring so much happiness and love.”

The adoption event included a press conference the previous day where players and head coach Mike Vrabel brought two ARL puppies to the podium to answer questions from the media.

The kickoff of training camp also included a special moment where players and coach Vrabel walked onto the field with some of the adopted puppies to present them to their new families.

As fans filed into training camp, they were able to meet and interact with all the available animals, talk with adoption staff, and also learn more about the programs and services that ARL offers.

The event was tremendously successful, and ARL wishes to thank the Patriots for their partnership and passion to help find homes for as many animals as possible.

What a way to kick off the 2025-2026 season!

ARL, MA State Police to Host Too Hot for Spot Campaign Demo

Demonstration part of ARL’s annual Too Hot for Spot summer safety campaign

This week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and Massachusetts State Police welcomed members of the media to ARL’s Dedham Campus for a hot car demonstration as part of ARL’s annual Too Hot for Spot® safety campaign, which has educated pet owners about summer safety for over a decade.

ARL is marking 11 years of the Too Hot for Spot campaign, but unfortunately, we are still seeing plenty of instances where an animal’s life is put in danger due to being left in a hot vehicle, several of which have happened in just the past month.

With temperatures this summer being well above average, it’s imperative this message reaches as many pet owners as possible.

Leaving an animal in a hot car is the number one cause of deadly heatstroke in pets. When temperatures rise, so do concerns about animal safety.

Even when the mercury dips below 80 degrees, the threat for heat stroke still exists.

Within five minutes’ time, a vehicle’s interior temperature can rise above 118 degrees on a 75-degree day, even with the windows cracked.

This week’s demonstration occurred during an overcast day, with temperatures in the low 80’s.

In less than 10 minutes, the thermometer inside the vehicle soared to over 115 degrees, demonstrating the dangers that exist during the summer months.

Additionally, many modern vehicles feature an automatic shut-off feature after a certain amount of time when the vehicle is left in park and running – meaning that even if a pet owner leaves their animals in a car with the air conditioning running, the vehicle may shut off, leaving the animals susceptible to deadly heat stroke.

It is also illegal in Massachusetts to keep an animal in a hot vehicle, and law enforcement across the Commonwealth will be on the lookout this summer.

Visit arlboston.org/too-hot-for-spot to learn important pet safety tips and guidelines.

ARL wishes to thank the Massachusetts State Police, the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, and Herb Chambers for their continued support and partnership in ARL’s Too Hot for Spot summer safety campaign.

ARL, Animal Advocates Gather at Massachusetts State House for Lobby Day for Animals

Animal welfare organizations collaborate to lobby for animal-protection legislation

This past week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Advocacy team joined other animal welfare organizations at the Massachusetts State House for Lobby Day for Animals, to help citizen animal advocates make an impact by meeting and encouraging their elected officials to prioritize animal-protection legislation.

ARL presented briefings on current pieces of legislation and also offered guidance to those in attendance on how to effectively lobby their elected officials to help garner support for these proposed bills.

Rep. Aaron Michlewitz receives the Legislator of the Year award.

Priority bills included:

An Act to maintain stable housing for families with pets (H.1559); An Act to maintain stable housing for families with pets in an economic crisis and beyond (S.1022)

Provides housing protections during states of emergency and immediately afterward, preventing animals from being used as a reason for eviction. Prohibits insurance companies from refusing coverage, canceling, or increasing rates on the basis of dog breed.

An Act to codify pet-friendly elderly housing policies and ensure pet parity across housing authorities (H.1476)

Protects programs to allow pets in elderly housing authorities and ensures pets and their families can stay together in certain state-funded housing.

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops (S.618;HD.4490) Proposed bill would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits, and guinea pigs in pet shops throughout Massachusetts. Would not prohibit pet shops from partnering with shelters or rescues to display/facilitate adoptions.

An Act banning the retail sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops (H.967;S.651)

Proposed bill would prohibit the sale of dogs, cats, and rabbits in new pet shops throughout Massachusetts. Would not prohibit pet shops from partnering with shelters or rescues to display/facilitate adoptions.

An Act to provide additional funding for animal welfare and safety programming (S. 639)

This bill would enable additional monies to be directed to the Mass Animal Fund for the purpose of spaying, neutering or vaccinating homeless dogs and cats, or those that live with low-income families, by stipulating that administrative fines, issued pursuant to Section 37 of Chapter 129 (“Enforcement actions; jurisdiction of commissioner of agriculture, district and superior courts”), would go to the Fund.

Celebrating Past Animal Victories

ARL and other animal protection organizations were also pleased to be able to present House Chair of Ways and Means (and ARL’s Representative in the South End) Aaron Michlewitz with the Legislator of the Year Award.

Under Chair Michlewitz’s leadership, the House advanced the most standalone animal bills in any session in recent history!

Recognition was also presented to the numerous legislative sponsors of the bills signed into law earlier this year including An Act to Increase Kennel Safety aka Ollie’s Law; An Act Regulating the Use of Elephants, Big Cats, Primates, Giraffes and Bears in Traveling Exhibits and Shows;  An Act Prohibiting Inhumane Feline Declawing; An Act Providing for the Humane Protection of Animals; and An Act Promoting Animal Welfare and Further Regulating the Reporting of Animal Cruelty, Abuse or Neglect.

Learn more about ARL’s Legislative Priorities.