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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 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 Awarded Grant from “I’m Animal Friendly” License Plate Funds

Grant provides subsidized spay/neuter surgery for more than two dozen pet owners

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is happy to announce the organization is a recipient of a 2025 grant from the MA “I’m Animal Friendly” license plate program.

Funds will be used towards ARL’s community-based programs to provide subsidized spay/neuter services for more than two dozen pet owners in Boston.

This month ARL’s Spay Waggin’® held two spay/neuter clinics, one at the Franklin Park Zoo, the other at a private business in Mattapan, to provide the service for local pet owners.

Clients included one pet owner who is a client of ARL’s Wellness Waggin’ and was recently reunited with their cat after the animal had snuck out.

ARL’s Spay Waggin’ is a mobile veterinary surgical vehicle that provides low-cost spay and neuter services in Greater Boston, Southeastern Massachusetts, and Cape Cod.

The Wellness Waggin’ brings low-cost pet wellness care directly into Boston communities that need it most including Dorchester, Roxbury, Mattapan, Hyde Park, and East Boston.

“Pets are family, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston continues to be grateful to the Massachusetts Animal Coalition and their commitment to provide grants to help provide spay/neuter services for pet owners in need,” stated ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino. “Through this grant, ARL has been able to help more than two dozen pet owners, and ensure that their animals are happy, healthy and will continue to thrive.”

Anne Lindsay, founder and president of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition, says, “An important way to decrease the population of unwanted pets is to spay and neuter any animal we can get our hands on.  For the past 20 years, the ‘I’m Animal Friendly’ License Plate Program has supported these efforts by providing funding for these necessary surgeries.”

The “I’m Animal Friendly” license plates are a program of the Massachusetts Animal Coalition.

Funds are granted annually to organizations that demonstrate a need for funding and provide low-cost spay/neuter services.

Since the program’s inception, MAC has awarded over $3,300,000 to many deserving organizations.

Anna Harris Smith Day

Celebrating 126 Years of Kindness

126 years ago today, Anna Harris Smith, a social worker from Dorchester, was called to action after seeing the cruel mistreatment of Boston’s working horses and the number of stray and homeless animals. She advocated for a centrally located shelter to care for them and remarked, “While getting dogs and cats off the street is work worth doing, the teaching of thoughtful kindness is the work that changes families, communities, and a nation”.

 

A historical photo of a woman sitting on a bench with dogs, outside.

Anna Harris Smith, ARL’s Founder

On March 13, 1899, thanks to Anna’s efforts, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) was officially incorporated and began helping millions of animals heal, find homes, and stay with their families while protecting them from cruelty and neglect.

In honor of her legacy of kindness and commitment to animals, we are excited to celebrate Anna Harris Smith Day with you!

2024: Kindness in Action

    • 255,194 pet meals provided to the community
    • 3,518 animals welcomed into new homes
    • 1,164 dedicated volunteers contributed 141,856 hours helping animals in need
    • 216 children and teens attended humane education events
    • 52 corporate groups with 610 employees contributed 1,818 hours
    • 38 volunteers received the Golden VOL-ley Award in recognition of their spirit of collaboration

Four Ways You Can Spread Kindness Today

    1. Stock ARL’s pet food pantry! Donate pet food through ARL’s Amazon or Chewy wish lists and have them shipped directly to ARL; or purchase them in-store and drop them off at one of our Animal Care & Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham, or Brewster.
    2. Advocate for animals! Contact advocacy@arlboston.org to learn more about our legislative agenda and how you can contact your legislator and ask them to support bills that protect animals.
    3. Be kind! Do a random act of kindness in your community today. The possibilities are endless! Walk your neighbor’s dog, volunteer at your local library or nursing home, bring in treats for your coworkers, send a care package to a service member, give blood, or donate old sheets and towels to your local animal shelter.
    4. Pay it forward with a donation to Jeff’s Fund, which helps offset the cost of waived or reduced adoption fees to help animals who may be overlooked due to their medical needs, age, or personality, find the homes they deserve.
ARL Preparing to Take in Shelter Dogs from Los Angeles Fire Zones

ARL to reduce dog adoption fees this weekend as part of preparation

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is preparing to take in approximately a dozen dogs from Los Angeles animal shelters. This weekend, ARL is reducing all dog adoption fees by $100 to better prepare the organization for the arrival of these special dogs.

This special adoption event will take place through Sunday and apply to dogs of all ages at ARL’s Animal Care and Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham and Brewster.

The devastation and impact of the fires still burning in Los Angeles is unprecedented, and ARL is proud to be a part of a massive relocation effort to find homes for these animals, which will also create much-needed kennel space in L.A. shelters for animals who have been displaced or injured due to the fires.

ARL is coordinating with our national animal welfare partners to bring these animals to New England. In the next week, the dogs will be flown to Delaware, and ARL’s Transport Waggin’ will make the nearly 1,000-mile round-trip to deliver the dogs safely to the organization’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center.

The dogs will have to undergo a state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and be medically and behaviorally evaluated before being made available for adoption.

ARL will provide updates once the transport is completed.

ARL’s Wellness Waggin’ Visits Senior Pet Owners in Dorchester

ARL partnership with Boston Senior Home Care expands to seven locations

This past week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s (ARL) Welness Waggin’ made a stop at a Dorchester apartment development to provide more than a dozen pet owners with low-cost pet wellness services.

The newest stop expands ARL’s growing list of senior housing developments the organization visits regularly through an ongoing partnership with Boston Senior Home Care.

For many pet owners in Boston, accessibility to services is a major barrier to maintaining overall pet health, however, ARL’s Wellness Waggin’ is just one program that bring services directly to where they’re needed most, to help pet overcome these types of barriers.

Parking outside the Franklin Field Elderly Community Center, more than a dozen pet owners living in the Franklin Field apartments were able to easily take advantage of the low-cost, high-quality services the Wellness Waggin’ provides.

For 10 dollars, pets receive a brief veterinary exam, rabies and distemper vaccines, flea treatment and microchip, if needed.

These services would cost hundreds in a traditional veterinary clinic setting.

This newest stop for the Wellness Waggin’ is part of an ongoing partnership with Boston Senior Home Care, a nonprofit organization dedicated to connecting older adults, individuals with disabilities, and families throughout Greater Boston, with social services and resources to live safely and independently.

ARL began its partnership with the organization in 2018, and now has seven sites throughout neighborhoods in Boston to provide senior pet owners with basic services and pet supplies.

These wellness events offer a wonderful opportunity for ARL to connect with senior pet owners in Boston, and to provide services that are accessible just steps from their door.

How You Can Help

ARL continues to expand its services to reach more pet owners in need, however we cannot do this work alone.

More than 35% of ARL’s funding arrives in December – now is a critical time to give to ensure we are ready to help animals and the people who love them today and in the new year.

ARL does not receive any government grants or public funding and relies solely on the donations of individuals like you to keep animals happy and healthy– YOU make our important work possible. 

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ARL Hosting Fee-Waived Small Animal Adoption Event

Small animals make wonderful companion pets

This weekend, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) will host a fee-waived adoption event for small animals, including guinea pigs, rabbits, mice, and hamsters, at all three of its Animal Care and Adoption Centers.

For those thinking of adding a small animal (or two) to the family, it’s a perfect time to do so!

ARL hosting a fee-waived small animal adoption event this weekend.

The event will run from Friday, November 8, through Sunday, November 10 at ARL’s Boston, Dedham, and Brewster Animal Care and Adoption Centers.

Hours of operation are 1-6 p.m.

Currently, ARL has nearly three dozen small animals available for adoption, with many more in foster care waiting their turn.

The organization has seen a dramatic rise in small animal surrenders in the past few years, particularly guinea pigs.

Small animals make wonderful pets – they’re social, relatively quiet, great for small living spaces, and may be an option for those living in properties that may not allow dogs or cats but do allow small animals.

ARL’s Adoption Forward process, a conversation-based, application-free process designed so the needs of both the animal and adopter are understood and compatible with one another, will remain the same for this special adoption event.

Visit an ARL Animal Care & Adoption Center from November 8 through November 10 from 1:00pm-6:00pm:

Boston: 10 Chandler Street, Boston, MA 02116
Dedham: 55 Anna’s Place, Dedham, MA 02026
Brewster (Cape Cod): 981 Main Street (Rte 6A), East Brewster, MA 02631

Prospective adopters must bring a photo of the enclosure their pet will live in to ensure it meets our requirements.

ARL to Recognize Hill’s Pet Nutrition with Animal Advocate Award

Animal Advocate Award winners exemplify compassion and commitment to advance ARL’s mission

During its upcoming Paws to Celebrate event its historic Dedham Campus, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) will recognize Hill’s Pet Nutrition, for the company’s commitment to improving the health and wellbeing for animals not only in ARL’s Animal Care and Adoption Centers, but throughout the communities ARL serves.

ARL’s Animal Advocate Award honors distinguished philanthropists and compassionate organizations who have made outstanding contributions to ARL and actively advance the well-being of animals in our community.

ARL is thrilled to recognize Hill’s Pet Nutrition for their extraordinary generosity and achievements in improving the health and wellbeing of animals.

They not only help meet the unique nutritional needs of the animals in our Animal Care & Adoption Centers, they also transform the lives of pets in our community by supporting our pet food pantry and pet adoption.

They are committed to good and their impact extends across the globe!

“We are fortunate to have Hill’s as a partner and supporter. They do so much for animals and the field of animal welfare, and often do not get the recognition they deserve,” stated ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino.   “We are honored to present Hill’s with our Animal Advocate Award.”

ARL will present a representative of Hill’s Pet Nutrition with the award on Sunday, October 20, during its annual Paws to Celebrate event at ARL’s Dedham Campus, which is a gathering of like-minded ARL supporters to celebrate their contributions and see first-hand how their support and involvement is helping animals in need, and the people who care for them.

ARL to Recognize Pillar of Boston Nonprofit Community with Animal Advocate Award

Award winners exemplify compassion and commitment to advance ARL’s mission

During its upcoming Paws to Celebrate event at the iconic Hampshire House, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) will recognize Grace Fey, a fixture of the Boston nonprofit community for her exceptional commitment to the organization’s focus in expanding access to pet wellness care throughout the Metro Boston area.

ARL’s Animal Advocate Award honors distinguished philanthropists and compassionate organizations who have made outstanding contributions to ARL and actively advance the well-being of animals in our community.

ARL is thrilled to recognize Grace Fey with this award for demonstrating profound generosity and an unwavering commitment to making a difference for animals and the people who love them.

She is a staunch supporter of expanding access to care for pet owners, ensuring pets can stay with the families who love them.

Grace is a shining example of compassion in action, inspiring us all to make a meaningful difference in the lives of animals.

“Grace is a visionary, seeing the interconnection of human and pet health,” stated ARL President and CEO Dr. Edward Schettino. “Grace’s power of connection has led to transformational partnerships within Greater Boston.  She understands that when non-profits work together their strengths are amplified and their reach is extended to create a healthier community for both pets and people.”

ARL will present Grace with her award on Tuesday, October 1, during its annual Paws to Celebrate event at the Hampshire House, which is a gathering of like-minded ARL supporters to celebrate their contributions and see first-hand how their support and involvement is helping animals in need, and the people who care for them.

Herb Chambers Partners with ARL for Too Hot for Spot® Campaign

This week, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) and Herb Chambers 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 a decade.

Herb Chambers is the newest community partner to join ARL in spreading this important summer pet safety message, and ARL continues to be grateful to the New England Revolution, Massachusetts State Police, and Massachusetts Department of Transportation for their ongoing support.

ARL is thrilled to have the well-known car magnate and animal lover lend his voice to highlight the importance of keeping our pets safe when the mercury rises.

Additionally, several Herb Chambers dealerships will soon be displaying Too Hot for Spot® materials, to further amplify the message.

ARL is marking 10 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 of heat stroke still exists.

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

During this week’s hot car demonstration, with outside temperatures around 90 degrees, after a thermometer was placed in an ARL vehicle, it took less than three minutes for the interior temperature of the vehicle to reach nearly 120 degrees!

Learn more about important pet safety tips and guidelines and remember — when the temperatures rise, it’s Too Hot for Spot®!