It’s National Animal Control Appreciation Week!
This week marks National Animal Control Appreciation Week, and the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) would like to commend and thank Animal Control Officers (ACO) throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for their steadfast commitment to keeping animals in their respective communities safe.
ACO’s are on the front lines every day and are involved with a myriad of activities – from enforcing animal protection laws, caring for stray or injured animals, to simply giving advice to pet owners to improve the lives of animals.
ARL routinely collaborates with ACO’s from all over Massachusetts to assist in any way possible. Here are just a few recent examples of our collective efforts.
Abandoned Kittens in Bridgewater
Neonatal kitten.
When animal control in Bridgewater came across a triad of three-week-old kittens who had been abandoned after likely losing their mother, they reached out to ARL for assistance.
The neonatal kittens were taken to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care and Adoption Center whey they were bottle-fed, and underwent veterinary examinations.
Kittens this age are unable to care for themselves and are also extremely delicate. They need to be bottle-fed every few hours and require a ton of attention and care.
The kittens will remain in foster care until they are old enough to be made available for adoption.
Stray Roosters in Billerica
Albert Eggstein and Cocky Balboa.
ACOs commonly come across stray animals, and will often contact ARL to assist with shelter, transport, or medical treatment.
Such was the case for a pair of roosters recently found as strays in Billerica.
The roosters, named Albert Eggstein and Cocky Balboa, were wandering in the town north of Boston, and once the roosters were secure, they were transported to ARL’s Dedham Animal Care & Adoption Center and the roosters were soon right at home in the iconic red barn.
The pair were examined by ARL’s veterinary staff and are now currently available for adoption!
Providing Spay and Neuter in Fall River
Fall River ACO’s.
The importance of spay and neuter cannot be stressed enough. ARL is dedicated to helping pet owners break down the barriers that may prevent them from having their pets spayed or neutered.
The pricey surgery is a barrier for many, which is why, for more than 20 years, ARL’s Spay Waggin’ has provided high-quality, low-cost spay and neuter services for communities along the South Shore, South Coast, Cape Cod and the Islands, and the Metro Boston area.
This week, ARL collaborated with ACO’s in Fall River and the Massachusetts Animal Fund (MAF) to provide spay and neuter services for nearly two dozen pet owners – all at no cost.
This marks the third year that ARL and the MAF have hosted a spay/neuter clinic in Fall River, and we look forward to providing this important surgery for even more pets in this community in the future.
ARL is proud of its relationships with ACO’s throughout the Commonwealth and wants to thank everyone on the front lines for being a champion for animals!