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Keeping Pets Safe This July 4th

Why Fireworks and Furry Friends Don’t Mix

Fireworks and July 4th go hand-in-hand; however, they can cause stress and anxiety in our pets.

Fireworks are a beloved July 4th tradition, but they can cause significant stress and anxiety for pets.

Many dogs already struggle during thunderstorms, and while both storms and fireworks are loud, there’s a key difference:
Dogs can sense an approaching storm through changes in barometric pressure. Fireworks, on the other hand, are sudden, unpredictable, and startling.

“When storms happen, the barometric pressure will tell them that it’s coming; not with fireworks—and it’s so detrimental,” says Laney Nee, ARL’s Shelter Behavior and Enrichment Manager.

Fireworks can lead to anxiety and long-term behavioral issues in pets.
Common signs of distress include:

  • Shaking or trembling
  • Drooling
  • Barking or howling
  • Pacing or restlessness
  • Hiding or trying to escape
  • Loss of bladder or bowel control

“Dogs only communicate through their voices, mouths, paws, and body language,” Nee explains. “When they’re exhibiting signs of fear and we interact with them, there’s a risk they could redirect that fear into aggressive behavior.”

The loud blasts and flashing lights can also cause pets to panic and run off. Shelters across the country often see a spike in lost pet reports around July 4th.

How to Help Keep Your Pet Safe

Here are tips to protect your furry friends this holiday:

  1. ID First: Make sure your pet is wearing a collar with up-to-date ID tags. If they’re microchipped, confirm your contact info is current—just in case they get lost.
  2. Create a Safe Space: Set them up in a quiet room with their favorite toys. Turn on a TV, soft music, or a white noise machine to help mask outside noises.
  3. Reduce Light Exposure: If your pet is sensitive to the bright flashes, place them in a room without windows. Keep in mind: frightened animals may bolt when a door opens, so take precautions.
  4. Consult Your Vet: If your pet suffers from extreme anxiety, talk to your veterinarian about possible medications or calming supplements.
  5. Burn Off Energy: Take dogs for a long walk or play session before fireworks begin. Exercise can help reduce stress and encourage relaxation.
  6. Double-Check Exits: Make sure doors, windows, and backyard gates are securely closed.
  7. Keep Pets Home: Even pets that seem comfortable in crowds can become frightened by fireworks. Leave pets at home during celebrations and avoid bringing them to fireworks displays, parades, or other loud events.

What to Do If Your Pet Goes Missing

  1. Contact Animal Control: If your pet escapes, contact your local animal control with their information immediately.
  2. Notify Local Shelters: Reach out to nearby shelters to report your missing pet and provide a recent photo.
  3. Check Microchip Information: If your pet is microchipped, make sure your contact information is up to date and notify the microchipping company that your pet is missing.
  4. Spread the Word: Post a recent photo and details for your pet on local lost-and-found pet pages, neighborhood social media groups, and community bulletin boards.
  5. Search the Area: Walk through your neighborhood and check nearby yards, parks, and hiding spots. Bring treats, a favorite toy, or other familiar items to help attract your pet.

Cats and Small Animals

While dogs are often the most visibly affected, cats and other small pets can also experience stress from fireworks. Provide them with a quiet, secure area where they can retreat and feel safe.

ARL’s FREE Pet Behavior Helpline

ARL’s Pet Behavior Helpline is a FREE service, and can answer basic behavioral questions about your pet, such as excessive barking, crate training, house soiling, or if you are looking for ways to stave off your pet’s boredom.

If you have questions, please call the Pet Behavior Helpline at (617) 226-5666 or via email behaviorhelpline@arlboston.org, and an ARL representative will get back to you within 48 hours.

When the Temperatures Rise It’s Too Hot for Spot®

As summer approaches, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is once again launching its annual Too Hot for Spot® safety campaign to remind pet owners about the potentially deadly dangers of leaving animals inside parked vehicles.

During the warmer months, pets may be left in cars while their owners visit beaches, bike trails, grocery stores, banks, post offices, and other everyday destinations. It can be tempting to think, “I’ll only be gone for a few minutes,” but even a brief errand can take longer than expected, and a vehicle’s temperature can rise dangerously fast.

Even when the outside temperature is below 80 degrees and the windows are cracked, the inside of a parked vehicle can quickly heat to well over 100 degrees. Because animals cannot cool their bodies as efficiently as humans, they are especially vulnerable to heat stroke. Symptoms can develop rapidly and may include excessive panting, drooling, weakness, vomiting, confusion, collapse, or seizures.

Leaving an animal confined inside a vehicle during extreme heat or cold may also violate Massachusetts law when the conditions threaten the animal’s health or safety.

ARL created the annual Too Hot for Spot® campaign to raise awareness of these preventable dangers. Sadly, animals continue to suffer—and sometimes die—each year after being left inside hot vehicles.

When temperatures rise, the safest choice is simple: Leave your pet at home. Keep them in a cool, temperature-controlled space with plenty of fresh water. Outdoor walks and exercise should be limited to the cooler morning and evening hours, and hot pavement should always be avoided.

A quick stop is never worth risking your pet’s life.

Learn more about summer pet safety.

What To Do If You See a Pet in a Hot Car

If you see an animal alone inside a parked vehicle on a warm day, don’t wait to act. Note the vehicle’s make, model, color, and license plate, then immediately contact your local police or animal control. If the animal appears to be in distress – excessive panting, drooling, or lethargy – call 911 right away. You can also alert nearby businesses, who may be able to make a public address announcement to help locate the owner.

More Summer Pet Safety Resources

Summer can bring additional risks for pets, from swimming and boating activities to sudden thunderstorms. Explore these additional safety tips to help keep your pet comfortable and protected throughout the season:

Lobby Day 2026

On Wednesday, June 10, ARL joined with other animal protection organizations to host “Lobby Day for Animals” at the Massachusetts State House. We were joined by over 100 advocates who came to Beacon Hill to make their voices heard.

Every session, ARL undertakes an ambitious legislative agenda. In March of this year, the Senate took up a number of these bills in one package, dubbed the “PETS Act.” This legislation would protect animals across Massachusetts by: banning the retail sale of pets, prohibiting homeowners and renters’ insurance from discriminating on the basis of dog breed, ending the use of animal test methods for cosmetics and household goods, enhancing enforcement for animals in cruel conditions, and increasing funding for spay and neuter. The PETS Act passed the Senate unanimously and is now awaiting action in the House. Advocates met with their legislators to express their support for these measures and for keeping Massachusetts a leader in animal protection.

We also took the time on Lobby Day to highlight animal advocates who have gone above and beyond. It can sometimes take years of work for legislation to be signed into law and success relies on the determination of advocates.

Want to join these advocates in speaking out for animals? Learn more about ARL’s Legislative Agenda and how to contact your Representative today.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston Awarded $75,000 Cummings Foundation Grant

The Funds Will Help Support Our Mission of Keeping Pets and People Together

We are honored to announce that the Animal Rescue League of Boston has been awarded a $75,000 grant over three years through the Cummings Foundation’s competitive annual grant program. Selected from a record 959 applicants, only 150 organizations were selected, and ARL is proud to be the only animal welfare organization among them.

This recognition means a great deal to our team. Every day, our staff and volunteers show up for the animals and families who need them most, providing emergency pet housing, pet food and supplies, veterinary care, and so much more. Through innovative, award-winning programs, ARL addresses the root causes of the challenges facing animals and the families who love them. This grant will strengthen our commitment to keeping pets and people together by helping animals heal and thrive, preventing pet surrender, and protecting animals from harm across Greater Boston.

A happy dog stands on grass, next to a blue sign that reads, "We got a Cummings Grant!" The scene conveys excitement and celebration.

Selected from a record 959 applicants, only 150 organizations were selected for the Cummings Foundation Grant, and ARL is proud to be the only animal welfare organization among them.

This year, the Foundation increased its annual grant program from $30 million to $35 million and made a significant shift to fully unrestricted funding, giving organizations like ARL the flexibility to direct resources where they are needed most.

With no government funding, grants like this one are what keep ARL’s mission alive and thriving. The recognition from Cummings Foundation is a meaningful reflection of the work ARL has done and continues to do across the Greater Boston area.

I Found A Baby Wild Animal. What Do I Do Now?

ARL Provides Tips on What to Do When You See a Baby Animal on Their Own

Spring has sprung. The sun is shining. Flowers are blooming. And baby wild animals are starting to wander from their nests.

This time of year, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) receives phone calls from concerned citizens who come across baby birds and other baby wild animals on the ground. As animals start to grow up, they will begin exploring outside of their nests and often have not learned to be afraid of humans yet. Baby birds may also find their ways out of their nests when they are starting to fly. Although this sight may seem alarming, remember that part of the process of learning to fly comes with being on the ground. It’s typically best to keep a safe distance and not to intervene.

Closeup of a Brown California Towhee fledgling chick on the ground.

A fledgling is a young bird that has grown most of its feathers and recently left the nest for the first time. Fledglings are often seen hopping on the ground, while their parents remain nearby to feed and protect them.

Whenever you see a baby wild animal out of place, take a look around to see where they might have come from. If the animal is in immediate danger like the in the middle of the road, you can often encourage them to move to a safer place without displacing them from their habitat. In most circumstances, making sure that you or your pets cannot harm the animal and allowing them to reunite with their mother gives them the best chance to thrive.

If you find a baby wild animal and are concerned, they may be sick or injured, please review Tufts Wildlife Clinic’s “How to Tell If Baby Wildlife Is Truly Sick or Injured” resource before taking action.

6 Water Safety Tips for Your Pup

Keep Your Dog Safe in and Around the Water This Summer

Swimming can be a fun way to help your dog cool off during warmer months, but water can also pose risks. Whether you’re heading to a beach, lake, pond, or a pool, a little preparation can help keep your pup safe.

1. Check Before You Go
Before heading out, confirm that your destination is dog friendly. Many beaches, lakes, ponds, and parks have rules around dogs, including restricted hours, leash requirements, seasonal bans, or limited access areas.

2. Know Your Dog’s Limits
Despite the term “doggy paddle,” not all dogs are natural swimmers. Breeds with short snouts or compact bodies, such as bulldogs and pugs, may struggle in the water, while some dogs may simply never feel comfortable swimming.

If your dog is new to swimming, ease them in slowly. Start in shallow water and help them build confidence before moving to deeper or open water.

3. Gear Up and Know the Exits
A properly fitted life vest can help keep your dog afloat and provide an added layer of protection. Make sure your dog always knows how to get out of the water. If there is only one set of stairs, a ramp, or a dock exit, regularly guide your pup back to it so they can find it quickly if needed.

4. Supervise and Take Breaks
Never leave your dog unsupervised near water. Even strong swimmers can become tired, overheated, or disoriented.

Call your dog in for regular breaks, keep them close to shore, and always have fresh water available.

5. Check for Hazards
Before letting your dog swim, look for currents, tides, posted warnings, red flags, sharp rocks, broken glass, fishing hooks, or other debris.

Be especially cautious around lakes and ponds. Blue-green algae can appear as blue-green or brownish scum on the surface of warm, stagnant water and can be deadly to pets. If the water looks suspicious, keep your dog out and do not let them drink from it.

At the beach, watch how much saltwater your dog may be swallowing. Too much saltwater can lead to salt poisoning, with signs including vomiting, diarrhea, excessive thirst, drooling, confusion, seizures, or collapse.

6. Rinse and Dry After Swimming
After every swim, rinse your dog to remove chlorine, salt, bacteria, or other irritants from their skin and coat.

Dry their ears carefully with a cotton ball, as trapped water can lead to painful ear infections. Signs may include scratching, redness, swelling, odor, discharge, balance issues, or hearing loss. Contact your veterinarian if you notice any concerning symptoms.

Keep Water Fun and Safe

With planning, supervision, and plenty of breaks, you can help your dog enjoy the water safely all summer long. Keep your pets healthy and safe this season with more safety tips.

A Legendary Legacy: Honoring Alan Borgal’s 50 Years of Compassion

ARL Celebrates a Lifelong Advocate Whose Dedication to Animals and Community Has Changed Countless Lives

On May 6, 2026, ARL’s Board of Directors proudly presented Alan Borgal with the Anna Harris Smith Award, one of the organization’s highest honors.

Named after ARL’s founder, Anna Harris Smith, this award is given only on rare occasions to extraordinary humanitarians whose dedication and service have made a lasting impact on animals and the community.

For more than 50 years, Alan has devoted his life to protecting animals, investigating cruelty, promoting kindness, and ensuring that vulnerable animals receive the care and compassion they deserve. His unwavering commitment has shaped ARL’s mission and touched countless lives across the community.

(L) President & CEO Dr. Edward Schettino, (C) Lt. Alan Borgal, (R) Former President Mary Nee

Throughout his remarkable career, Alan’s work has earned national recognition, including the Boston Celtics’ “Heroes Among Us” award, the Animal Legal Defense Fund’s “America’s Top Ten Defenders Award,” and the prestigious Maddie’s Fund Hero Award.

But beyond the accolades, those who know Alan best recognize something even more meaningful: his deep compassion and lifelong connections with the people and animals he has helped.

One of Alan’s most well-known rescues came in 1986, when he helped save Ruth the Asian Elephant. Their bond endured for decades, with Alan continuing to visit Ruth regularly until the day she passed away, a beautiful reflection of the lasting relationships he builds through his work.

A man in a black jacket and cap stands smiling in front of an elephant behind vertical metal bars.

Alan and Ruth the Asian Elephant

As Alan enters retirement, he leaves behind a legacy that is nothing short of extraordinary. He has been a teacher, protector, mentor, and friend to thousands of animals and the people who care for them. His leadership, wisdom, and compassion have helped shape generations of humane advocates and strengthened ARL’s mission for the future.

We are deeply grateful for Alan’s half-century of service and for the kindness he brought to our organization every single day.

Alan, thank you for making the world a more compassionate place and for being such an essential part of ARL’s history. We wish you all the very best in your well-earned retirement.

Share Your Farewell Wishes

We would love to share your favorite memories and messages with Alan. Please send your memories and messages to advancement@arlboston.org.

Honor Alan’s Legacy

Celebrate Alan’s 50+ years of service with a tribute donation that helps continue his legacy of protection, compassion, and care for animals in need. Make a tribute donation today.

A New Chapter for Animals in Boston’s South End

ARL celebrates a major construction milestone on its future state-of-the-art facility

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) marked a significant milestone in the construction of its newly renovated flagship location in Boston’s South End on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.

At the event, guests took part in a meaningful tradition, signing their names, along with the names of their pets, on the final steel beam that will be placed in the building. This beam will become a permanent part of ARL’s future home, symbolizing the community support behind the project. Once complete, the facility will be downtown Boston’s only Animal Care & Adoption Center.

A group of nine people, smiling, stands on grass in front of a brick building with the sign "Animal Rescue League of Boston." The setting is sunny and cheerful.

L to R: Rod Macdonald, Kevin and Margo Mercer, Walter Kenyon, Dr. Cynthia Kettyle, Dr. Edward Schettino, Mary Nee, Dr. David McGrath, Malcolm McDonald

“This shelter will be more than walls and kennels. It will be a safe haven for animals in need, for people facing hardship, and for a community that believes in kindness,” said Dr. Edward Schettino, ARL’s President and CEO. “It will be a place where lives begin again.”

ARL’s Boston campus has long served as the heart of the organization. Originally built in 1956, the facility carries a rich history, but no longer meets the standard of care that today’s animals deserve. As ARL’s highest-volume location, it supports more animals and people than any other ARL site. Its central location and proximity to public transportation also make vital programs and services accessible to communities facing the greatest barriers to care.

Rendering of the new Animal Rescue League of Boston building

Rendering of the new Animal Rescue League of Boston building – Chandler Street entrance

Construction on the new Chandler Street facility began in June 2025, with phase one expected to be completed in spring 2027. The reimagined space will include an animal care and adoption center, a dog training center, an expanded shelter and veterinary hospital, and increased capacity for Boston Veterinary Care, ARL’s outpatient clinic, where 100% of proceeds are reinvested to support animals in need.

Learn more about the project.

As the Ice Melts, Hope Blooms for Dogs Like Mouse

Cold Weather Slowed Dog Adoptions, Now ARL Is Catching Up

After a historic winter marked by extreme cold and record-breaking snowfall, the Animal Rescue League (ARL) of Boston is turning its focus toward a brighter spring.

The harsh weather took a significant toll on ARL’s Animal Care & Adoption Centers in Boston, Dedham, and Brewster (Cape Cod). Fewer visitors were able to make the trip, leading to a noticeable decline in dog adoptions. As a result, kennel space has remained limited, making it more difficult to take in and care for other dogs in need.

As the seasons begin to shift, ARL is hopeful that warmer days will bring renewed opportunities for adoption, opening doors for more animals to find the loving homes they deserve.

One dog awaiting adoption since December 2025 is Mouse: Mouse is an 11-month-old German Shepherd mix who arrived at ARL dangerously underweight and too weak to wag his tail. ARL’s team put Mouse on a round-the-clock refeeding plan, carefully designed to help him regain strength. Mouse lived with a loving foster family as he continued to heal and is now ready to be adopted. Learn more about Mouse.

A playful dog lies on its back on a beige rug, surrounded by colorful plush toys.

Mouse, in his ARL foster home

To help new dogs and their families start off strong, ARL has teamed up with Tall Tails and Polkadog this spring. Beginning Friday, March 27, the first 50 dog adopters will receive a starter kit filled with essentials to support their transition home. Search adoptable dogs.

Major Win for Animals in Massachusetts

The Senate Unanimously Passes the Pets Act to Improve Animal Welfare

On March 19, Massachusetts Senate debated and unanimously passed An Act promoting pet equity, treatment, and safety (PETS Act). This bill combines a number of pieces of legislation from ARL’s Legislative Agenda to improve the lives of companion animals in Massachusetts.

Pets in Housing

Housing-related reasons are the largest cause for surrenders to our shelters. On top of the issues around cost and availability in housing, the overwhelming majority of rentals are not truly pet-friendly. Even for those who own their homes, insurance companies often charge more for certain breeds, regardless of the individual animal’s history. This legislation would prohibit home and renters insurance from canceling, refusing to renew, or charge an increased amount based on the presence of a dog on the property.

The human-animal bond improves human health and improves quality of life. The PETS Act adds onto existing programs in elderly housing authorities to increase pet ownership programs in other housing authorities. Expansion of pet friendly housing keeps pets out of shelters and keeps pets and people together.

Retail Sale of Pets

Dogs sold in pet stores come from large-scale breeders, often referred to as “puppy mills”. Animals from these facilities are raised in conditions that are harmful to their physical and emotional health. Consumers are also at risk of health concerns from these animals, with numerous documented cases of disease spread from pet store puppies.

Opponents of retail sales bans claim that these breeders are inspected by the USDA. Not only are USDA standards a bare minimum of animal welfare, the USDA’s own reports admit they are unable to effectively enforce their own standards. Further, dogs are often sold to pet stores through a broker, so information on the actual breeder is rarely available.

This bill would prohibit the retail sale of dogs and cats in Massachusetts, while still allowing for pet stores to partner with local shelters and rescues to provide pets to the public. This bill has no impact on breeders who sell direct to consumers. Sixteen municipalities in Massachusetts have banned the retail sale of dogs and cats, including Boston, Cambridge, and Springfield. Out of the 25 largest pet stores in the country, 24 do not sell animals. A humane model is profitable, with US consumers expected to spend almost $70 billion on pet food and treats alone in 2026.

Animal Testing

As the technology for alternatives to animal testing becomes more successful, testing on animals for household goods and cosmetics becomes unnecessary and is less accurate than alternatives. Animal test methods for testing cosmetics isn’t putting eyeshadow or lipstick on a rabbit. Animal test methods include the “Draize test” to determine toxicity and irritation to the human eye, accomplished by applying the substance to the animal’s eye or skin to observe the amount of irritation caused. Not only is this test inhumane to the animal, the biological differences between animals and humans means it often yields results inconsistent with impacts to humans.

Science, much of it developed here in Massachusetts, has made it so that we don’t need to use these barbaric methods to determine safety. This bill requires the use of non-animal test methods for household goods and cosmetics when there is a sufficient alternative available.

Cruelty

Massachusetts has a comprehensive animal cruelty statute, treating serious animal cruelty as a felony. However, there are situations where a felony isn’t appropriate for the circumstances. This bill builds on existing laws for dogs prohibiting cruel conditions to expand these protections to all household pets, allowing for a civil citation to be issued when there are cruel conditions that do not rise to the level of felony cruelty. Having increased tools for law enforcement and animal control officers means that they can intervene in cases before they rise to the level of felony cruelty. ARL’s community programs and law enforcement departments work together to provide support for pet owners when appropriate.

Massachusetts Homeless Animal Fund

Created in 2012, the Massachusetts Homeless Animal Fund seeks to provide no-cost spay and neuter to pets in-need in Massachusetts. This program has helped thousands of animals in Massachusetts, but the need has outpaced the financials of the program. The Fund receives money through donations, grants, and legislative appropriation. This bill would take certain fines that currently go into the General Fund and put them directly into the Massachusetts Homeless Animal Fund to pay for these essential services.

We are incredibly grateful to Senate President Spilka, Senate Ways and Means Chair Rodrigues, Senator Rausch, and Senator Cyr for their efforts in advancing this legislation through the Senate.
This bill has been championed by a dedicated group of sponsors, Senator Montigny, Senator O’Connor, Senator Payano, and Senator Lewis.

The bill has moved on to the House and currently sits in the House Ways and Means Committee. The House will debate their budget at the end of April, so stay tuned to learn about ways to advance this bill through the House and to the Governor’s Desk! Save the Date for the annual Lobby Day for Animals on June 10.