MSPCA launches campaign to encourage adoption of its doggos

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MSPCA has launched a month-long reduced-fee adoption campaign for all adult dogs.

The campaign, announced Friday, comes during a time when MSPCA shelter officials say they are scrambling to find space for its dogs.

For the rest of the month, dogs one year and older will be up for adoption for $100, which officials in a release said is a savings of at least $250 that could be put toward the care of the dog.

The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals has seen its pooch population quickly rise after 16 American Bully dogs – mostly puppies – were surrendered from a Fitchburg home on Dec. 2.

Officials said the dogs are now “safe and settled” at MSPCA-Angell adoption centers in Jamaica Plain and Methuen. They are hoping the bully puppies will soon be adopted as up to 20 more dogs are expected to arrive on Saturday from South Carolina.

“The dogs were living in less than ideal conditions, and the owner realized that the situation was unstable and opted to surrender the dogs to our care,” said Mike Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs at MSPCA-Angell.

Fitchburg Animal Control also took in three adult dogs from the Fitchburg home, Keiley said in the release, adding he expects his center will soon welcome the trio.

MSPCA’s three adoption centers – Jamaica Plain, Methuen and Centerville – along with Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem are nearing capacity, said Sara-Rose Brenner, senior public relations manager for MSPCA.

MSPCA and NEAS have 92 adult dogs in total, but some are not ready to be adopted due to various medical and behavioral needs, Brenner said.

The 15 to 20 “large dogs” anticipated to arrive Saturday are coming from Berkeley Animal Center in southeastern South Carolina.

MSPCA has mentored the center over “the last year to ensure staff can ultimately resolve the homeless pet population across the communities they serve,” Keiley said. Staff there are also seeing an uptick in animal surrenders and a slow-down in adoptions, he said.

“The adoption campaign is meant to help us adopt out the dogs in our care so that we’re able to continue transporting animals into Massachusetts from other parts of the country, where they’re less likely to find adoptive homes,” Brenner told the Herald.

Not only is the organization grappling with its dog population, MSPCA’s Nevins Farm took in 18 horses from an Alford farm earlier this week. An animal cruelty investigation at the Berkshire County property prompted what MSPCA officials say is the largest single horse surrender in the last five years.