Animal Rescue League of Boston

Animal care and adoption - arl's three centers in Boston, dedham, and cape cod offer the following services: intake and surrender, shelter and care, behavioral assessment, enrichment, and adoption. In 2022, arl's Animal care and adoption centers served 3,408 domestic animals, including dogs, cats, rabbits, small animals, birds, and livestock, coming from a variety of conditions and living situations. Special adoption programs for cats include taming tiny tigers, to help under-socialized kittens learn to bond with human companions, and working cats, which places cats best suited to an active working lifestyle. Arl also offers pet behavioral resources to the public, including dog training courses and a free pet behavior helpline...(see schedule o)

Animal protection - as a leader in Animal welfare, arl is committed to preventing Animal suffering, neglect, and abuse in Massachusetts. Arl does this through two departments that focus primarily on Animal protection: 1) Animal advocacy works to draft humane laws, Animal welfare policies and regulations; and engages staff, volunteers, and arl supporters to advocate/promote for local, state and federal legislation; 2) humane law enforcement investigates crimes of Animal cruelty, abuse, and neglect. Arl employs Massachusetts special state police as humane law enforcement officers, with the authority to enforce Animal cruelty laws; and train first responders, Animal control officers, and other Animal welfare agencies. In 2022, arl investigated cruelty and neglect cases involving 979 animals.

Veterinary services - arl operates three veterinary programs: 1) Boston veterinary care provides a full range of high-quality outpatient services to pet owners in greater Boston. Services include wellness examinations, surgery, dentistry, senior pet care, laboratory diagnostics, and imaging. A clinic with a mission, all profits support arl programs; 2) shelter veterinary services provides comprehensive veterinary services, including physical exams and vaccinations, for all arl Animal care and adoption centers. In 2022, this program performed a combination of 6,926 veterinary exams and surgeries; 3) community veterinary services serves animals and people in the communities where they live...(see schedule o)

Community programs - arl meets people and animals in the communities where they live. Through strategic partnerships with local human services organizations, arl aims to keep every member of the household healthy, and families together. Community programs includes the following outreach and special initiatives: 1) field services provides technical (tree climbing and swift/ice water) and non-technical rescues for injured domestic animals, including community cats, livestock, and raptors. In 2022, this program helped 2,500 animals in need; 2) the community cat program addresses the 700,000 unowned cats (feral, semi-feral and outdoor cats) in Massachusetts, by assessing cat colonies and formulating tnr (trap/neuter/return) plans. In 2022, this program served 413 community cats in 48 colonies; 4) keep pets s.a.f.e (supporting animals facing emergencies) provides critical services, such as pet food and supplies, in response to urgent community needs. In 2022, 948 food and supply deliveries, providing 198,987 pet meals, were made through this program.