MSPCA Animal Care and Adoption Center

 

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William R.

Somerville, MA

If I were to give a million dollars to any organization, it would be this one.  Why?  They care for more animals than any other org, including the ASPCA.  I wish their reach were more outside of MA, but until then...

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1

5

Emily M.

Brookline, MA

Just to piggy back on Mike's comment, the 36 bus has a stop right in front of/near the MSPCA. If you can hit the schedule right (i.e. plan it) you don't have to worry about walking too far.

I have been to the MSPCA several times for several different reasons and always had a great experience. The animal hospital is one of the best in the world and the entire organization is located in this hulking building that I believe used to be a school for the blind. The hospital and adoption centers are in the back and were renovated about two years ago. Everything is clean and the staff is more than willing to let you play with and interact with the animals (even if you can't adopt quite yet).

Although there are many abandoned animals out there that need our help, walking into the Angell hospital side, you can meet many people who love their animals as an irreplaceable part of their family. One man that I met had brought in his sick ferret and was more than happy to tell me all about his love affair with ferrets. He even had a tattoo of his first deceased ferrett on his arm!

This shelter is definitely worth a visit if you love cats/dogs/bunnies. I highly recommend checking out their volunteer programs if you want to get involved on a regular basis!

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0

1

Alexa T.

Brighton, MA

Listen to what the others have said about how fantastic it is adopting an animal (especially a cat!) from the MSPCA. But I'm here to speak specifically to the volunteer experience at the shelter, for those who are interested.

In short -- I LOVE volunteering at the MSPCA. They make you jump through a few hoops at first (an orientation session and a tour, on separate nights -- Wednesday and Thursday, respectively -- clear your schedule ahead of time to make both), but I've found they are the most open and accommodating of volunteers of the other shelters I looked at.

One key thing for someone like me (work 9-5, M-F) is that they are flexible on times, and what you do while you're there. Some shelters have a max number of helpers they can have at any one time, on any one job, but the MSPCA is just happy to have you there, and let you go to town doing what you love. You don't have to "pay your dues" with scut work before getting to do the pet socializing -- unless you want to! You can be there any time staff are there -- from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays, and from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. all other days. It doesn't matter if there are already ten volunteers signed up for one day -- the more, the merrier!

There are a number of jobs you can do, depending on your interest. My three favorites are Cat Cuddling, Cat Room Monitor and Kitty Striping -- all three involve simply socializing with cats, and helping others find the right cats to adopt. For dogs, they have similar functions -- Dog Walker and Dog Room Monitor. Dog walking is very popular, and there's a separate tour for that (after the regular tour) to make sure you know where everything is, and how to properly handle the dogs. They always need people to help clean cages, feed animals, wash dishes and do laundry. They do a full clean of the entire shelter in the mornings from 7 a.m. to 12 p.m., so if that's what you're interested in, go in early. Afternoons are reserved for most of the socializing/adoption related jobs.

The shelter is primarily a cat shelter, given there are disproportionately more cats than dogs that are abandoned, found or surrendered (12,000 cats a year compared to circa 4,000 dogs!). Currently there are at least 60 cats in the shelter, but that's a low eyeball estimate -- it's probably closer to 100. The MSPCA knows how to take care of cats, and take care of them well, however. The facilities are bright, clean and homey -- every cat on the adoption floor has their own enclosure, whether it be a 4-tier "cat condo," a "monkey cage," a 2-level standard cage or one of the colony rooms, where 6-8 cats (who are all spayed/neutered and good with other cats) roam freely. In the colony rooms there are arm chairs, sofas, hidey-holes and climbing toys for them.

The entire shelter is cleaned every single day, 365 days a year, starting at 7 a.m. So every day the cats, dogs, and other animals get fresh cage liner, bedding, food, water and toys. I am constantly impressed by how clean the shelter is! They are also vigilant about catching animal illnesses early and isolating those animals so they don't have a room full of sick cats/dogs. Being attached to the MSPCA hospital, all the animals get excellent medical care.

The shelter also takes in rabbits, gerbils, hamsters, guinea pigs, ferrets, rats, mice and birds -- you can truly get almost any pet here!  There are volunteer roles to help clean cages and feed/socialize all these animals, if you are so inclined. If you're artistic, they always need people to take pictures of the new animals for the website, and make colorful cage cards for animals, to entice adopters (cause the generic computer print out isn't very pretty, or informative!).

The staff is always pleasant and patient. I tend to ask a zillion questions, and they've indulged me at every turn :D They also let you go as fast or as slow as you want. My initial idea was to start with socializing and not work the adoption floor until I had been there longer, but on my first day I had potential adopters asking me questions, and I just jumped right in! I've only been going a month now, and I've already helped multiple cats get adopted (!!!), made cage cards, taken pictures, changed litter boxes, fed cats (and given them treats -- instant way to earn their love and affection :D), cleaned bunny cages and just spent hours socializing the cats -- especially the older cats, who tend to get ignored in favor of kittens :(

There is nothing more gratifying than seeing your favorite animal find a good home, especially when they're an animal with medical problems or they've just been there for a while. I highly recommend volunteering at the MSPCA! You need to register for one of the monthly orientations to get started. They are always the first week of the month, on a Wednesday night. They open up for registration about two weeks before the session and they fill up FAST.

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Elite '08

124

471

Amanda H.

Brighton, MA

I feel like I've been living at the MSPCA this week.

I caved in and got a cat.  Or rather, my BF caved and let me GET a cat.  Or rather, Jessika told me I was getting a cat, and she wouldn't stop bugging me until I GOT one.  So, on Tuesday, we merrily skipped along to the MSPCA.

SO MANY KITTIES.  I wanted to take them all home with me.  

They didn't have a lot of info about my cat, but that was because she was a stray, and she had only been there for a couple of weeks.  However, they do try to keep a file of every animal they have.  You can spend as much time with them as you want.  Me and Brian even took out Zena, a beautiful Newfoundland mix, that was HUGE, but she was a sweetie.

Most of the volunteer's have limited knowledge about the pets (they will look up their file for you though).  A lot of the cats didn't have collars (at least the ones that were with other cats), so it was hard to figure out which was which.  I don't expect the volunteer's to know every name, but it was a little frustrating when we couldn't figure it out.

$125 adoption fee for a cat is MORE than reasonable.  They get all of their shots, plus they get flea and ringworm medication, plus they get spayed/neutered AND they get a microchip.  MY BF's mother was really surprised by that, especially since she paid $325 for her dog and he doesn't have a microchip (dogs are $200 FYI)

All the volunteers are friendly for the most part.  There was one girl that was a little crabby, but I won't hold it against her.

Jessika asked about their kill policy (they are a kill shelter) HOWEVER, they clarified that no animal has a time limit on how long they stay at the shelter.  They only put down an animal if they are incredibly sick, or if they have an aggressive behavior.  So that made me feel better.

Not only do they have dogs and cats, but they have bunnies, guinea pigs, ferrets, hamsters, rats and birds.

One last thing, you can purchase a cat kit for $55, that includes a litter box, one bag of food, one box of litter, two bowls, a collar, and a tag.  And all the proceeds go back to the MSPCA.

I definitely will come back here next time around!! Maybe the BF will let my kitty have a play mate ;)

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Elite '08

94

103

Jenna C.

Jamaica Plain, MA

For my 100th review I wanted to pick someplace that I hold near and dear to my heart.

And the MSPCA adoption center is definitely one of them.

When I first moved to JP I was SO excited to get a cat. I literally couldn't wait. My mom is allergic to them so I could never have one growing up and my old roommates cat was a bitch so I wasn't allowed to have one there either. A few days after moving I realized I had a some unwanted guests in my apartment. Mice. I'm not ok with mice. So it was the perfect excuse to ask my landlord if I could get a kitten. After I got his approval I skipped around the corner to pick out the cutest cat in the whole world. Obvs.

Talk about heart wrenching! All those little animals with the saddest faces doing the best they can to look adoptable. But which did I want? The 3 legged black cat? The autistic one? The ginormously fat one?!?!

I started speaking with one of the employees trying to find out which ones had been around the longest. Which she thought would be the hardest to get adopted... etc. She led me to a small room that held two of the most beautiful cats I had ever seen. She told me they had been there for a few months after being given up by a family whose child had developed allergies and would probably be hard to get adopted b/c they were brothers and had to go as a pair. Well that pretty much did it for me. Even though I had only intended to get one I couldn't just leave these little guys behind. After playing with them for about 20 minutes I made my decision... Wrap 'em up! Or ya know... get the paperwork ready since they both had to be neutered (which is included in the cost of the adoption) and wouldn't be ready to go home for a few days.

While they were getting everything ready for me to sign I kept walking around. I was standing in one of the larger cat rooms when I looked up and saw the tiniest little paw hanging over the edge of a climber. And what's that? An extra TOE?!?! Cutest Ever. I lessthan3 polydactyl cats. After a little maneuvering I lured the kitten down to where I could get my hands on her. She was a feisty little thing with a shaved belly due to the spaying she had done a few days earlier. Maybe it was that I wanted a cat to take home with me that day. Or maybe it was the thought of this not being a no kill shelter but I figured: Well I'm already getting 2 why not throw this one in as a bonus? The staff couldn't believe it. They said they had trouble getting people to adopt one get and had rarely seen anyone take more than two. One of them called me an angel. Precious.

So now I'm the proud owner of 3 absolutely gorgeous cats. And 7 months later I love them a million times more than the day I brought them home.

Added bonus: Running into Chloe and Liz while filling out the paperwork and them thinking I'm completely nuts. But I'm ok with my crazy cat ladyness.

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1

15

Mike S.

Boston, MA

I've been several times just to get my fix of dogs. Its great to get to play for a while in a run with an animal that really needs your love. The staff is nice, and the place is totally clean and organized. I hope to adopt from here in the near future.

If you're on foot or rely on MBTA I don't recommend going near close if its getting dark, as walking back to the nearest E line T stop can be somewhat sketchy.

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Elite '08

15

111

Molly S.

Boston, MA

I recently stopped in to the MSPCA to make a donation of Towels (I'm getting new ones!) and stayed to look at all the animals.

I was very impressed with the facility and the grounds.  The lobby for the adoption center was very clean, spacious.  The area for adoption reviews was right out in the open, and I saw lots of happy/content people around.  After I made the donation, it was very easy to direct myself to the Dog area.  It was so nice to see separate areas for Dogs/Cats/Small Animals/Bunnies/Birds.  What attention to detail!

The dog area was so nice!  Only about half the "living spaces" where filled, and the ones that were had blankets, food, water, and toys.  Most dog pens had the animals leash hanging up, and a bucket of treats, as well as a detailed guide for each animal.  There was one volunteer working in the area, and after she came back in from a dog walk - she got right to business - cleaning up a poopy pen.  

I can't say I enjoyed my trip to the MSPCA, since I went home empty handed (my own decision)  but will certainly go back as soon as my new apartment is ready!

------------------------------------------
Update 3/11/08

I couldn't be more pleased with the adoption process at the MSPCA Angell center.  We worked with Mary Ann and she was so enthusiastic and helpful.  We went in on Saturday, played with a dog, and Mary Ann answered so many questions for us.  Then we decided to adopt and she shared our enthusiasm - she was really excited we were going to take Starka home.  We went through some paper work, and then couldn't get a hold of our landlord for approval. She was out of town, but would be back on Monday.  Since they aren't open on Monday - Tuesday was our next shot.  Mary Ann said they would hold on to our application - but there were no guarantees.

Everything went swimmingly with our landlord, and we headed back as soon as MSPCA opened on Tuesday.  We got to play with Starka some more, finished the process with Mary Ann.  As we prepared to leave, the staff help us find the perfect collar for our new bebe.  Everyone in the center came to hug Starka goodbye as we left.  It was a great feeling.  If you're looking for a new companion - please consider the MSPCA - they do such great work.

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5

36

Gwen F.

Brighton, MA

Pretty much every animal I adopted came from the MSPCA.  Love this place.

The hospital saved my cat's life, and I'm so grateful for that.  

I had lost said kittie to natural causes years later, and once I had healed, went back to adopt another one.  The staff went out of their way to help the adoption go through.  The result?  A happy, wonderful cat in our home.  

The emergency vet services are without parallel.  When my parakeet got sick, they treated him like any other beloved pet - they even put him on oxygen.

I adore the MSPCA and the good people who staff it.

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Elite '08

119

354

Chloe D.

Revere, MA

This place really warmed my heart from the moment I walked in. I had gone here with intentions of looking for a baby rat to adopt. They have an animal hospital and ER on the campus and it's a HUGE facililty. The only drawback is that this is in fact NOT a no-kill shelter, which is fairly upsetting and kind of makes you question the reason why almost all the pets available for adoption are so friendly. Where are the not so friendly ones? Were they put down, orr? Presuambly they would only kill the ones that weren't terribly apt to get adopted.

We came in and looked at the rats, mostly large white lab rats which I wasn't interested in, mostly because the red eye thing creeps me out, and while I love animals of all kinds, I'd rather adopt one that is right for me. So in lieu of finding my 'dream rat', we visited the cat area....SO MANY SWEET KITTIES LOOKING FOR HOMES. Couple of them I really just wanted to sweep up and carry home, but it was comforting to see how well they were taken care of. Each cat has somewhat of a little home that looks like a house, with 3 v arious levels, one for litter, another for food, another for bed and they were all for the most part very sweet and friendly. Especially CHARLIE, THE BIGGEST CAT I HAVE EVER SEEN IN MY ENTIRE LIFE. I can kind of see him suffocating me to death in my sleep. They also have a couple rooms you can play one on one with the cats, with couches and catwalks lining the ceiling.

The dog area was also very clean and roomy for something that seems like a jail. Each dog has his own area made of some sort of laminate/plastic, they have toys, and a blanket and for the most part consisted of pitbulls which is pretty typical. The one dachshund I saw there just made me almost tear up as I missed mine so much, and so very badly want one to keep at my apartment, even though it's irrational because I spend so much time away from home. Thankfully he was being adopted, so it was good to see that someone was giving him a loving home.

The staff was really attentive and friendly, and we actually ran into Jenna C and her girlfriend adopting 3 cats for their new apartment which was really random and good to see :-)

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Elite '08

90

383

Quinn E.

Jamaica Plain, MA

I adopted my guinea pig (Motor) here a few years ago. Like most guinea pigs, he ran away from me when I tried to pick him up and tried his best to make me not adopt him. He was 4 years old, and most guinea pigs live 3-5 years. So he wasn't the most adoptable thing in the world, but I had to have him. He's a very old man now, but I love him.
The hospital part of this complex also came to my rescue when I accidentally cut Motor's nails to the quick. Look, it's really hard to cut a guinea pig's nails, and his are black so you can't see the quick. We were both traumatized, and the styptic pencil wasn't fixing it, so I brought him in. I was freaking out, but they fixed him up and told me how to stop the bleeding next time. They were really sweet to me even though I was a wreck.
Angell gets a bad rap for being a kill shelter, but they didn't put my Motor down despite his difficult personality and old age. And I love animals, but some dogs were raised to fight and cannot be adopted. I hope they don't euthanize every animal with a cold or injury, and can't say if they do. But I've had excellent experiences here.

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4

7

Emma D.

Winthrop, MA

I adopted my cat, Priesty, from MSPCA.
I found him on petfinder.com and fell in love at first sight! I knew that I had to bring him home, and even though the shelter is a bit far from my house, I commuted everyday, 3 days in a row to make sure no one else had adopted him. The reason for my delay in bringing him home was my hard-to-get-a-hold-of landlord. They are strict with the landlord policy, which is reasonable. (But it was frustrating at the time!!)
My only complaint is more of an observation than an actual complaint.
Every time of the 3 times I went there, the people working there were different people, and I guess there is no policy about passing messages on from one shift to the next, so I had to explain my entire case from beginning to end to ask if my landlord had called, every single time I went.
I am aware that some of the people there are volunteers, so I'm not complaining about that aspect.

Anyway, I really really appreciate what these people do, and I am so happy to have found my potential best friend there, so I really hope they keep up the good work!!

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1

8

Anne F.

Boston, MA

Yesterday I rescued an abandoned cat and decided to bring it to to the MSPCA.  Everyone else's review are spot-on -- the building is gorgeous and very well kept, and the staff is dedicated, understanding and straight-forward with their information.
It is indeed a kill shelter, which in turn kills me a little bit on the inside as well.  However, don't let this deter you from visiting and adopting an animal.  I visited all the kitties and walked two dogs, all of which were lovely and deserving of wonderful homes.  If you're ever in need of any "pet therapy" or are looking for a creative date, I highly recommend stopping by and walking the dogs.
As for the abandoned cat, I just found a home for him and I'm going back tomorrow to pick him up.

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Elite '08

163

370

Liz D.

Boston, MA

I can't say enough about Angell.

I have a pet rat, which isn't the easiest thing to find qualified care for, but Dr. Orchid(?) the exotic animal specialist is an amazing individual.

She seems to genuinely care about what she does.  Even when she has been booked solid, she found ways to sneak my pet into her schedule for an emergency check up.

As a recent college grad, she has also suggested ways to make the visits/procedures as cheap as possible.

Also, Angell is extremely convenient since it is T-accessible(1/2mi walk from Heath St.)  This is great for those of us without vehicles in the city.  The facilities are clean, and there is a convenient pharmacy on-site.

One thing I would say, if you have exotics, is to PLEASE go see an exotic specialist at the hospital.  Initially, I went in to see a part-time doctor who suggested euthenasia for one of my rat's issues.  Thank god I got a second opinion, Dr. Orchid examined her and prescribed some meds. My girl was happy and healthy within a few days.

The group is also just a phone call away if you have questions about aftercare, and the doctors always remember to ring back if you leave them a message.

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2

92

Lesley A.

Burlington, MA

They have done a complete overhaul of this animal shelter, and it looks absolutely beautiful. It wasn't terrible before, but boy what a difference! The small animal room provides ample playing space for the guinea pigs and bunnies,  the cat room gives each cat his or her own little cat hotel with plenty of playing space and social time, and the doggie room is spacious and well ventilated. If you're thinking of adopting a little one (or two, or three or four!) I would recommend this shelter in a heartbeat.

It's right in an animal hospital, so the animals get excellent care in sickness and in health. Staff is knowledgeable and compassionate, and you get a very hands-on experience without anyone hovering over you. I found my sweet Gus the guinea pig here before it was renovated a couple of years ago, and he has been one of the biggest blessings in my life. Any facility that can kindly take care of an animal that could touch my heart this much is worth praise over and over.

One drawback is that it's not a no-kill shelter, which really doesn't sit right with me. But hopefully more people will turn to shelters instead of pet stores and adopt all of these needy animals! If I had a big enough house I'd foster them and try to re-home them so none of them would ever have to be put to sleep, but the good thing is the quality of care they receive is wonderful, and it's just all more of an urgent message to adopt, adopt, adopt!

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0

49

ack c.

Boston, MA

I took my dog here when he was a pup. I held him on my lap because i didn't want him to touch the icky floors.  He and Angell have both grown up since then.  I know find Angell to be swanky and worthy of my pumpkin.  

My vet rocks, email if you want her name, she's super terrific.    The pharmacy moves major product fast esp in the early hours, and the segregation by animal type is a great idea. LOVE IT!

I'm a convert, go angell!

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0

16

Pat B.

Dorchester, MA

I recently brought my cat, Princess, to the Angell at 12 AM because she was having trouble breathing due to asthma.

The veterinarian who looked after my cat was concerned and knowledgeable. She took a lot of time to explain what my options were regarding treatment. It was decided that Princess would stay overnight and receive oxygen along with inhaler treatment.

The front desk staff was friendly and really seemed to be animal lovers. A technician showed me how to pill Princess without getting cut to ribbons by claws and spilling the medicine. I was not able to successfully use an inhaler on Princess who fought and bit the inhaler. However after several  emergency visits (and a lot of money spent) the asthma appears to be finally under control.

I saw the cats that are up for adoption and was saddened knowing that this caring place is not a no-kill shelter. Many won't get homes. Their little lives are just as precious as the animals brought in for treatment by paying pet owners. This is why I only gave this place 4 stars. I read that over 2000 cats a month are euthanized (killed) in MA by the MSPCA alone,

The Angell is on the #39 bus line.

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Elite '08

8

213

Alexis K.

Chicago, IL

Their new facility is immaculate when I was there in late Nov./early Dec. The cats have rooms to interact with each other (and sitting rooms for you to interact one on one with the cat) that you can also enter. It's great, because my cat picked me essentially, and you can see if the cat really does get along with other cats. Everything is in tip top shape.

I adopted my cat there. She's doing great. What I liked about the shelter was that they took time to talk to me about the cat, had paperwork from the previous owner about why she was given up, her personality, health issues, etc.  The workers knew the cats very well, too, which was nice to see how much they cared.

Even though it isn't a no-kill shelter, the girl I talked to said that they don't put time limits on the cats being there (I'm going to guess it's the same for the dogs), which I thought was nice.

One small warning. You go into the shelter and leave same day with the cat. I didn't realize that when I went there, because I assumed that there would be a screening process, like when my friend adopted a cat from another shelter. Because I was moving, I had wait to adopt the cat and pray no else adopted her; the MSPCA was nice about it, telling me that if someone were interested in my cat, they would tell the person someone else was already interested in it. They couldn't prevent someone from adopting, of course, but I thought that was a nice thing they did.

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Elite '08

28

64

Meg W.

New York, NY

Did you know you can provide foster care for any animals they get at the shelter?  This is perfect if you're not sure what kind of pet you want , OR you can't keep a pet since Boston is not your year round home. The MSPCA will provide you all the food, litter,  and medicine for free. Give a critter a home until there is room @ the shelter for them.  I promise it will make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside.  PS miss your dog back home?  You can volunteer to walk a dog whenever you want;) btw I don't work here but I am a foster care provider.

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Elite '08

13

59

Daphne M.

Cambridge, MA

First, this is not a no-kill shelter. Secondly, for those of you who "disagree" with that, I implore you to sign up as a volunteer and see the tremendous amount of hard work that goes into making this place run, and saving the lives of thousands upon thousands of animals, matching them up with overjoyed new owners.

The staff here are an incredibly dedicated and passionate team who work very long hours to help a huge number of animals. Yes, there is euthanasia, and yes, it's done sometimes to animals who are not ill or mean-tempered or old. Those who have no involvement with the world of animal rescue are in absolutely no position to judge that. If you want to put millions into a shelter like Best Friends in Utah where over a thousand animals can permanently live our their lives, be my guest, but at this juncture, it is an unrealistic goal. It is, however, the ultimate dream.

I only wish I could make a larger time commitment now to the MSPCA. Their facilities are incredible, and they do so much to help exceptional cases. The staff are hard-working and they are up front with everyone; nothing gets sugar-coated. While I have a 9-5 right now and can't afford to leave it to work here, these people and this organization's awesome mission inspire me more than anything, and I have every intention of someday becoming a larger part of it.

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Elite '08

13

128

Maria B.

Somerville, MA

Working with an older facility and what i can only imagine is a tight budget the folks at this shelter do a fantastic job.

We went to get an adult cat to hang with the one we brought with us when we moved back to Boston, and the people working at the shelter helped us find a great sister for little Chili.

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Elite '08

218

401

Jessika D.

Somerville, MA

First I have to say that I am all for any animal shelter.  Any place that rescues, cares for and finds homes for homeless animals I have to support. MSPCA does some great things for animals especially when it comes to cruelty cases.
Having said that here are my issues with their adoption process.  1.) I wanted to adopt a cat through a foster home because I thought that a foster parent would know more about the cat's personality and how they interact in a home.  Well, I went to the MSPCA and that theory went out the door.  Why? Because if you see a cat you like you have to adopt on the spot, or else someone else will get em within seconds.
2.)  So in my moment of rash decision making I filled out an adoption form.  On this form they did ask for landlord's name and # as well as your current vet's name.  HOWEVER, they just called my landlord and didn't verify that she was in fact my landlord except for the fact that she said she was.  Well, I am an honest person so it was my landlord, but if I wasn't honest, I could have had them call anybody! Also, they never called my vet either.  I'm not complaining, because it sped up the process just most shelters I have been to verify this info.
3.)  None of the staff knew anything about the cat I was adopting.  She was a stray so her file was pretty scarce but they couldn't even answer my questions like "Does she get along with other cats?" (she was in a cage alone)
4.)  They want you in and out.  The process was quick.  The shelter was chaotic (it was a Saturday) and they did the paperwork as fast as possible with me.
5.) It is a kill shelter!! I had no idea.  
There are some good things, like the fact that the cats have huge spaces and the staff do seem to care a lot about the animals.  I just felt over all it was rushed and that they weren't thinking about the cats best interest.  I have a concern with my other cat at home and nobody talked to me about it (and I indicated this on the adoption application).
And Charlie is still there! Please somebody rescue him!  SAVE CHARLIE!!! He is like 23 lbs. and so lovey.  
So, I support the MSPCA, but I think they need to just refine some procedures.

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12

55

Emily A.

Jamaica Plain, MA

I love going here to visit the kitties; they have a whole room full of them.  It's a little sad to see them in their little cages, but if you're looking to adopt this is the place to go.  I got my beautiful adult cat here, and they have kittens in the spring.  They post pictures and descriptions of most of the animals at www.petfinder.org.  

The staff is friendly and helpful.  I did have one issue: when I got my cat they said she'd need a teeth cleaning, but my vet said she needed extensive (read: very expensive) dental work.  The MSPCA worked with me to have it done at Angell Memorial though, so it worked out great.

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Elite '08

17

155

Andrea A.

East Watertown, MA

there is some debate as to whether this is a no-kill shelter or not, i honestly don't know, but all things aside, it is a really super place for homeless animals to be living and find adoptive families. it's safe, clean, modern, bright, plenty of windows, it's truly wonderful.

we adopted both of our cats from angell. there are two playrooms for the kitties, so for those felines who enjoy others, the staff allow them to walk around and play freely in those rooms. big windows, balance beams, things cats LOVE!

i was most impressed by the staff, which i would assume was mostly volunteers. when adopting our first cat, the volunteer even showed us how to clip our new kittie's nails and really was wonderful and pleasant.

our second cat was a stray and had a very bad flea allergy. she was given two different medications, and frequently examined by hospital staff in her two week stay there. she got home and was good as new.

yeah, my cats are my kids, we love angell... : )

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Elite '08

47

442

Julie A.

Arlington, MA

I have had the unfortunate luck of having both my cats need emergency medical help at bad times and this place is the only one open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
They are very nice there and are very caring.
One time I came in at 2 am with an conscious cat who they had on the operating table within 15 minutes of me arriving. He was in the ICU for 75 days after that. It was a VERY expensive bill, but they did everything they could and 8 years later, my cat is healthy and happy.
Another time I came in on a Sunday morning with a cat in respiratory distress. They admitted him right away.  This cat had a heart attack at 4 am, during his stay over night , but they were alert enough to catch it and fixed him up like new! That was only a year go, but the cat is better than ever. This was a lot cheaper than the last visit and offered me financial aid!
I know they have good conditions for healing animals. They've been nothing but perfect to my little animals and I highly recommend them.

the only reason this gets only 4 stars and not 5 is that this is NOT a no-kill shelter, and I disagree with that.

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3

105

Anne B.

Brighton, MA

This place treats animals very well and you can tell the staff love what they do. They certainly need people to adopt and they are very catering to those who choose to do so. I have fostered litters of kittens from here and even some full grown cats. It certainly helps them to be able to do it, even if it is only for a week. This is a great place to adopt kittens, cat, puppies and dogs from, and they care for their animals. If you are thinking about fostering or adopting check these guys out.

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