Mass. Animals: Assessment of City Shelter 'Bleak'

Written by Charlene Arsenault (Patch Staff)

Animal Rescue League’s Follow-Up Assessment of Troubled Roslindale Shelter is ‘Bleak’

After visiting the City of Boston’s Animal Control in Roslindale, the Animal Rescue League of Boston found it in troubled situation. So much so, that Mayor Martin Walsh’s administration requested a detailed follow-up.

It produced a 31-page assessment, conducted by 16 inspectors, that painted a picture of animals existing in extreme and inhumane conditions, reported the Boston Globe.

The Boston Herald reported that a bulldog recently died at the Roslindale shelter while in its care.

Inspectors found such things as a biting-prone dog in a cage with a hole so large he could stick his head through it, cages loaded with urine and feces, disorganization, and injured animals not receiving any care. Dozens were moved to other shelters. The Rescue League gave pages of recommendations to improve the Roslindale shelter.

Law Would Require Veterinarians in Mass. to Report Suspected Animal Abuse

In response to the Puppy Doe case last year, MA. Senate Republicans filed the PAWS (Protecting Animal Welfare and Safety) Act. The House and Senate had different versions of the bill before the House passed one that both agreed with, reported MassLive.com. The final bill includes a section involving veterinarians, indicating that those who don’t report suspected animal mistreatment would be reported to the Board of Registration in Veterinary Medicine.

Maven and Pilot Raise Money for Guiding Eyes, at Andover Orange Leaf

Meet and Greet on Aug. 16

Submitted by Guiding Eyes for the Blind

Next time you swing on over with the family to Orange Leaf on Park Street for a sweet frozen treat, don’t be surprised if you bump into a yellow Labrador and her pup hanging out in the new, recently expanded lounge area. The Labradors, named Maven and Pilot, come from the Eastern Massachusetts’ region of Guiding Eyes for the Blind, a nonprofit guide dog school that raises puppies to become guide and autism service dogs.

The Eastern Massachusetts Puppy Raising Region of Guiding Eyes for the Blind has thirty to fifty volunteers raising between ten and twenty puppies at any given time. It takes approximately two years in total to prepare and train a puppy to become a working guide dog at a cost of ~$45,000 per dog - all of which are provided free of charge to those in need.

“We receive no government assistance and are funded solely by contributions from individuals, standout local businesses like Orange Leaf, community organizations, and the services of many dedicated volunteers,” shares Borkowski. “The average American household has $90 spare change ‘lost’ between couch cushions, under car seats, and orphaned in junk drawers. Maven and Pilot help us collect that change to change people’s lives, literally. There is nothing better.”

For more information on becoming a volunteer puppy raiser and other ways to support Guiding Eyes, join Guiding Eyes volunteers and their pups in training for a Meet & Greet on Saturday, Aug. 16, at Orange Leaf in Andover between 1- 2:30 p.m. or visit www.guidingeyes-ema.org.