Animal Rescue League of Boston's Top 10 Rescues of 2016

MASSACHUSETTS — Anyone involved in animal rescue will tell you there is always an animal in need, and maybe even in distress. No organization in the Bay State feels this more keenly than the Animal Rescue League of Boston, whose web of rescue services reaches across the eastern part of the state, and to many different species.

The ARL, supported by donations, springs to help and over the last 12 months reports that they assisted in saving more than 3,780 critters and creatures.

The rescue group just announced its "Top 10" rescues of the year, which included 47 birds from Dorchester, ducks in Lexington, a turtle in Brookline and more than 1,400 animals from a farm in Westport that sat in squalor.

Here are the top 10 (click this link to read the full description of each rescue):

1. 1,400 Westport farm animals
2. 47 Dorchester birds
3. 9 Jamaica Plain kittens
4. 8 Lexington ducklings
5. Brookline turtle
6. 4 Randolph raccoons
7. Yarmouth Port cat
8. Brookline owl
9. Revere dog
10. Hanover “Santa” squirrel

The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) is a "progressive animal welfare organization dedicated to rescuing domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment, and neglect." With more than 100 staff members and a dedicated corps of 500 volunteers, the ARL provides direct care to thousands of animals in need each year through our adoption centers in Boston, Brewster, and Dedham, rescue services and law enforcement teams, and shelter and community veterinary services, said its website.

Donate and learn how to help here.

ARL has quite an active Twitter page. Follow them here.

Photo via Animal Rescue League of Boston