'Adoption For Underdogs': MSPCA Waives Adoption Fees For Pigs, Roosters, Some Dogs, Cats

SALEM, MA — An event to ramp up adoptions for some unconventional pets as shelters fill up has led MSPCA-Angell and the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem to waive adoption fees for all small pets as well as birds, pigs, and some dogs and cats this weekend.

The adoption-fee free weekend will take place at shelters in Salem, Boston, Nevins Farm in Methuen and at the MSPCA-Angell shelter in Centerville on Cape Cod on Friday through Sunday.

"We've been focusing a lot recently on finding homes for dogs, which remains a priority given the gravity of the population crisis," said MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs, Mike Keiley. "We had a lofty goal over the summer of helping as many dogs as we possibly could, and, while we did find homes for hundreds, the crisis hasn’t slowed down, nor is it showing signs of slowing down."

"So, we can't slow down either. We're encouraging adopters by waiving fees for some of the dogs in our care, but we've got the opportunity to do more with this event, so we’re including many other species as well."

The wide-ranging adoption event is the first of its kind for MSPCA-Angell and the Northeast Animal Shelter after they recently received a large surrender of 50 mice, as well as a growing population of pigs and roosters.

“We're calling this an adoptathon for our underdogs — animals that are older, have some medical issues or physical challenges, and those that are generally in shelters longer," Keiley said.

Fees will be waived for rabbits, mice, rats, guinea pigs, hamsters, parakeets, roosters, pigs, and some cats and dogs. Those fees range from $15 to $500 — money that can be put toward the care of these new pets.

“It’s imperative that we find many of these wonderful animals homes so that we've got the space and bandwidth to care for animals that will need our help in the future," Keiley added.

The three-day event is sponsored by the ASPCA, Atlantic Subaru, Ira Subaru, and Autofair Subaru.

Open hours in Boston, Methuen, and Centerville are from noon to 3 p.m. The Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem is open from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

(Scott Souza is a Patch field editor covering Beverly, Danvers, Marblehead, Peabody, Salem and Swampscott. He can be reached at Scott.Souza@Patch.com. Twitter: @Scott_Souza.)