Beagles, Goats, Emu: MSPCA, Northeast Shelter Celebrate 2022 Rescues

SALEM, MA — More than a hundred beagles rescued from a research breeding facility in Virginia, dozens of cats saved from storm-ravaged Kentucky, along with a llama, emu and goats in need of a loving forever home, were among the many success stories from the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, Angell Memorial and the Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem during 2022.

The organizations combined to bring thousands of pets in peril to New England from shelters and dangerous situations across the country where they were adopted out to families and farms who were eager to take care of them and capable of doing so.

Patch featured many of these stories from throughout the year with MSPCA-Angell and Northeast providing some updates here on the results of their rescue efforts.

Perhaps the biggest rescue of the year came in July when the MSPCA and Northeast brought more than 100 of the 4,000 beagles saved from a breeding facility in Virginia, which was selling the dogs to research labs, to Massachusetts. There were more than a thousand applications for the dogs with all finding their way to new homes across the United States and, in the case of Wendell and Syndey (pictured above), Canada.

Jerry the Emu was removed from a property in Dighton along with 100 goats that came to Nevins Farm in Methuen in August after his previous owner failed to pay a bond. Jerry was soon adopted and now lives in a home with other emus.

"His family says he's doing great," the MSPCA told Patch, "and really enjoying having emu siblings."

Patch also chronicled the Northeast Animal Shelter's efforts to bring more than 50 cats from flood-ravaged Kentucky to Salem in August and September, as well as those saved from Florida shelters in areas in the path of deadly Hurricane Ian. The MSPCA said all of the Kentucky cats have since been adopted.

In March, nearly two dozen Chihuahua-Yorkie mixes were surrendered to Nevins Farm in Methuen after they were found living in a single home in Worcester. After some of them received some much-needed dental work, they were all adopted with Rafiki (pictured below) the last to find his forever home after six months at the shelter.

"His family says he’s doing well and learning more every day," the MSPCA said.

Hyacinth the llama became just the fifth llama surrendered to Nevins Farm over the past 20 years after her owner decided she could not properly care for the llama's eye issue. After surgery to remove the damaged eye, Hyacinth was adopted to a farm in Hubbardston where she lives with other llamas and alpacas.

Bruno the serval — which is a wild cat native to Africa and illegal to own as a pet in Massachusetts — was found wandering around a Lincoln neighborhood with a broken leg in January. After recovering, Bruno was relocated to The Wildlife Sanctuary in Minnesota where he could resume his life in the wild.

Shakira the Bengal kitten was found with a pelvic fracture outside of a Worcester home and was quickly adopted, renamed Nala, and is now thriving in her new home.

Hub Cat was one of the cats rescued in Lawrence in November after he got stuck trying to hide in the tire of a truck. Hub Cat lost a couple of his toes — though MSPCA veterinarians were able to save his leg — and he was adopted by Sarah Maillet and her family in southern New Hampshire right before Christmas.

Patch also recently shared the story of 16 American Bully puppies rescued from a single home in Fitchburg, and 39 dogs and cats of various breeds that were brought to Salem from overburdened shelters in Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas this week.

Those who would like to inquire about pet adoptions, or donate to the care of current and future rescues, can do so here.

(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.)