Dog Euthanasia Crisis: MSPCA, Northeast Animal Shelter To Host Emergency Adoption Drives

SALEM, MA — For three years since the onset of the COVID-19 health crisis, while animal shelters were overpopulated across different regions of the country, there were assurances that transporting dogs to New England would lead to relatively quick adoptions amid high demand for new furry friends in the home.

But as the pandemic wanes, even adoption rates in Massachusetts have slowed, placing thousands of dogs at risk for euthanasia across the region and the country.

The MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem are looking to combat that crisis this spring and summer with the goal of placing at least 2,500 dogs in new forever homes. Some of those will be local surrenders and some will be transports from their network of partner shelters across the Southeast and Texas.

"We're already taking in 10 percent more dogs in 2023 versus the same period last year because of an increase in owner surrenders, and we must find creative solutions to ensure these pets have a safe place to go," MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs Mike Kieley said. "This crisis is even forcing many shelters that receive transported pets to pause those relocations because they are at or over capacity."

According to Shelter Animals Count, which tracks animal shelter data across the country, dog euthanasia jumped 39 percent last year — from 93,697 in 2021 to 129,850 in 2022 — and early data from this year suggest the upward trend is continuing.

A steep drop in adopters, economic instability and a nationwide veterinary staff shortage are considered contributing factors in the overpopulation, according to MSPCA-Angell.

The MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem will host the first of a series of special adoption events during the second week of June.

For the MSPCA's adoption campaign to be successful, the 142 dogs already bunking down in the organization's adoption centers in Boston, Methuen, Salem, and Centerville on Cape Cod need to be placed in homes as soon as possible.

"Without action from the MSPCA and others, as many as 150,000 dogs — or more — could be at risk this year," Kieley said.

The MSPCA's dog-specific housing is currently at 90 percent capacity, which according to Keiley, means it is imperative to identify local adopters as quickly as possible.

More details about the dog adoption events can be found here.

"It's critical that we're able to find homes for the dogs in our care so we can help partner shelters save more dogs who would otherwise face euthanasia," Keiley said.

A gallery of dogs currently available for adoption in Salem can be found 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.)