Fee-Waived 'Pup Island' Shelter Dog Adoptathon This Weekend

SALEM, MA — Aspiring dog adopters across Massachusetts will have a chance this weekend to bring home an older dog without paying an adoption fee as part of the MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter of Salem's "Pup Island" event

MSPCA-Angell shelters in Boston, Methuen, Salem and Cape Cod will join two Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support coalition partners in hosting a fee-waived adoptathon for dogs age 1 and older on Saturday and Sunday.

The Pup Island event will also be held at the Berkshire Humane Society. Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control & Adoption Center will participate on Saturday only.

MSPCA-Angell said the event is the first of three adoptathons planned this summer as the organization works to increase dog adoptions and free up kennel space during what it described as a historically busy intake season.

Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division, said animal intake at MSPCA-Angell increased by roughly 27 percent during July and August of last year.

"Now that summer's underway, it's important that we stay on top of capacity for dogs in our shelters, a challenge many animal welfare organizations across the country continue to face," Garabedian said. "We want to ensure we have the space for the next animal who needs us while continuing to support our local and Southern shelter partners."

Garabedian said summer can also be a practical time for families to adopt a pet.

"Summer is also a great time to adopt," added Garabedian. "Families often have more time at home to help acclimate a new pet to their surroundings. By hosting events like this and continuously exploring other ideas to introduce more people to the animals in our shelters, we're hoping to find homes for more dogs."

Dog adoption hours will be extended until 7 p.m. on Thursdays starting June 25 at the organization's Boston, Methuen and Salem adoption centers, and on Wednesdays starting July 1 at its Cape Cod Adoption Center as a way to make it easier for working families to visit potential new members of the home.

"Offering evening hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays helps us build momentum heading into the weekend, when adoption numbers are typically at their highest," Garabedian said. "It gives adopters more flexibility to visit and staff more time to finalize matches."

More information is available here.