Hot Fur Summer: Salem Shelter, MSPCA Waive Adoption Fees For Some Dogs

SALEM, MA — Massachusetts residents in search of a new best buddy might be able to get one free of adoption fees from MSPCA-Angell and Northeast Animal Shelter through Sunday.

As part of an effort to place 2,500 dogs into new homes by the fall to help alleviate shelter overcrowding across the state and open up more spots for homeless dogs from across the country, the Salem animal shelter and the MSPCA-Angell shelters in Boston, Methuen and Centerville on Cape Cod are running "Hot Fur Summer" where adoption fees will be waived for all large breed dogs 1-year-old or older.

(Also on Patch: Dog Euthanasia Crisis: MSPCA, Northeast Animal Shelter Adoption Drive)

The fee-free adoption comes as the MSPCA cares for Paloma, a 1-year-old Pit Bull mix that came to the Boston Adoption Center on June 8 after being hit by a car in Bellingham. Paloma, which had recently given birth to puppies, had a broken leg and was brought to Boston for care with no chip or other way to identify an owner.

"We're the only organization with the resources to give this dog the care and rehabilitation she needs and the ability to find her a new loving home if no owner steps forward," MSPCA-Angell Director of Adoption Centers and Programs Mike Keiley said. "Right now, those resources are stretched to the limits with more than 100 dogs currently in our care, but we knew we needed to step up and help this special dog.

"Now, we also need adopters to step up."

Keiley said anyone interested in Paloma is asked to consider her or one of the dozens of other larger breed dogs that are in need of forever homes in Salem or the other MSPCA-Angell locations.

"In order for us to be able to continue helping local dogs like Paloma while also taking in dogs from overcrowded shelters in other parts of the country, it's critical that we find homes for the dogs in our care," he said.

Those interested in looking at some of the available dogs 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.)