49 Dog, Cat Rescues Arrive In Salem From Oklahoma

SALEM, MA —More than four dozen dogs and cats rescued from a hoarding case in Tulsa, Oklahoma arrived at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem this weekend and will soon be up for adoption.

The Northeast Shelter and the MSPCA-Angell Memorial helped arrange for the animals to be flown from Oklahoma to Windsor Locks, Connecticut. They were then driven in vans up to Salem on Saturday.

The 41 cats and eight dogs were among 90 pets rescued on Jan. 12 from a home in Oklahoma that was determined to be unsanitary and unsafe. The animals were surrendered to the Humane Society of Tulsa with their flight to New England sponsored by Bissell Pet Foundation.

Most of the cats and dogs are in good health with a handful needing extra care. The cats are between three months and 10 years, and are described as shy from their previous surroundings, but suitable for adoption. Five of the dogs from seven weeks to 14 years are described to be in "overall fine health."

A handful of the rescues will require more extensive care.

MSPCA-Angell Direction of Adoption Centers Mike Keiley said Bailey is a 3-year-old cat who was mostly confined to a crate, was underweight, was suffering from hair loss when she was first removed from the home and will need dental care.

"She's missing several molars and we'll likely need to remove other teeth, possibly even all of them because they are so damaged," he said.

Sugar is a 14-year-old Beagle who will also need dental care and removal of fatty lumps. Rosie is a 10-year-old Jack Russell Terrier that will also require dental care.

Anyone looking to donate to the immediate veterinary care of Bailey, Sugar and Rosie can do so here.

The Northeast Animal Shelter and MSCPCA-Angell have used their resources and partnership to rescue dogs and cats from ice storm-stricken Texas, tornado-ravaged Kentucky and hurricane-damaged Louisiana — along with cases of kennel overcrowding and animal cruelty in other states — over the past year.

"We're now at a place where we (NEAS and MSPCA) get called first when a natural disaster strikes or when mass animal surrenders, such as this one, can easily overwhelm an animal shelter outside of Massachusetts," Keiley said. "I'm so proud of the way the MSPCA and NEAS have combined our resources to help the largest number of animals possible, as well as the relationships we've established nationally to become the most replied upon destination shelter in New England for animals in need of relocation."

The Oklahoma dogs and cats will serve a mandatory 48-hour quarantine and then be put up for adoption. Those interested in adopting on the North Shore can apply 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.)