Rare Bichon Frisés Rescues Head To Salem In Need Of Forever Homes

SALEM, MA — A rare arrival of small purebred Bichon Frisés were expected to arrive at the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem and the MSPCA shelter on Cape Cod from a Texas rescue on Thursday and should be available for their forever home adoption next week.

These dogs were some of the more than 100 dogs and cats removed from a Texas breeder as part of an animal cruelty investigation and brought to New England with Texas-area shelters overwhelmed with rescues, surrenders and strays. The dogs were expected to arrive at New Bedford Airport on Thursday and then be taken to Salem for care and a state-mandated 48-hour quarantine.

"They were living in unsanitary conditions and they weren't receiving proper care," said Mike Keiley, MSPCA-Angell director of adoption centers and programs, and NEAS executive director. "Now, they've been rescued, and some of the dogs will soon be in Massachusetts, where we're confident they'll be able to find the loving homes they deserve."

One American pit bull terrier was to also be part of the transport to Salem.

Keiley said this will be the largest transport of Bichon Frisés for the MSPCA and the largest for the Northeast Animal Shelter since the two organizations began their partnership in 2021.

The Bichon Frisés range in age from five months to eight years old.

"This has been a multi-week effort," Keiley said. "We transported 20 dogs from the Montgomery shelter before the surrender, to help ensure they had enough space for all the animals they were taking in."

"Now, Montgomery is in a much better place, and we’ll be able to match these dogs with eager potential adopters here (in Massachusetts and New England)."

MSPCA Director of Advocacy Kara Holmquist said the Texas rescue is an example of the type of bad breeder that often supplies dogs and cats to commercial pet stores.

"Dogs in commercial breeding facilities are often bred under terrible conditions," Holmquist said. "The dogs are crowded into small spaces, they aren't socialized. They're inbred and overbred, which can lead to health and genetic disorders. Puppies are taken from their mothers too young, so they have behavioral issues."

"If pet shops are no longer allowed to sell dogs and cats, fewer will suffer in these kinds of facilities."

There is pending legislation on Beacon Hill that would prevent the commercial pet store sale of dogs and cats.

The MSPCA will update its social media accounts as the dogs become available for adoption.

Those that want to contribute to the cost of caring for these dogs — expected to be more than $5,000 — can donate 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.)