Salem's Northeast Animal Shelter Helps Rescue South Carolina Dogs

SALEM, MA — Twenty dogs brought to Salem from South Carolina last month are among those newly looking for their forever homes at the Northeast Animal Shelter.

MSPCA-Angell and the Salem shelter said the dogs were brought north through a partnership with the Charleston Animal Society to help alleviate shelter crowding there. Among them were two beagles and a hound mix in need of veterinary care after being rescued in an animal cruelty case.

Biscuit and Giblet, the beagles, and Hermes, the hound mix, were found emaciated with no access to food or water, and living amid their own waste. They are all undergoing medical treatment and will soon be available for adoption.

The other 17 dogs have no connection to the cruelty case.

The shelter said that while demand for dog adoptions remains high in the Northeast, shelters in other areas of the country are becoming overwhelmed with pet surrenders. Because of that, the Northeast Animal Shelter and MSCPA-Angell are working through partnerships around the country to bring animals to New England where they can more easily find their forever homes.

"What we saw in regions with already high animal intake in the last year was a significant reduction in pet surrender and animal control services, combined with temporary closures of shelters due to the risk of COVID-19 to shelter staffers," said Mike Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs at the MSPCA-Angell and interim executive director at NEAS. "Simultaneously, spay and neuter services were reduced in many areas, creating a recent rise in animal populations across the country."

Adoptive families are especially needed for dogs, like Biscuit, Giblet and Hermes, which have medical needs, or are larger or older dogs.

Upon their rescue, Biscuit and Giblet were found to be suffering from severe dental disease, including a painful abscess in Giblet's mouth that needed immediate removal. Both dogs were transported to the MSPCA at Nevins Farm where they were to undergo dental surgery and — after a short recovery — will be made available for adoption.

A mass was also discovered on Hermes' foreleg, which was to be removed and biopsied this week at the time of his neuter surgery. Hermes will need a few days of rest and extra attention from shelter staff before he's ready to be placed in a new home.

Anyone interested in adopting Giblet and Biscuit can visit here, and anyone interested in adopting Hermes can click here.

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(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.)