Texas Rescue Cats Arrive At Salem Shelter Ahead Of MSPCA Giving Day

SALEM, MA — Nearly four dozen cats that were rescued from an overrun Texas animal shelter will be available for forever home adoption this week.

The 47 cats arrived at New Bedford Regional Airport on Saturday and were then taken to the Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem to complete their 48-hour quarantine and receive any necessary veterinary care. The cats were brought from an overcrowded shelter in Texas to New England where it is still much easier to find adoptive homes for most pets than in storm-endangered areas of the South.

The cats include short, medium and long-haired varieties and are between 6 months and 8 years old.

"This transport comes at a critical time for the South," Northeast Animal Shelter Assistant Director of Operations Jamie Garabedian said. "As the weather gets warmer, shelters will likely see an increase in how many cats and kittens come in, so it's important to free up some space there while getting these cats here where we're confident they'll find new loving homes."

The relocation collaboration between the MSPCA-Angell, Northeast Animal Shelter and shelters in South Carolina, Florida, Texas and other southern states brought more than 4,000 pets in need to Massachusetts in 2022 — and Garabedian said she expects even more than that this year.

Most of the cats should be available after completing their quarantine this week. Those interested in adoption can find out more about them and apply here.

The cats arrive ahead of the annual Giving Day on Thursday in which senior staffers will deliver live presentations on topics from dog training tips to care advice to more on the team's efforts to rescue dogs, cats and other animals in need across the country.

The presentations are free with more information available here.

The Northeast Animal Shelter and MSPCA-Angell also continue to offer reduced adoption fees for what have been hard-to-home dogs. The $100 adoptions can save hundreds for those who can then put that money toward food, training, care and other puppy needs.

The reduced fees, which are subsidized through donations, are in effect through March 31.

(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.)