Adopting a pet through an animal shelter is a wonderful way to add a furry family member to your household. There are many pets in a Boston animal shelter in need of homes, from puppies and kittens to older pets. Mobile vet care is a great option for rescue pets, who may be especially anxious on car rides and in unfamiliar places. BetterVet is a mobile vet in Boston, MA. We offer full veterinary services such as wellness and sick visits, vaccinations, spaying and neutering, pain management, and exams for puppies & kittens, all from the comfort of home.
Whether you are looking for a puppy or kitten, or want to bring an older pet into your home, BetterVet will support your furry friend throughout every stage of life. Here are some of the animal shelters and pet adoption centers around Boston where you can find dogs and cats ready to be adopted today.
1) Animal Rescue League of Boston
The Animal Rescue League of Boston, located at 10 Chandler Street, is one of the oldest and most well-known shelters in the area. In operation for more than 120 years, the Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) has over 1,000 dedicated volunteers and 100 staff members. Last year ARL helped 23,938 animals to find homes and receive the care they needed. To learn more about adoption center hours and locations, as well as search for adoptable pets, visit their website.
2) MSPCA Angell Boston Adoption Center
MSPCA Angell, with locations in Boston (on Huntington Avenue), Methuen, and Centerville, MSPCA-Angell is one of the first humane organizations in the US, founded shortly after the Civil War. In addition to their pet adoption efforts, they also advocate for animal rights, helping to create new laws and standards for animal care.
Check out their adoptable pets page to search for cats, dogs, and other kinds of pets (guinea pigs, parakeets, and even goats, to name a few!), and filter by kind of pet, age, gender, and location.
3) Northeast Animal Shelter
The Northeast Animal Shelter, on Highland Avenue in Salem, MA, isn’t technically in Boston Proper but is definitely worth a look as it is a well-respected pet adoption center and one of the largest in the area. With open hours daily when you can meet with an adoption specialist in person, the shelter’s staff is available to help match you with the right pet for you and your family.
4) Last Hope K9 Rescue
If you are looking into dog adoption in Boston, the Last Hope K9 Rescue, located on Commercial Street in Boston, is a foster-based all-breed dog rescue organization. The rescue group transports dogs from Arkansas and other southern states to Boston and places them in approved foster homes with the goal of finding each pup a permanent home. Visit their Adoptable Dogs page to learn more about each dog that is available for adoption.
5) Second Chance Shelter for Cats
The Second Chance Shelter for Cats is located in the Jamaica Plain area of Boston, and as its name suggests, is dedicated to finding homes for as many abandoned and homeless cats as possible. In addition to adoption services, they also provide support for families as adopted cats adjust to their new homes. Visit their website to learn more about how they work, how to adopt, and to see the cats currently available for adoption.
6) Quincy Animal Shelter
Quincy Animal Shelter, located at 440R E Squantum Street in Quincy, is a shelter for dogs and cats with a mission of, “Advocat(ing) for animals by providing safety until home placement of those in our care. We promote spay and neuter programs as a means to control pet overpopulation and continually strive to be the leading community resource for education on proper animal welfare.” With regular adoption hours, you can check out their adoptable dogs, cats, and kittens pages to learn more about the pets that are available for adoption.
More Pet-Friendly Resources in Boston
In addition to our list of pet adoption resources in Boston, MA, you might be interested in our other lists of pet-friendly resources in Boston- like off-leash dog parks, restaurants, and hotels. If you plan to adopt a new pet, keep in mind that mobile vet care is a great option for rescue pets. There is no need to navigate car rides and vet clinics when your pet needs to be seen, as our mobile veterinarians will visit you at your Boston home. We even have same-day appointment availability when it can’t wait.
