7 Mass. shelters helped over 80 dogs find homes — but the crisis isn’t over yet

Massachusetts animal shelters recently found homes for more than 80 adult dogs as shelters across the state are grappling with high dog populations.

Multiple animal shelters across the commonwealth were part of an adoptathon where fees were waived for adult dogs, which included all dogs over the age of 1.

The goal was to find homes for 100 dogs from Oct. 13-19.

The shelters involved in the adoptathon included, MSPCA locations in Boston, Methuen, Salem and Centerville and the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition members Berkshire Humane Society, Boston Animal Care and Control, Worcester Animal Rescue League, and Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center. Fees will also be waived at Lowell Humane Society and Baypath Humane Society of Hopkinton.

Multiple of the dogs MassLive featured, including Miss Vernon, a 7-year-old dachshund that came from an “abnormal home,” found homes during the event.

But not all dogs were so lucky.

Ollie, a 4-year-old terrier mix, is still looking for his forever home.

He is cute and sweet but an escape artist, the shelter warned. He is known to bark and will likely have to wear a belly band to prevent marking.

“We had great momentum over the summer, but as soon as animals go to new homes, those spaces are filled by others who need to come into our care,” Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division, said in a statement.

And there are still many other adult dogs in the state who need homes.

Wilson, a large mixed breed, is at Worcester Animal Rescue League for the second time “through no fault of his own.”

He’s described as snuggly and silly.

“Watching him stretch out frog leg style, roll on his back in his dog bed or race full speed in the yard will definitely brighten your day. Wilson has a smile that is contagious,” the shelter wrote.

For more dogs, click here.