Alexis is a 5 year old, tiny little chihuahua mix. She is an incredibly sweet and affectionate girl. Alexis came to us from another shelter after being brought there because her owner could no longer care for her. She has not let this defect impair her life and as you’ll see in the video below she is a very playful gal!

When she arrived at the Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Dedham shelter, Alexis met with Dr. Davis, our resident expert vet on all things orthopedic. After he and our experienced team of veterinarians discussed Alexis’ situation they came to the conclusion that because her deformity does’t hold her back there was no need to put her through the pain and months of rehabilitation that surgery would cause. It was determined that surgery would not improve her quality of life.

Alexis has made such a huge impression on both our staff and volunteers. She wants nothing more than to love and be loved. She does not seem to mind cats or older quiet dogs. Due to her difficulties, she would do best in a home with children who are old enough and knowledgeable enough not to trample her. Stop by our Dedham shelter to meet this little sweetheart.

She is eight years-young and would do best in a home with older children or adults only. She is a fairly low-energy cat and will play with toys on occasion. She is generally a quiet little girl, but she does have a talkative side. She loves to chirp at you to say hello, tell you she’s hungry and to let you know she sees birds outside.

If you are looking for a sweet, independent yet affectionate cat then please consider bringing this laid-back lady into your home. Crescent is currently in foster care, so please call our Boston Adoption Center for more info 617.426.9170.

They offer the following services:

• Preventative Medicine
• Wellness Vaccines
• Feline/Canine Nutrition Counseling
• Digital Dental Radiography
• Dentistry
• Outpatient Surgery
• Orthopedic Surgery

Most importantly, when you bring your pet to Boston Veterinary Care you are supporting the League’s mission to rescue domesticated animals and wildlife from suffering, cruelty, abandonment and neglect!

To make an appointment, call 617.226.5605 or email bvc@arlboston.org.

Hours of operation:
Monday – Wednesday – 8am to 7pm
Thursday – Saturday – 8am to 4pm
Sunday – Closed

BVC also offers free on-site parking!

Time for some rest and relaxation for our shelter dogs…

People all over the world frequent spas and salons searching for ways to relax. One of the most popular methods for finding calm is by having a massage. Letting your body relax while someone else works all the stress of your day away has a major impact on our wellbeing and mental state. So if it works for us, why not dogs too? Canine massage is a growing industry and it can provide relief to older, arthritic dogs, as well as, our shelter dogs.

This past week, canine massage came to the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Two former volunteers, Julie Polvinen and Amy Campbell, returned to the League after receiving their certification in Small Animal Massage to teach the shelter staff and our dog volunteers how to use this tool to benefit our shelter dogs. The shelter can be a scary place for dogs and can create tension and anxiety. Now our staff and volunteers can use massage to help them adjust and feel more comfortable during their stay with us. Massage can benefit any dog that accepts the handling, but it is important to receive instruction before attempting it at home as dog muscles are very sensitive.

Even though massage will not be appropriate for every dog, it sure is fun to take some time out of our day to give a little R & R to our shelter dogs and see how calm and happy their are after! Thank you, Julie and Amy!

Regardless of which product you chose to protect your pet we advocate that you do so year round given the irregularity in our seasons. A popular brand of flea and tick prevention is Frontline Plus. Despite popular belief, this is not considered a repellent. In order for Frontline Plus to do its job, the fleas or ticks must make contact with the treated animal before dying, so after applying, don’t be alarmed if you are still finding them on your pet. If you and your pet are active, enjoy hiking and visiting the dog park, we encourage you to consult your veterinarian about the lyme vaccine.

Consider all of your options with regards to keeping your pet protected and don’t hesitate to call your veterinary clinic for advice. Remember, as the warm weather is arriving and the green grass is growing, it’s the most important time of the year to keep your best friend covered!

Congratulations, Dr. Smith!

This fund is important for animals in Massachusetts because, contributions to the fund will:

• Help reduce the number of homeless animals.

• Assist families who would not otherwise be able to obtain the spay/neuter surgery or vaccinations.

• Provide training to municipal animal control officers so that they can safely and effectively protect animals and people in their communities.

Haleigh & Thea hang-out with Sweetie.

Last week the children at the Chestnut Hill School donated cat beds and dog toys that they had made for our shelter animals in honor of  the “Heart of the Hill Community Service Day.” The two girls in the picture above attend the school and frequently visit the League with their mom on Saturdays.

Heart of the Hill Day is a community service day held each year at the school where students in all grades and their families come together to roll up their sleeves and work on projects in support of local organizations.

Thank you so much to all of the kids at Chestnut Hill School and the Head of the School Dr. Steven Tobolsky for choosing to help the shelter animals at the Animal Rescue League of Boston. You have made such a big difference in their lives and are helping to make their stay at the shelter more enjoyable! Keep up the great work!

The League would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Boston Private Bank & Trust Company for supporting our programs by becoming the Lead Sponsor of this exciting event – your dedication to helping both humans and animals in need is inspiring.

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Reggie, adoptable at our Boston shelter.

Living in a multi-cat household can be extremely rewarding. Contrary to popular belief, cats are highly social creatures that benefit from feline companionship. Cats will often play together, groom each other, and give each other much-needed socialization. So if you’re considering adopting a new feline pal, here are some tips for finding the “purrfect” match:

A New Cat or a Companion Cat?

It is important to know the reason why you’re looking to adopt a new cat. Is the cat for you, or is it a friend for your resident cat? If the former, then the cats only have to tolerate each other and be able to share territory peacefully. If the latter, then you’re looking for a cat who will be interacting with and getting along with your resident cat. If that is the case, then whichever feline you choose must be a good match for your cat, with your own preferences coming in second.

Kitten or Adult?

Age isn’t so important. It’s often thought to be easier to integrate a kitten into a household simply because they are less threatening to a resident cat than an adult. However, there are plenty of adult cats who would make great companions, and because feline personality doesn’t begin to solidify until a cat is about 8 months old, it is easier to make a good match with an adult.

The most important thing is to match energy level/playfulness and personality. Ask yourself the following questions:

1. How energetic is my cat? How often does he/she need to play?
2. What type of play does my cat like? Is he/she very athletic, or more mellow during playtime?
3. Is my cat outgoing or shy?
4. Has my cat had previous experience living with or meeting other cats? How has he/she reacted?

For older, less playful cats, a kitten might not be the best choice. Kittens are in constant motion and might aggravate a mellower cat. A kitten might also not do well with an extremely active resident cat who could accidentally hurt a kitten during play.

Male or Female?

With spayed and neutered pets, certain pairings are easier, in general, to integrate. In order:

• Male/Male companionship is the easiest
• Male/Female is intermediate
• Female/Female is more difficult

Female cats can sometimes be more territorial with each other than (neutered) male cats. However, there are always exceptions. There are female cats who come into the shelter who are wonderful with other cats, and there are males who refuse to like other cats, so always ask a staff member or volunteer about a particular cat you’re interested in!

At the Adoption Center

When you’re adopting a companion cat, it’s important to let a volunteer or staff person know about your resident feline. We’re happy to help you pick out the best match and we know our cats pretty well!

For instance, every Monday in our Boston adoption center, we have cat playgroup in which we test our cats’ compatibility with each other. We then place them into groups depending on their interactions (such as, Group 1 for cats who like other cats and love to play, and Group 2 for cats who like other cats but are more mellow). We also often have information on cats from previous owners.

Making your home a multi-cat home can be a great experience, and can add enrichment and socialization for your resident cat. But for the best chance of success it’s important to make a good match.