The MSPCA’s Northeast Animal Shelter in Salem is expecting to take in dogs impacted by the Los Angeles wildfires this coming week, as well as dozens of cats affected by a winter storm in Louisiana.
On Friday, the shelter said it was readying to accept a transport of 37 cats impacted by the near record-breaking snowfall that occurred in Louisiana last week. The animals were scheduled to arrive by van on Saturday — less than a week before the expected arrival of a group of dogs impacted by wildfires in Los Angeles.
“A staggering number of animals across the country are being impacted by disasters right now,” MSPCA-Angell Relocation Manager Josie Waldron said in a press release. “As a leader in animal welfare with an established Disaster Relief Program, we have a responsibility to help in any way we can.”
MSPCA-Angell has been in touch with Los Angeles-area and national groups about how the organization could help animals affected by natural disasters for weeks, Waldron said. But no transport opportunities were available until late January due to the high costs and logistical challenges of coordinating long distance trips for animals.
“In the interim, Louisiana was hit with 10-plus inches of snow, which may not sound like much to us in New England, but it’s close to record-breaking there,” she said.
Winnie is one of dozens of cats being transported to the MSPCA shelter in Salem from Louisiana.Ouachita Parish Animal Shelter
The Louisiana cats are largely domestic shorthairs and range in age from three months to three years, the MSPCA said. They will be available for adoption after they complete their state-mandated 48-hour quarantine and receive any medical care they may need. Interested adopters are asked to visit the shelter between its normal open hours of 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“There’s a large stray cat population in the South, given the usual warm weather that allows them to flourish outdoors. But with the snow and these extremely low temperatures, they’re in danger,” Waldron said.
MSPCA-Angell will share more information on the transport of 10 to 20 large-breed dogs from Los Angeles as it becomes available, the shelter said. Those interested in donating to support the MSPCA’s disaster relief efforts are asked to do so at mspca.org/disaster.
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