A Shelter Bursting at Its Seams: Help Us Build a Brighter Future
For nearly 50 years, our shelter has been a safe haven for animals in need. But today, we are facing an unprecedented crisis. Nikki Baltas, CVT, Shelter Manager, emphasizes the urgency of the situation:
“Stray and surrendered pets from our community are overwhelming our resources, veterinary costs are skyrocketing, and our aging facility is struggling to keep up. Week after week, animals arrive in heartbreaking conditions—many suffering from neglect, illness, or critical medical needs. Now, more than ever, we need local support to continue saving lives.”
With more families facing financial hardship, many pets arrive in dire condition—neglected, sick, or in urgent need of medical care. Our facility is struggling to accommodate the influx of animals needing care, and the demand for resources has never been greater.
The Numbers Tell the Story
80% of dogs and 40% of cats we have served in 2024 were rescued from within the local community.
Providing Essential Care for Every Animal
Many of our animals arrive with no medical or behavioral issues—they were once beloved pets whose families could no longer care for them. Whether due to financial hardship, illness, or life changes, these animals simply need a second chance in a loving home. Providing for surrendered and stray animals means meeting more than just their basic needs—it requires comprehensive care, including:
-Food & Nutrition – Prescription diets and specialized feeding plans.
–Shelter – Clean, safe spaces with facility upkeep and compassionate care.
–Trained Staff & Volunteers* – Caregivers, medical teams, and trainers.
–Basic Supplies – Bedding, cleaning materials, and enrichment toys.
*With over 14,000 volunteer hours contributed last year alone, we are deeply grateful to our volunteers and rely on our community’s support to meet the growing demand.
Beyond Routine Care: The Rising Demand for Critical Care
In addition to the essential care described above, we are seeing a growing number of animals arriving malnourished, injured, or suffering from untreated medical conditions. Some require emergency surgeries, while others need long-term rehabilitation to recover from prolonged neglect or trauma. These complex cases demand extensive medical resources, time, and funding, further straining our shelter’s capacity.
Common Medical Cases We See:
-Neglect & Lack of Basic Care – Lack of vaccines, flea/tick prevention, and untreated infections causing chronic health issues.
–Advanced dental disease – Painful infections and tooth extractions due to prolonged neglect.
–Life-threatening conditions – Emergency surgeries for gastrointestinal blockages, fractures, and severe trauma.
–Critical malnutrition – Starved animals requiring careful refeeding plans and medical monitoring.
–Severe skin conditions – Painful sores and fur loss caused by untreated allergies or infections.
The Cost of Care:
Spay/neuter surgeries are our most common and costly basic medical expense, followed by dental care. Nearly 80% of local cats and 30% of local dogs required spay/neuter procedures in 2024.
Last year alone, we spent:
$44,900 on spay/neuter surgeries
$17,300 on dental care
Extraordinary Cases: The Challenges of Long-Term Stays, Legal Holds & Overcrowding
Not all animals can be placed quickly – some remain in our care for months due to legal holds, abuse or neglect investigations, ownership disputes, and medical rehabilitation. These cases take time to resolve, and often, multiple cases overlap, bringing an influx of animals all at once. This strains our shelter and limits space for new arrivals.
We also continue to see extreme overcrowding—cases where unchecked breeding and lack of veterinary care spiral out of control. Rescuing animals from these unsafe, unsanitary conditions quickly drains our resources.
13 Cats Rescued from a Single Location – Found Malnourished and suffering from respiratory infections, dental disease, eye issues, fleas, severely matted fur, and rodent ulcers. Most required spay/neuter surgeries, and as of now, their medical care costs have exceeded $7,100.
23 Cats Rescued from a Single Location – Many arrived with untreated injuries, infections, severe dental disease, and advanced eye conditions, with some requiring surgical eye removal. Despite emergency veterinary care, two kittens tragically did not survive. So far, their medical expenses have exceeded $5,000, with costs continuing to rise. Several of these cats remain in foster care, receiving ongoing treatment and rehabilitation.
13 Dogs Surrendered in a Single Day – Among them were two mothers with puppies, including a one-week-old litter. Some were severely underweight and required a monitored refeeding plan. One critically ill dog required emergency care and remains in foster care for rehabilitation. One mother and her six nursing puppies are also in foster care until they are ready for adoption. Medical expenses have already exceeded $7,000—and costs continue to rise.
Real Faces, Real Challenges:
Beyond the numbers, these are just a few recent local animals whose medical care alone has exceeded $13,000—excluding costs for food, shelter, and staffing:
Luciana – A stray mother, found flea-infested and malnourished while struggling to care for her four kittens, was also battling a life-threatening illness. Read their full story here.
Stella – An 11-year-old Miniature Pinscher suffering from severe dental disease and multiple tumors, requiring surgery and a full tooth extraction. Read her full story here.
Sahaana – A 10-year-old cat left homeless after her owner passed away, requiring an echocardiogram, dental work, and bloodwork. Read all about her incredible recovery and her happy home here.
Dexter – An 11-year-old dog, abandoned in poor condition, suffering from arthritis, inflamed skin, and severe calluses after years of neglect. Read his incredible journey here.
Scottie & Harvey – Two-week-old kittens, abandoned at a garbage dump, required round-the-clock bottle feeding and urgent ophthalmology care. Read their full story here.
Sophia – A three-month-old Pomeranian recovering from surgery for a broken leg, requiring follow-up X-rays and weeks of restricted activity. Read her full story here.
Beyond Medical Costs: Healing from Trauma
Not all costs are medical—some animals arrive with deep emotional scars from neglect or abuse. While they may not need surgery, they require gentle handling, patient training, and time to rebuild trust. Many traumatized pets remain in our care for months before they’re ready for adoption, further stretching our resources and limiting the number of new animals we can take in.
With the dedication of our staff, fosters, and trainers, we work tirelessly to ensure every pet gets a second chance at a safe, loving home.
Help Us Build a Shelter for the Future
For decades, our shelter has provided a safe haven for animals in need, but as demand for our services continues to grow, our current space is no longer enough to meet those needs.
Looking Toward a Brighter Future
We’ve secured a 50-year lease on a five-acre parcel in Hopkinton, where we are building a modern shelter designed to better serve both animals and our community. This once-in-a-generation opportunity will create a facility that serves as a beacon of compassion and excellence for decades to come.
Donate – Help us care for our animals.
Foster – Foster homes save lives.
Adopt – Give a shelter pet a second chance.
Support our Capital Capital Campaign – Learn more about our bright future.
Spread the Word – Share this post to help us reach more people.
