The Association Blog

We’ve been hearing about many of your wonderful programs that help keep pets and their people together. The Animal Rescue League of Boston’s Keep Pets S.A.F.E. (Supporting Animals Facing Emergencies) initiative, initially funded by a grant through PetSmart Charities, has been going strong since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“We were able to implement this amazing community program right from the start,” says ARL Boston’s President & CEO, Edward Schettino, DVM, PhD, MBA. “We quickly shifted our programs to focus on communities that need assistance. What makes our program unique is that we are completely mobile and go to the communities.”

Collaborating with their partners, Action for Boston Community Development and Boston Senior Home Care, ARL Boston rolled out their mobile fleet to make safe and contactless deliveries of food and other pet necessities to the greater Boston metropolitan area. 

The full suite of services includes:

• Delivery of pet food and other essential pet supplies to clients’ homes and partner-supported community housing
• Pick-up and transport of pets for critical veterinary care (and then returning them to their owners)
• Temporary emergency shelter for pets (plus pick-up and return of the pet to their owner or a designated caregiver)
• Emergency and essential surrender of pets with pick-up service

How are you helping to keep pets and their people together at your organization? Leave a comment—we’d love to feature you!

Learn More

Keep Pets S.A.F.E. public-facing information
COVID-19 Safety Net Idea: Pet Food Delivery