Animal Rescue League of Boston

ARL unknowningly helped be overcome my grief from the unexpected death of my cat when I started fostering pets. "Royal" was my first pet and his four-legged alarm clock was crucial in making me get out of bed to walk him. I learned that I LOVE dogs yet my lifestyle was better suited to being a cat mom.

A few critters later, I met Pumpkin and we fell in love. He's mischievous, curious, and makes me laugh daily.

The team at ARL are a class act!

I have had the enormous privilege of volunteering at The Animal Rescue League of Boston (ARL) for over twenty years. My role is providing enrichment, training, and TLC to the dogs at the shelter. Dogs are such incredible beings, they have taught me so much about love, joy, play, vulnerability and humanity. They have made me a better human without a doubt. And I continue to learn from the caring and skillful staff. I look forward to going every week and being a part of a community that is dedicated to ensuring that dogs are loved and find their forever home. Dogs are PAWsome!!

I adopted my first kitten (as an adult) from the ARL last summer, and the whole experience was fantastic. Professional staff, and adorable animals. The process was simple, and we are so thankful for the ARL for bringing our cat into our lives.

My wife and I have been foster parents for shelter dogs at ARL and we have always received wonderful support for our volunteer efforts. The special food, medicine, even leashes, harnesses and toys are provided and the response time to questions and issues is always prompt. Here is Muppet, our most recent foster.

I’m privileged to serve as a foster home for ARL. My first assignment was a pair of elderly animals whose guardian was hospitalized. She was able to get her four dogs housed and loved while she focused on healing. My next was an emaciated 2 lb. Chihuahua who needed to slowly gain weight and heal his skin infections before he could be adopted. From rescuing animals in hoarding situations to advocating in the legislature to capturing panicked animals last and alone — I don’t know of any other organization that offers to same breadth and quality of care for animals in need.

I have been a volunteer for over 20 years at the ARL, so many happy moments and great memories.
They treat all the animals with love and respect.
It is an amazing organization with unbelievable people. I have met so many people and made some really good friends.

I adopted an adorable kitten from ARL in 2021 and I was so impressed with the organization that I have been volunteering weekly since 2023. The staff works tirelessly to uphold their mission of forever homes for dog,cats, smallies and even farm animals! I recently adopted another cat to complete our family.

We love Dogs, Cats and all other animals. What I will say is that the cats we have adopted from ARL have been the loves of our lives. For the past 25 years we have been blessed with some of the most amazing animals. But I will say our latest is the bestest. now known as Alora - FKA Rosebud was the first attempt at fostering. We went to her foster to let her meet us and see if we passed her acceptance and she won our hearts immediately. She went right to my husband, and I can tell you we did try. We failed but we tried. We adopted her shortly after joining our pack. She sleeps in our bed with 2 other dogs and another ARL Alum FKA Pooh now known as Apollo-the cat. This Rescue deserves every accolade it can get - and I would and do tell everyone that is looking for a new family member to go to them. Thank you ARL Dedham/Boston. Our lives would not be the same without our adopted babies.

The Animal Rescue League of Boston goes beyond expectations to give animals the opportunity to find loving homes. I am a member of their volunteer foster program where so many furry lives get an opportunity to grow, learn, and heal in a loving home environment. The ARL community provides expert advice and support during a foster placement so you never feel alone. I have had the opportunity to foster kittens and puppies and have loved every one, never thinking I'd be able to let them go. But then the perfect adopter comes along and they are off to their own families in a sea of love and exciement, and my tears fade away until the next little life shows up with those irresistible eyes.

i volunteered with ARL Boston shelter in 2021-2022, my very first shift was a transport of dogs coming flying into Bedford Airport from New Mexico, my leg of the transport was driving 3 of those dogs to Plymouth. I fell in love with one of them, a 5 mo. border collie mix named 'Chucky' (which we changed to Rocco) and immediately applied to adopt. Rocco and his sister Miley are both rescue dogs and we cannot picture life without either of them, we love them so much. Rocco is a literal beam of sunshine, the most joyful guy. My time volunteering was also great, I had to tell myself weekly that I was not allowed to bring home any more animals. I only stopped volunteering because I got pregnant and moved to Milton BUT I am itching to get back because it was one of the most rewarding things I've ever done.

I began fostering with ARL last year. I've found them to be incredibly supportive of us volunteers, helping to give us the information we need to foster successfully and providing the support needed when we do have questions.

I see how much they prioritize the needs of the animals, which only makes fostering easier. They gather as much information as they can to share, they are thinking about what the animal needs and making sure to be explicit and descriptive about challenging aspects to potentially fostering a particular animal, to help that animal have the best experience they can.

We had a "needs to be put down" situation arise unexpectedly with a foster kitten, and I was surprised at how adept they were at communicating honestly with me, keeping me informed of the situation, and even sent a condolences card. That level of awareness of the experience of a fosterer really cemented my trust in them as an organization.

I’ve been volunteering at ARL since October 2023 and they’ve been nothing but kind and accommodating. I’m a full time student and don’t live in Boston year-round, but they still allow me to come in and volunteer whenever I can. All the animals are so well loved when they’re in ARL’s care and I can’t imagine another way I’d want to spend my free time.

I am an orphan kitten foster with ARL. Working with ARL is amazing. I’ve worked with several rescues, before moving to Cape Cod. Staff & volunteers are all top notch. They ensure that the kittens have everything they need. ARL staff are always available to address concerns. Looking forward to a long relationship.

I love ARL! All the animals receive exceptional care and love. I've adopted all of my pets from ARL, and I always will! Thank you for doing the amazing work you all do.

When we discovered a feral cat that we always see around had her kittens under our deck, I knew at some point finding a rescue would be necessary! I came across ARL of Boston via Google and they responded SO quickly (compared to others who most never even responded to emails/calls). They set up traps for TNR within 2 days of calling and taught me how to set them as well. Once we trapped Mom they came the next day and happened to catch the little kittens!!! Informed me through every step, and answered all questions… even when I just wanted to know how all the cats were doing! I can’t say enough amazing things about ARL! Watching these kittens since birth they quickly became loved like our own pets and ARL cared for them as if they were their own pets as well. The staff is kind, resourceful, patient and friendly.

ARL is truly a gem in the animal welfare world! The staff and volunteers are compassionate, the advocacy for animals is unwavering, and and their commitment to helping their community is admirable. ARL gave me my best friend!

The mission of the Animal Rescue League of Boston is to be an unwavering champion for animals in need, committed to keeping them safe and healthy in habitats and homes, which we witnessed firsthand when our dog Pierce joined our family. Pierce was in the care of the ARL for about 6 months, and while he was in their care, the staff and volunteers gave an extraordinary amount of time, love, and training to Pierce, to prepare him to thrive in his forever home. Many rescue organizations wouldn’t have committed the amount of time, money, or resources that Pierce needed to blossom in his forever home, but the ARL did not consider any other option, and for this we are forever grateful. It hasn’t been easy, but Pierce has flourished in our home and he relishes his role as big brother to his two small human brothers. We couldn’t imagine a life without Pierce, in fact we joke that he will outlive us all, and this life couldn’t have been possible without the incredible support of the ARL.

I adopted my cat in 2021 from ARL. They were so kind and helpful throughout the process, making sure me and my cat were the perfect fit! The staff there is patient and friendly. Will be adopting again from Boston ARL!

I have been involved with ARL in a number of different ways, but the best way by far has been as an adopter. I got my Julie in 2015 and I can't imagine my life without her. I am so grateful to ARL for introducing this incredibly special cat into my life!

I've adopted many animals over the years from ARL! Life would not be the same without my pets and I'm thankful to ARL for connecting us!

I have been a foster volunteer for ARL for a few years and have found ARL to be a great organization! It has a knowlegeable and dedicated team that guides you through each foster experience. I also am a client as I have adopted 2 dogs from them (George & Lucas). The adoption experience was very smooth and everyone I interacted with was caring and professional. The boys have been the perfect addition to our family.

I started fostering cats and kittens with Animal Rescue League of Boston in 2021 and volunteering in the shelter last year. It has done wonders for my mental health and my understanding of cat behavior. ARL has given me great support with challenging cats and I’m really proud of what we have done together!

I was put in touch with Animal Rescue League of Boston by the town of Plymouth animal control officers after seeing a feral kitten in my yard. The lady from the community cat program came down and tried to set traps during working hours. Unfortunately it was only coming out at night. So after buying my own traps and trapping it, the community cat team came down the very next morning early to take him back to their facility in Boston. They had their vets assess the kitten, give appropriate vaccinations, and neuter him. The team also assessed for the ability to socialize as he was already 8 months old. I got a call from the community cat team at Animal Rescue League of Boston saying that the kitten showed signs of socialization and asked if I wanted to try socializing it. So they brought him back to my house and I started the socialization process. I'm happy to report the kitten was socialized (very quickly I may add!) and he is now my very happy (and very spoiled) indoor cat named Bandit. But I can't thank Animal Rescue League of Boston enough for helping me with the process and they have been available for any questions for their animal behaviorist or any other concerns while I started socializing. They work so hard for all the animals in Massachusetts. I was so fortunate to be put in touch with them. Thanks Animal Rescue League of Boston!!!!

I had the best experience ever, they were so friendly and helped me to find my kitty Francine (I call her Mel), the sweetest girl that I could adopt.

We’ve adopted dogs from ARL, a 4 yr old Dachshund about 9 yrs ago (she passed 2 yrs ago) and 2 doxi cross dogs 2 yrs ago. We found everyone at ARL to be very friendly and helpful. During our recent adoption of the 2 doxi’s we were offered extra help, if needed, as they had been part of a police confiscation and they were still a bit apprehensive. Both dogs decided that my husband was “their man” and they’re pretty much with him 24/7 (were retired).

Fostering kittens through Animal Rescue League of Boston was the highlight of 2021. Living alone during Covid is not easy, and caring for these little babies gave me purpose and so much happiness. Whenever I had a question or concern, it was super easy to get in touch with ARL staff, and their routine vaccinations and other treatments became a welcome part of my routine as well.

As much as I complained about getting up through the night to bottle feed, I can't wait for kitten season 2022!

In February of 2020, my husbands dog was dying of brain cancer and it was time to bring some feline love to our home. Through the help of the incredible volunteers they were able to match us with first fur son, Mr. White. A few months after, upon realizing Mr. White needed a friend, ARL helped us find Dexter fka Kingsley. This sweet four week old needed a specific home because he was found feral outside. ARL supported us in so many ways with this process. Their behavioral volunteers were so responsive and when difficult arose with introducing both cats, they were patient, realistic and kind. Now, we have two very happy boys that fill our home with so much love and joy. ARL is an incredible shelter that provides true quality care, love, and support to all the fur babies and their families. We are so grateful for ARL!

I’ve adopted three senior cats from the ARL in the past decade and they are my go-to for donations. I’ve referred everyone to go to the ARL to get their furbabies. I swear they paired me with my life soulmates.

Probably one of the best-run non-profits I’ve encountered,and I worked in the non-profit field for many years. Not only caring for animals but caring for people as well. So impressed during the height of Covid when the group was helping people and their pets who couldn’t afford or didn’t have access to pet supplies and care.
Most importantly I adopted my little buddy, Doug, from them a few years ago. Even though Doug had been a feral cat for a year and was extremely shy, they were able to see that he had potential to become a spoiled little pet. Through a great fostering program, Doug slowly became more comfortable with people before I adopted him into my home. Four years later he is a different cat! Don’t know what I’d do without him. And so happy that ARL gave him a real chance at a happy life!

We took our rescue dog Pepper to a weekly group behavior class at ARL and the instructors were fantastic. They were very patient with our nervous pup and helped us learn strategies to make her more comfortable around other dogs and people.

I was so lucky to adopt the sweetest cat named Gordon. The staff were great in helping me find a cat that loves to sit on the couch with me and always brings a smile to my face! It’s been almost two years since I got my roommate and I am very grateful!

I have adopted two cats and a dog from ARL Boston and have been a financial and in-kind donor for many years. Each adoption experience was very positive and the staff took the time to answer all of my questions and make sure that the placements were a good fit. My pets are part of our family and each one has been a wonderful addition. continue to be in awe of the amazing work the staff and volunteers do to help so many animals in need.

Had an opportunity to foster this lovely 2 year old puggle Robin from Animal Rescue League of Boston. She was rescued with her 5 puppies who all got placed into lovely homes . Robin was subsequently spayed and adopted by a loving family where she enjoys walks by the beach, car rides and cuddles with her human sister’s toys. ARL does an amazing job of going the extra mile and doing the right thing for the animals and puts in all the effort to match them with their forever homes!

My cat of almost 21 years passed on April 15, 2020. I swore up and down I'd never get another cat. Didn't think I could go through that pain again. I wanted an older cat as I'm 61. I searched around for a few months and couldn't find one that was near me. (I don't drive). I've also never adopted before. All my cats were given to me. I was about to give up and this girl showed up on Boston ARL. I called right away and set up an appointment. I was nervous as I didn't know what to expect from a 10 year old cat that I didn't raise. Ryan opened the cage and she came right out and head butted me. I fell in love. She is gorgeous, very very smart (it's like she knows what I'm saying!). Her name is Kimshee . She gives kisses and hugs all day and truly has stolen my heart. I'm so glad I didn't give up! Ryan and everyone at ARL was so nice and I felt very comfortable with the adoption process.

I have had many questions regarding adopting a cat after loosing my 19 year old cat and I wasn't sure that my resident cats would go for so I asked them for some advice. Not only did they give me the advice I needed they also provided me with a link that took me step by step through the process of adopting and bringing a new cat home. They always willing to listen and help. They do such outstanding work and have saved countless pets.

We adopted our first pup from ARL and they were nothing but amazing! They gave us all the necessary paper work took care of her neutering and gave us great people to work with. The locations are clean and staff is super friendly.

Animal Rescue League of Boston helped me find Evie, the perfect cat. Throughout the adoption process they kept me Informed and was very professional. I felt very confident working with the the individuals at the organization. She has made a great addition to my family and I can’t thank them enough. I highly recommend.

I love the ARL - I adopted my bff babzz from them and the staff was amazing. Babzz (topsie at the time) was a shy kitty that wasn’t great around others and had a bit of a tude. There was a cat I was interested in that was living in the main area, but the staff let me know that by the time I got there to visit him a second time and hopefully take him home, that the kitty was a little “over loved“ for the day and needed a break as he was getting cranky. I mentioned how I thought cranky cats were funny, and the staff members face lit up! She let me know that there was a cat who had been at the shelter for 3 months as she was a little too cranky to be in the main area. “Topsie” had a private office upstairs that she shared with a staff member - and when we met, it was love! She’s a total sweetie and just didn’t like shelter life. The staff was thoughtful and literally hand picked our match and I couldn’t be more grateful!

I am so proud to be a part of this wonderful organization! It is incredible to see the amount of animals they help every year— from senior animals to puppies and kittens—through adoptions, volunteer & foster efforts, field services, community services and law enforcement.

I visited the ARL as a hopeful first-time cat owner and was welcomed right away. I arrived with three friends who were there to support me on my journey, and the staff was so kind to all of us, not just me (the person actually looking to adopt). I saw one cat and immediately fell in love, and a staff member worked with me for the next 30 minutes to an hour to help me get to know the cat, instead of dismissing me and telling me to look at other cats. She took my profile down and was very encouraging despite my newness to cat ownership, and thankfully the cat I had my eyes on was one that fit my needs and abilities as a first-time owner. Because the cat was shy and scared, she was sitting in the very back of her cage so I wasn't able to pet her. The staff member was so helpful, getting treats and food in the cage to help the cat warm up and get me to meet her. We all then stood there for the next 15 to 20 minutes while I pet the cat and sobbed because of how much I loved her. The staff member encouraged me to take my time and wasn't pushy about getting me out of there and to the cash register, which really helped me take the time to get comfortable with the cat before I took her home. The way the staff are with the cats and hopeful adopters shows how much they care for their animals and care for their potential owners. Everyone was so helpful in educating me about cat ownership and setting me up for success as I left, and I even hugged the staff member who helped me on my way out. The ARL staff are patient, kind, caring, and clearly love what they do. A staff member even called me a few weeks later to follow up and see how my girl was doing and emailed me some information to help me better care for my cat! I would highly recommend adopting from them. I can't thank the ARL enough for helping me find my girl, Pippa!

I’ve gotten my two best cats from ARL, one was a calico, Nea, whom I had for over 18 years until she died and the other is Viva, my cuddly, little brown Tabby who will be 2 in April. She’s such a little charmer, with a super high voice, who loves to play fetch with toy mice including one that used to belong to Nea!

On March 10, 2018, I was heading home from grief counseling for the loss of my best friend and fur baby Luna the Shiloh Shepherd and decided to take a different route. It was a warm, sunny Saturday so a walk from Back Bay station to my home in Southie seemed like a good idea.

I happened upon a street sign for the Animal Rescue League of Boston and thought I'd pop in for some puppy therapy. Little did I know my life would be changing forever in less than an hour.

20 rescue puppies from Puerto Rico, all victims of Hurricane Maria, had arrived and a few were still in need of loving homes. I walked along the kennels, reading the profiles, and telling each pup how awesome they were and how they would be getting a family soon when I came upon a tiny pup with GIANT ears.

Her name was Alondra, a mini Shepherd mix about 4-5 months old...the oldest of all the PR puppies. As I was reading her story, she stuck a wee paw through the kennel gate and stared at me with big eyes, begging me to notice her.

I went up front to ask more about her and the staff asked if I wanted to take little Alondra for a walk outside.

I gave them my ID; the staff brought her out and leashed her up, and out we headed to the snow-covered side street. Alondra was curious and alert, but also really scared.

We walked to the front of the building where a group of dogs was romping and playing in the ARL dog park. Alondra was fascinated and went right up to the fence to watch with amazement. She clearly LOVED dogs!

Back inside, a bigger crowd had formed with more families showing up to find their forever pup. I sat on a bench and scooped little Alondra into my lap. The staff came over and asked, "So is she going home with you today?"

Without even thinking about it, I said "Yes. Yes, she is."

I filled out paperwork, picked a name (it wasn't Roo at first), got a starter bag of food, treats, and toys, and headed out with this wee pup to grab a Lyft home.

Fast-forward two years. Roo and I have been through A LOT. She's adjusted to massive change and a rough start in life as a mama-less stray fending for herself on a hurricane-ravaged island. She's helped me heal from the painful loss of Luna.

Roo Roo Bear is a sweet, silly, sassy girl and I'm proud to be her mama!

We adopted Noggin (fka Twine) 3 years ago. He has taught us so much about love, patience, and forgiveness. No dog is perfect, just like no human is perfect, but he fits our life pretty perfectly. He wants nothing more then to be included in everything with our family and our boys are his best friends.

ARL of Boston is one of the nicest shelters I’ve ever been to. My husband and I adopted our bunny, Thumper (formerly Dandy) last June at the Dedham location and we couldn’t be happier. He is thriving with us. He does binkies, watches TV and loves eating his puff treats. Everything we learned from the ARL staff is still what we do daily for Thumper. You made the adoption process very easy for us. Thanks for all that you do!

Both our babies are from Brewster ARL.. Big Boy Ben is my best bud and hiking companion .. and Mitzy our kitty is a sweet kind “old soul”.. so blessed to have them both in our lives.. Rescues are the best.!! ❤️

On a unseasonably warm February day in Boston, a coworker and myself brought some of clients with intellectual disabilities to the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

The clients who attend our day hab program made homemade dog treat and cat toys for animals in shelter. When the shelter staff brought the clients to where the dogs were staying, there was one older lady who walked right up our clients.

This lady was named Maya, a German Shepard/greyhound mix. Two days later my fiance and I took Maya home. We celebrated her one year adoption with us this past Monday and we celebrate her 12th birthday in May. Maya has brought us so much joy; she is the first to greet you at the door and protect you from suspicious looking squirrels.

We are extremely grateful we able to give this sweet senior lady a home and we love her so much for trusting us as pet parents.

Thank you ARL for all the great work that you do!

Sarah Risko

I adopted Gunner (front), a black mini schnauzer, 7 years ago. He is a cuddle bug and we absolutely adore him. Thank you Animal Rescue League of Boston for giving us the opportunity to have him. Forever grateful.

My wife and I have adopted 3 cats from ARL Dedham.

Our first cat together (my first cat ever) was Chewie (formerly Cilo). She has been the greatest cat we could ever hope for. She was so shy, and we spent an hour at the shelter quietly trying to get her out of her enclosure. She finally did, and she has been by my side ever since.

Our second cat was Pepper (Asia). We thought Chewie needed a friend, and so we went to look for another cat. I saw Pepper, who was a beautiful Bengal. I fell in love and asked about her. She was already being boxed up for another family. I had talked with the staff that day about Chewie, and about how I loved Pepper; they were very friendly and easy to talk to. Fast forward a few weeks, I get a call from the staff at the Dedham office and they told me that the family that took home Pepper brought her back in because she was throwing up. They remembered that I fell in love with her and asked if I wanted to come and get her. I came in with my wife that night and picked her up. We had Pepper for a little over a year before she passed from heart failure. She wasn't really a friendly cat, and she certainly was annoying, but we realized how much we missed her when there was no noisy orange cat greeting us at the door after work.

We decided to wait before we adopted again. We waited 2 months or so, and the first time we visited ARL again we saw a tiny little orange kitten in the office. We didn't see any other cats that were a good fit for us from the selection they had that day, and decided to chat with the staff and told them about Pepper, etc. They told us that the little kitten was also returned because he was "needy" and "annoying". They let us go to the office to play with him, and again, we fell in love. We stayed for a while and decided this was right for us, and they agreed to hold him until he got some other shots. We picked him up a couple of days later and he has been our "little one" for the last 2 years. Rupert (Logan) is super annoying, but we love him so much. The staff at ARL has been amazing since day 1 and I would recommend them to anybody and everybody.

We adopted our little boy Cypress in June 2017 after seeing him at ARL and immediately knew he was different. He was a goofy, energetic, and clever and climbed onto our laps the first night he came home with us. Unfortunately he passed away last winter due to acute leukemia and fought every day until the end, especially for those extra meaty snacks from the vet. We thank ARL for introducing us to the most loving addition to our family!

I rescued my new best friend at ARL Boston and my life had never been better! Thank you ARL BOSTON!!

We adopted our cat Kuzy from the ARL. He had been living on the streets and was very thin at the time. Now he's grown into a healthy, sweet cat, and is an integral part of our home. We're so grateful that they saved Kuzy and are investing in cutting-edge practices to help other cats across the state.

My first story involves a little grey kitten who filled our lives with so much love (and so many stories) for twenty-one years. After our cat, Peanut Little, died, we wanted to find a companion for her sister, Sunrise Serval. We were new to the Boston area, so friends recommended that we try adopting from the Animal Rescue League of Boston. That's where we found Grau Katt. The entire experience was wonderful. Since then, we've sent family and friends to ARL whenever they are looking to adopt a new member of their family, and we are long-time monthly donors.

The ARL of Boston is a Great place the many animals there seem to be well cared about and taken care of.
We have been very fortunate over the years to adopt 3 bun rabbits from this center.
Our first bun adopted from them was many years back Mystic a sweet female.We chose there as we found out there are MANY buns in need of a good home at the time my husband was working in Boston he stopped by there to see what buns were there for adopting.THe staff could tell we had experience with rabbits and we were able to visit with Mystic there.Once approved we made sure we had appropriate housing for her and home she came with us.
The second bun we adopted was given up by his pet parent he was about 2 years old and fit in with our family fine both buns were in good health no medical issues.
Our 3 adopted bun came from a place of neglect and abuse where he along with MANY animals was rescued by the ARL.Knowing our case history the staff was happy and made it easy for us to adopt BoSox he is named for the Boston shelter and the Red Sox.
He was neutered before coming home with us which is fine since we do not want babies as we are not set up for that situation.
He has adopted Very well after being with us for a year he loves to play keep me company and like many a male LOVES his food.
We love all our buns so much and they are such a part of our family.
We Highly recommend anyone who can to adopt from this shelter.
Staff are supportive and friendly.

I wish every town had an ARL, but sadly, they don't.

I live on a pond and ARL has helped me many, many times when I find an injured duck or goose, or other animals for that matter. Seeing that I don't have a car to get them help myself, I'd be lost without them. We often work as a team, I catch the animal and wait for them to pick up, or I try to befriend the animal and they help me catch it once it's more approachable.

I wish that more people knew that ARL gets no money from the government. There are so many animals out there who need their help and ARL is reliant upon us to help them provide it.

This organization is amazing! We have rescued a very sweet white mouse named Abe and 2 darling goats who came from a truly horrific situation. They were knowledgable, organized and supportive throughout the whole process. You guys are my heroes and Gwenny and Gump think so too!

My family has adopted several pets from the ARL. One dog was a foster, he was rescued from a terrible situation. Our foster experience with ARL was amazing, we got to see first hand how they advocate for the animals who can't speak for themselves. We often stop by to visit their facility. Here is a picture of my Spock, he's s happy fella

I adopted my kitten from the ARL of Boston. Amanda was wonderful answering all my questions and concerns. She gave me great suggests for helping my cat adjust to a new kitten. We also thoroughly went over the records kept on my little guy. It was a great experience and would recommend adoption from this organization!

I am a volunteer dog walker at ARL in Boston and I can't say enough great things about volunteering here. The staff is very friendly and the animals are very well taken care of. They receive consistent training, attention and love from the staff and fellow volunteers at the facility.
As a volunteer, I am offered an abundant amount of resources and additional training to improve my skills and interactions with the dogs. The hours are flexible to fit my schedule and I am never the only volunteer working. The staff is more than happy to help me with any specific questions I have regarding the dogs, behaviors, statuses, etc. Dogs get adopted quite quick, and there is no better feeling than seeing a dog become a new member of a family, and placed in a home that will provide them all the love and attention they are used to receiving at the shelter.

I have volunteered with ARL in Dedham as a canine companion at first, from March 2015-August 2015. After transferring schools to Suffolk University, I continued volunteering at ARL in Boston. I have also volunteered with ARL at Paws In the Park in Brewster, MA last year. Since volunteering, I have wanted to work more with rescues and fight for animal rights as my career. I have loved every single dog in the shelter and I wanted my first dog to be a rescue. Little did I know, I got to work with Murphy, a lab/dane mix, and adopt him a week before Christmas! He is my absolute pride and joy. All a dog needs is love, and I am very pleased how the staff at ARL find great homes for these brilliant dogs. There are dogs who are rescued from critical situations and this shelter has done more than wonders for these animals. I would DEFINITELY adopt from ARL again!!!

As a former employee, I can truly say that the Animal Rescue League of Boston is a special place. I worked in both the shelter itself as well as the non-profit veterinary clinic that's attached, Boston Veterinary Care (BVC). The hours are long, the work is difficult (think: cleaning a dozen dirty dog runs at 8:00 on a Saturday morning or attempting to vaccinate a scared and feisty cat). But everyone who works and volunteers there is there for just one reason: to save animals. That shared mission is obvious the second you walk in the building. I've known coworkers who drove long hours to bring a cat to their new home at a barn where they could live their best life, and others who slept overnight in the shelter on cots during a snowstorm just so that there would be someone to feed and care for the animals the next day. BVC has a fund that can provide low-income clients with life-saving surgery for their pets at little cost to them. That's the kind of respect, dedication, and love for animals that makes this place great. It does things for the animals of the City of Boston (and beyond) that no one else can or will.

I have adopted 2 cats through ARL Dedham. Fantastic group. My first beautiful baby , Penelope, a dilute calico Maine Coon mix lived to be 13 and was best friends with my 3 dogs. My current gorgeous girl is 15 and still going strong. She's amazing.

Having worked for this amazing organization I can honestly say every person whether they worked in the shelter or veterinary clinic has a true passion for helping and saving animals. The Rescue League was known for taking cases that other organizations in the area would turn away regardless of the severe lack of funding. I was very lucky to be a small part of The Animal Rescue League of Boston.