As the COVID-19 situation continues to quickly evolve, we want to share with you some changes that we are putting into place at the MSPCA-Angell so we can continue to serve the pets and people of our community while keeping our staff, volunteers, and clients protected. We recognize the vital role that our hospitals and adoption centers play as a safe haven for animals especially in times of crisis. We are committed to being a resource for our community during the outbreak with services and support.
Here is how we can support each other during this time:
Angell Animal Medical Center
Angell will remain open for prescriptions and urgent and emergent cases
- Urgent and emergent cases. Angell is dedicated to remaining open for those most in need, but starting Wednesday, March 18, 2020, Angell in Boston and Waltham will be closed to all patients except for urgent and emergency cases. Our team has reached out to clients with scheduled appointments beyond March 17, 2020 to cancel all elective visits.
- New appointments and rechecks. Once we have certainty that it is safe to start seeing appointments again, we will resume booking new appointments and rechecks. We will post updates to angell.org.
- Prescriptions. Angell will continue to fill prescriptions for Angell patients. Clients can submit their prescription requests at angell.org/pharmacy or by calling 617-524-5700. Angell will waive the shipping fee at this time to mail prescriptions. If they are time-sensitive, clients can pick up their prescriptions at our hospital locations. Staff will deliver the medications to clients outside the building.
How Angell will deliver emergency or urgent care to your pet while minimizing risk of coronavirus transmission
- To help ensure Angell’s clinicians and staff can safely continue to deliver care to critically ill animals, clients will not be permitted to accompany their pet into Angell’s Boston, Waltham, Danvers and Westford hospitals after Tuesday, March 17, 2020.
- Communication by phone. Remaining in their cars or outside the building, clients will be asked to call our team via their mobile phones upon arrival for an emergency or a necessary recheck.
- Highly critical emergencies will be instructed to use the intercom in the foyer of our front entryway.
- The emergency/urgent care process. Following the client’s initial phone call at arrival, if deemed appropriate, a staff member will meet the client in the parking lot to take the pet into the hospital.
- Dogs must be leashed. If the client does not have a leash, we will provide one. The client will be asked to exit their car and hand the pet to the employee and return to their car.
- Cats and all other pets must be in a carrier. If the pet is not in a carrier, a temporary box carrier will be provided. The client should place the carrier on the ground and step back 6 feet and then the employee will bring the pet into the building.
- Once examined, the doctor will call the client on their cell (if the client does not have a cell phone the employee can meet the client in the parking lot to discuss care while maintaining a 6 foot distance) and report findings and discuss next steps.
- Payments will be accepted over the phone with a credit card. Gloved employees will also accept check and cash.
- Our clinics, Angell at Nashoba in Westford and Angell at Essex in Danvers, will use similar methods to remain open for primary care services with entry into the hospitals restricted to patients and staff.
Please know that though we have cancelled the visiting of hospitalized patients, we will continue to text pictures and updates so that you can stay in close contact with your pet while they are hospitalized. The only visiting exceptions will be for end-of-life scenarios.
You can reach our call center 24 hours a day at (617) 522-7282.
Animal Care and Adoption Centers
- Animals are still available for adoption – you just need to make an appointment! Finding homes for our current population of shelter animals will be vital for our ability to provide temporary housing and increased surrender intake as a result of the outbreak. To make an appointment, please contact one of our shelters via phone. Boston: 617-522-5055, Nevins Farm: (978) 687-7453 x6101, or Cape Cod: 508-775-0940.
- Animals in need of immediate surrender will continue to be accepted by appointment. If the need to surrender your pet is not urgent, we ask that you wait to bring in your animal. This will allow us to ensure room for emergency cases and keep traffic low. Rest assured we are here to help if needed. Please visit our website at mspca.org/surrender for more information.
- Our Community Outreach teams will be reaching out to clients in our service areas to check in and make sure owners and pets have the resources they need.
- Our adoption centers will make disaster preparedness supplies available to the public on an as-needed basis in the event of emergency. Supplies include dog crates, water bowls and pet food is available. Please call our adoption centers if you are in need of supplies.
- Our adoption centers are determining plans for emergency temporary housing for pets whose owners are ill or hospitalized. Please call us to discuss your situation should you need help.
Protective Measures
- The Adoption Centers are closed to the general public. For our animal loving friends who simply enjoy visiting our adoption centers, we ask you to refrain from casual visits at this time.
- MSPCA humane education events and vaccination clinics are postponed. If you have registered for a class or event, an MSPCA coordinator will be in touch to re-schedule.
- Spay/Neuter Appointments are postponed until further notice beginning 3.18.2020.
- Donations of gently used supplies (blankets, toys, etc) cannot be accepted at this time. While we are grateful for your consideration, we are not able to accept these items.
- We are choosing social distancing whenever possible. If you are coming in for a scheduled surrender or adoption appointment, you will find hand sanitizer when you enter and we ask that you respect personal space, and don’t be surprised if we offer an air high-five in lieu of shaking your hand!
How You Can Help
- Donations of pet food ARE ENCOURAGED. Cat and dog food (canned and dry, in original sealed packaging) are very much needed to support our community outreach programs and to distribute to local food pantries to ensure people with food insecurity have food for their pets. We have a comprehensive Amazon wish list on our website so you can donate from the comfort of your home! Visit mspca.org/wishlist. If you are choosing to drop off food at the adoption center, you may leave items safely in the donation bin outside the front door.
- We encourage every pet owner to develop a preparedness plan should you become ill or hospitalized. Please visit our website at https://www.mspca.org/pet_resources/keeping-your-pet-safe-in-case-of-a-disaster/ for helpful information.
- Helping pets in your community – We are encouraging community members to check in with friends, neighbors and relatives that may be living alone with pets or be more vulnerable to this virus to make sure they are ok. If you have room in your home, consider offering emergency housing to those that may need to separate from their pet due to hospitalization.
- All of our Adoption Centers will have daily Facebook live video tours of our adoption centers so that you can view adoptable animals from afar. Check out our social media accounts for more!
Thank you for your understanding and support as we strive to continue our work on behalf of animals and the people who love them. We are thinking about all of you – our staff, volunteers, supporters, clients, and community partners – and doing everything we can to be here for those who need us the most. The effects of this crisis will be far reaching. By following the latest trusted science and being compassionate and kind to one another, we will get through this.