A Moment of Paws

By Dr. Edward Schettino

While this space has been reserved for discussing topics that impact pet owners every day, this month I wanted to pause and acknowledge a tremendous milestone -- the Animal Rescue League of Boston is celebrating our 125th anniversary, as the organization was incorporated in March of 1899.

The history of ARL is vast, as we have helped well over six million animals over the past 125 years, and it was all started by a strong, forward-thinking woman – Anna Harris Smith.

Anna was a social worker from Dorchester, MA, and seeing both the cruel mistreatment of Boston’s working horses, and the number of stray and homeless animals living on the streets, she decided to take action. She advocated for something that simply didn’t exist – a centrally located shelter for the rescue and care of homeless cats and dogs and she turned this passion into the founding of ARL in 1899.

Being involved in social work, Anna’s determination and vision was beyond the rescue of these animals as she remarked: “while getting dogs and cats off the street is work worth doing, the teaching of thoughtful kindness is the work that changes families, communities, and a nation.”

Over the past 125 animal welfare has greatly evolved, however, ARL’s mission and vision still reflects Anna’s ideals and principles. Many associate ARL as a place to meet and bring home a new furry family member, and while this will always be the core of the organization, today we are working for another goal – keeping animals out of shelters and in homes where they belong.

This is achieved through ARL’s community-based programs and services, particularly in communities where access to veterinary care and resources is limited. By offering accessible, low-cost, high-quality services, along with programs such as Keep Pets S.A.F.E. (Supporting Animals and Families Everyday), Wellness Waggin’, Spay Waggin’, dog training, and a free animal behavior helpline, ARL is working, and achieving, its goal to help keep animals out of shelters and in homes where they belong.

I am immensely proud to celebrate the history of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, however, I’m also proud to celebrate the organization’s present and future. ARL is a resource in every community we partner with, and our goal is to not only continue being a resource, but to expand our services and partnerships over time, to help even more animals in need.

Thank you for your support of ARL, and I encourage you to visit arlboston.org to learn more about the programs and services we offer and to reach out should you need assistance – we are here to help.

Dr. Edward Schettino is the President and CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and has a Doctorate of Veterinary Medicine from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University.