Pet of the Week

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Available for Adoption:

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Name: Twizzle
Species: Domestic shorthaired cat
Age: 1 year old
Gender: Female

Meet Twizzle! Twizzle came to Dakin as a stray so we do not know too much information about her previous life experiences. Here at Dakin, Twizzle was shy at first and it took her a while to get used to the room. We sent her to foster to help her with the stress of the shelter and she's been doing a lot better! Twizzle is very affectionate with her trusted person and will accept head pets and attention. She did well with the other cats at Dakin but should be slowly introduced to any other resident animals in the home. Twizzle is now back at Dakin to see if she can find her home! Twizzle has been hanging in her cat tree waiting for visitors to greet her so she can use her charm to win them over. She is a master of flopping over on the floor to get people to come over for pets! For more info on this pet, visit https://www.dakinhumane.org/adopt-a-pet

Dakin Humane Society Announces Sale of Leverett Property to Better Together Dog Rescue

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Springfield, MA (11/29/23) – Dakin Humane Society has announced the sale of its property located at 163 Montague Road in Leverett, MA to Better Together Dog Rescue, an organization based in western MA and northern CT.


The 3,480 square foot building in Leverett is located on five acres of land. It had been operated by Dakin Humane Society until March 2020 when the COVID-19 pandemic struck, and the organization consolidated its operations in its Springfield location to operate at maximum efficiency.


According to Meg Talbert, executive director at Dakin Humane Society, “Before the pandemic, more and more animals were being placed in foster homes, since they simulate a home environment, are less stressful for animals, and can accommodate those pets who have additional needs. Thanks to so many dedicated foster caregivers, we reduced our need for the additional shelter space that the Leverett property provided. We are pleased to see that the property will be owned by another non-profit organization. The building’s structure and surroundings are especially ideal for an animal welfare organization.”


She continued, “Dakin remains committed to providing much-needed services in Hampshire and Franklin Counties, like supplying pet food to the Northampton and Amherst Survival Centers, assisting pet owners and animal control units by taking in cats and dogs when hoarding or other pet emergencies arise, and arranging ‘Snip Trip’ rides to our Community Spay/Neuter Clinic for pets whose people cannot make the drive to Springfield. We are eager to explore additional partnerships and opportunities to provide Dakin’s services and resources to Upper Valley pets and their people in the future.”


“Better Together Dog Rescue is thrilled to finally have a home,” stated Jenny Franz, founder of the organization. “Our mission to support dogs and the people who love them will continue to grow within the facility. We cannot wait to open our doors to the public.”


About Dakin Humane Society:


Dakin Humane Society, located in Springfield, MA, is a 501 (c) (3) organization that delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them. In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider. Dakin’s Pet Health Center, a non-emergency veterinary resource for pet dogs and cats, opened in 2022 and has treated more than 2,500 pets. Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.


About Better Together Dog Rescue:


Better Together Dog Rescue is a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization licensed in Massachusetts and Connecticut. Their work focuses primarily on rescuing dogs and placing them with their forever families. Their FACT Program supports the Forgotten Animals of Cleveland Texas, supplying food, preventatives, medication and resources for the dogs and cats living on the streets. The mobile pet pantry and free store will be an available, local resource to community members who may need a little extra help caring for their animals.

Halloween may be over, but...

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Dakin Humane Society Rescues More Than 40 Cats/Kittens From Hoarding Cases

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Springfield, MA (8/7/23) – Dakin Humane Society has participated in rescue efforts involving two separate hoarding cases in the past week, and has taken over 40 cats and kittens into its care. The felines are being medically and – in some cases - behaviorally evaluated, with several newborn kittens and mothers being placed in foster homes. Many are available for adoption, with more becoming available in the days and weeks ahead.


On Tuesday, August 1, the organization traveled to a one-bedroom apartment in Berkshire County that contained more than 80 cats, and brought several felines back to provide care and place for adoption.



The following Saturday, August 5, Dakin assisted a Hampden County animal control team with the intake of over 30 cats and kittens, several of them Siamese and Ragdoll breeds, and returned with 21 cats to treat and make available for adoption at Dakin.



According to Dakin’s Executive Director Meg Talbert, “It’s very unusual that Dakin responded to two hoarding cases just days apart, but it’s a vital part of our mission to answer the needs of our community. Cats that come from these circumstances tend to be very shy, and are typically not confident or social around people for what may be just an initial period, or for their entire lives. They’re perfectly happy to have a home with a cat companion or two. They’re very special animals, and we’re hoping that people will open their hearts and homes to them.”



Talbert noted that the cats and kittens will be spayed or neutered prior to being made available for adoption.



Due to the large number of cats taken in between the two rescues, Dakin has created an online form to collect contact information and other data from prospective adopters of these felines. All Dakin pets available for adoption, including the cats and kittens recently rescued and ready to be rehomed, can be seen here. Several of the recently rescued cats have reduced adoption fees.


Dakin Humane Society, located in Springfield, MA, delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them. In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider. Dakin’s Pet Health Center, a non-emergency veterinary resource for pet dogs and cats, opened in 2022 and has treated more than 2,500 pets. Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community. For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

Dakin Humane Society Seeking to Expand Foster Caregiver Base

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Rabbit shown in foster home.
Photo courtesy of Dakin Humane Society

Post-Pandemic Statistics Support Need for Additional Foster Volunteers


 Springfield, MA (4/13/22) – Dakin Humane Society needs people to volunteer their services as foster caregivers for vulnerable animals that are being brought to the shelter in increasing numbers during the warm weather months. 


Animals in Dakin’s care enter foster homes for a variety of reasons including medical or behavioral issues that are best treated – or resolved - in a home setting.  Pregnant animals usually need to enter foster care to ensure that they are under daily observation and can receive immediate attention if needed.  The one-on-one focus a foster caregiver can offer a pet in a home setting is often exactly what that animal needs to overcome obstacles on their path to adoption.  When the pet has recovered or shown enough improvement to be adopted, they are either returned to Dakin, or stay in the foster home until an adopter comes forward.


Prior to the pandemic, typically 25% of all animals received at Dakin went into foster homes.  In 2020, that number climbed to 30%, and in 2021, it more than doubled to 64%.  One reason for this is the increase in “small” (non-dog and non-cat) animals that come to Dakin each year, including rabbits, guinea pigs, birds, hamsters, mice and rats.  For example, on February 23, 2022, 54 gerbils were surrendered to the organization, and many of them were pregnant females.


“The face of foster is changing,” noted Dakin’s Director of Development and Marketing, Stacey Price.  “There used to be more opportunities to provide foster care for a cat or dog a few years back than there tend to be now, but there is often an anxious dog or an older cat saddened about the change in their environment who needs a loving person or family to take them in for a little while.  And ‘kitten season’ always kicks off in the spring and sometimes runs well into autumn.”


Price continued, “The shift in animal trends is visible at Dakin and in shelters throughout the northeast.  Previously, dog and cat overpopulation was the main problem we were trying to solve.  Now it’s delivering the specialized care needed for the animals brought to Dakin that tend to have medical and/or behavioral issues that require ‘above and beyond’ care.  Some of that we can provide in-house, but in other cases, it’s in the pet’s best interest to spend time in a loving home environment where people can give them the emotional support they need as they face new chapters in their lives.”


Dakin foster volunteers can set time limits on their foster assignments if they wish.  If a foster family has an upcoming vacation or other commitment that takes them out of their home, their foster pet will be placed in another caregiving situation, either on a temporary or permanent basis.


Different animal types will be matched to foster caregivers with the appropriate level of experience.  “Adult cats with behavioral needs would tend to go home with an experienced foster, as would most dogs,” said Price.  “Our team will be sure to match new fosters with pets who are easy to care for, or that they have experience with.  For families with young children, fostering can be a very rewarding experience.  Parents can see how ready their children may be to have a pet of their own, and get to see them respond to an animal that needs their love and compassion.”


Some foster-related tasks include weight-tracking, giving medications via food or syringe, or record-keeping to monitor physical or behavioral changes.


To learn more about becoming a Dakin foster, please visit dakinhumane.org/foster-a-dakin-animal.html and follow the instructions to apply. 


Dakin Humane Society delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them.  In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider.  Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community.  For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

Dakin Humane Society Seeking Foster Caregivers for Sick Kittens

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Springfield, MA (6/30/21) – Dakin Humane Society is currently caring for a large number of kittens at this time, and more are expected to arrive in need of urgent care for respiratory infections, digestive issues and dehydration.  


In response, the organization is seeking foster volunteers who are comfortable giving kittens hydrating fluids under their skin, as well as giving oral and eye medications regularly.  Fosters will also need to track their kitten’s weight at least once per day.  Dakin’s staff will provide training for administering fluids and medication.  The timespan for foster care varies for each kitten based on their needs, but it typically ranges from a few weeks to a few months.


People interested in becoming a foster caregiver for sick kittens in need of medical care, please visit https://www.dakinhumane.org/foster-a-dakin-animal.html and follow the steps to submit an application.  Dakin is not placing healthy kittens in foster homes at this time.


Dakin Humane Society delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them.  In a typical year, the organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 20,000 animals and has performed over 100,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider.  Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses that care about animals to bring its services to the community.  For more information, visit www.dakinhumane.org.

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Dakin Humane Society Receives Grant

Dakin Humane Society has received a $20,000 grant from the Massachusetts Animal Coalition (MAC) as part of the special "I'm Animal Friendly" license plate program. These plates support spay/neuter efforts in Massachusetts and help to reduce the number of homeless animals in the state. Funds received from the sale of these special license plates are dispersed annually by MAC through a grant process. The proceeds are awarded to non-profit humane organizations and municipal animal control agencies in the Commonwealth that provide spaying and neutering services for cats, dogs, and rabbits. This year’s grant is the largest Dakin has received from MAC. The grant awarded to Dakin is tremendously helpful in its outreach efforts to help fund low-cost spay/neuter surgery for low income clients in Dakin’s service area. More than 40,000 dogs and cats have been sterilized at Dakin's Community Spay/Neuter Clinic since it opened mid-October 2009. Dakin is sterilizing approximately 11,000 animals each year. “If you care about animals, the purchase of one of these plates is an important way to help animals in our community and assist us in our efforts to end animal homelessness in the Pioneer Valley”, according to Dakin’s Executive Director Leslie Harris. The funds awarded to Dakin this year will be used to subsidize the spaying/neutering of cats of low income caregivers. "I'm Animal Friendly" license plates are easy to order online - no need to go to the RMV! Simply go to www.petplate.org and order your tax-deductible plate today. More information about the Dakin Community Spay/Neuter Clinic can be found online at Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society.


Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society (Dakin) provides shelter, education, advocacy, and assistance for animals and people in need. Dakin does not receive any government funding nor is Dakin funded or operated by any national humane organization. Dakin is a local, private, non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses who care about animals to bring its services to the community.

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Dakin Humane Society Offering Dog Grooming at Springfield Adoption Center


Springfield, MA (3/13/19) – Dakin Humane Society now offers dog grooming services at its Springfield Adoption Center at 171 Union Street.  Dogs that weigh 45 pounds or less are welcome, and pricing starts at $45.  Half of the proceeds are donated to help animals at Dakin.
 
Grooming is by appointment only and can be booked by calling groomer Carol White at (413) 592-1775. Appointments are booked during day hours only.  Ms. White began her grooming career in 2008, and worked for two years as an animal care specialist in southern California.  She has been a volunteer groomer for Dakin for over a year.
 
Dogs brought in for grooming must be up to date on rabies, distemper and parvovirus vaccines.
 
Dakin Humane Society delivers effective, innovative services that improve the lives of animals in need and the people who care about them from its two locations in Leverett and Springfield, MA.  The organization shelters, treats and fosters more than 12,000 animals each year and has performed more than 80,000 spay/neuter surgeries since 2009, making it New England’s largest spay/neuter provider.  Dakin is a local non-profit organization that relies solely on contributions from individuals and businesses.