WORCESTER—With a busy holiday season ahead and kennels across Massachusetts filling with adult dogs in need of families, the Worcester Animal Rescue League joins a statewide push next week to get more pets home for the holidays.
The weeklong adoptathon — “Snow Place Like Home” — runs Monday, Dec. 8, through Sunday, Dec. 14, and waives adoption fees for all dogs age one and older at nine participating shelters. The effort is led by the MSPCA-Angell in partnership with members of the Massachusetts Animal Shelter Support (MASS) coalition, which is closing in on a major landmark: 1,000 dog adoptions through coordinated events since the coalition formed in July 2024.
“We started the coalition last year with the goal of reducing euthanasia in shelters across the state and improving the overall wellbeing of animals that call the Commonwealth home,” said Jamie Garabedian, project manager in the MSPCA-Angell’s Animal Protection Division.
Fee-waived events, she noted, have become a critical tool in lowering barriers for potential adopters, particularly at a time when rising costs continue to strain families. Adult dogs — especially larger breeds — have been the hardest hit by the slowdown in adoptions, but Garabedian said the events have helped challenge long-standing misconceptions about older or bigger pets.
“It’s the holiday season — a time when everyone, including these homeless pets — should be celebrating with family and surrounded by love,” she said. If the adoption goal is met, she added, the coalition will collectively reach one thousand placements through these special events.
For Worcester residents, the local hub of the effort is the Worcester Animal Rescue League on Holden Street, which waives its fees during normal operating hours. The shelter is open for walk-ins Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from noon to 4 p.m., and schedules appointments Tuesday and Friday through Sunday for those interested in meeting available dogs.
Across the state, each shelter hosts its own version of the event. MSPCA-Angell’s Boston adoption center welcomes adopters Tuesday through Sunday at varying hours, while its Nevins Farm, Cape Cod and Northeast Animal Shelter locations hold extended hours throughout the week. Additional participating partners include Berkshire Humane Society, Thomas J. O’Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center in Springfield, Baypath Humane Society in Hopkinton and Boston Animal Care and Control.
In total, the coalition hopes to place at least 100 dogs into new homes by week’s end — part of a year that has already seen strong momentum. MSPCA-Angell reports 1,705 adult dog adoptions so far in 2025, a 7% increase from last year.
Garabedian said the results speak for themselves: “It’s been incredibly gratifying to see so many dogs go to new homes and thrive there… and we’ve been able to use that space in the shelters for other animals who need us.”
More information on participating shelters, hours, and available dogs can be found at mspca.org/dogs.
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