ARL Continues Response to COVID-19 Pandemic While the nation continues to make progress against the pandemic, the impacts will unfortunately continue to reverberate throughout the Commonwealth and with the people and pets ARL serves. ARL’s mission is to keep pets and people together – a mission that is more important than ever. We remain focused on meeting people and animals where they are, bringing veterinary services directly to those who need it most, so that animals are safe and healthy living in communities and out of shelters. To best serve serve people and animals and animals we launched two new programs within the last year. Keep Pets S.A.F.E. ARL’s Community Services realigned efforts and expanded pet support services to ARL’s communities of focus creating, Keep Pets S.A.F.E. (Serving Animals Facing Emergencies). This program outreach established a helpline to assist residents with animal-related information and access to ARL’s resources. The Keep Pets S.A.F.E. program utilized Field
Services and ARL's fleet of vehicles to: transport animals to critical veterinary care visits on the Wellness Waggin' (located on the Dedham Campus); deliver pet food and supplies to families in need; and provide pick-up services for animals in need of temporary housing or urgent surrender due to the pandemic. In 2020, nearly 1,000 activities were completed with 620 animals receiving pet food and supplies, and 320 animals being transported for critical veterinary care. A number of animals were taken in for temporary shelter, and ARL also received pets requiring emergency surrender. Throughout 2020, ARL hosted several drivethru donation drives to support the Keep Pets S.A.F.E. food pantry. Thanks to dozens of caring individuals, ARL was able to secure nearly 2,000 pounds of food and pet supplies including over 750 pounds of kitty litter! The Keep Pets S.A.F.E. program will continue into 2021, and as of this publication, ARL has already delivered more than 22,000 meals for pets to over 120 pet owners. The program will continue as long as it is needed and will serve as a model for future public emergencies should the need arise. Spring/Summer 2021 Our Four-Footed Friends | 16
