Over the years we have had multiple animals abandoned at our gates. In 2022 Dorchester Paws renamed our admissions department to Pet Support Services, aimed at trying to keep pets in their homes and providing more resources to those in need. We feel that anyone is just one pay check away from facing these tough decisions. Every time an animal is abandoned, we feel as a shelter we have let that animal and it’s owner down.

Part of our mission is to champion responsible pet ownership.

We are sorry that these owners thought they had no other option. We are sorry they felt that they would be shamed for seeking help. While the way people have left their animals in this video is wrong, we want other members of our community, who might be facing the same struggles, to know there is no shame in seeking help. As long as it is done the right way.

A camera will solve the dumping at Dorchester Paws, but it won’t solve the hundreds to thousands of stray or abandoned animals that are being dumped throughout our County each day where camera’s aren’t there to seek justice with. That’s the reality, we face. A solution is needed to think bigger to help the abatement of dumped animals.

We are asking for donations to start a pilot program that will offer:

– A Behavior Hotline

– Funds to help pay for the Spay and Neuter of owned animals

– Funds for urgent medical attention

– Expanding our Pet Food Pantry

– Growth of our Self Supported Rehoming Program

– And More!

It will give people other options than surrendering their pet to an already overburdened shelter or worse, abandoning them on the side of the road where there is no immediate care in sight and their outcome is one worse than the next.

Please donate to help keep pets in their homes and seek justice for those that are abandoned when other options were offered.

Your donation is tax deductible and will be restricted to the use of these efforts solely.

Our goal is to raise $10,000 by May 31st to be able to launch this as a resource for our community. Without this program we fear we will have more animals abandoned at our gates, or worse, left on the side of the road no where near the shelter’s helping hands.  

The goal of this program is to help mitigate intake of animals that could otherwise thrive in their current home with just a little bit of help. If you own a pet service and are wanting to partner with us to help more animals please email info@dorchesterpaws.org