Pet Talk: More and more stray cats and dogs

DEAR PET TALK: Are there more stray cats and dogs in recent years? Costs for spay/neuter and vaccinations have gone up. What are your findings?

— CAT AND DOG LOVER

DEAR CAT AND DOG LOVER: Yes, yes and yes. Locally, the number of stray cats rescued by Street Cat Angels, a commendable cat rescue organization serving Fitchburg, Leominster, Townsend, Pepperell and Lunenburg in the last year was more than 500 — that is a very high number.

Many of these were previously-owned cats — friendly cats that were abandoned who then got pregnant and had kittens.

Unfortunately, Street Cat Angels reported several cat fatalities recently, the result of cats left behind who then had to deal with the severe winter weather.

Second Chance Animal Services also had a busy year, beginning 2025 with 75 dogs and cats, ending the year with 87 dogs and cats, with more than 100 getting adopted on average every month.

Wendy Hall, Second Chance animal relocation director, explained that “the majority of pets surrendered are due to housing issues.”

However, the number of surrenders from owners who never got their pet fixed has risen: “Looking at the statistics for the last couple of years, the number of pets that are unfixed at surrender is up about 10 percent,” she explains. “That, however, is not the reason for increased surrenders. When pet owners reach out with spay/neuter as a reason for surrender, we refer them to the Second Chance Animal Services low cost spay/neuter program. They are grateful to learn about this affordable option to keep their beloved pet.”

Overall, Massachusetts takes in many abandoned or surrendered pets from other states, or even countries.

MSPCA-Angel, which partnered with the Northeast Animal Shelter in 2021, recently announced that since that date, “more than 20,000 animals moved from out-of-state to Massachusetts, where they were able to find new families.

However, in North Central Massachusetts, there are still hundreds of cats that need homes, and the number of kittens is huge.

Second Chance Animal Services currently seeks people to give a foster home to a pet who are willing to care for pregnant cats, kittens, cats recovering from surgery, or timid cats who need time and patience to build confidence before finding permanent homes.

“Our greatest foster need right now is cat and kitten fosters,” said Lindsay Doray, chief development officer for Second Chance Animal Services. “In recent years, our kitten season seems to extend all year long. With more cats requiring temporary care throughout the year, every new foster home allows us to help more vulnerable animals and give them the individualized attention they need.”

Fill out a foster application at www.secondchanceanimals.org/foster-care/.

Sally Cragin is the director of  Be PAWSitive: Therapy Pets and Community Education. Visit us on Facebook and  text questions to 978-320-1335.