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MSPCA-Angell evacuates nearly 50 animals, opens shelter to pets from Cape homes without power
MSPCA-Angell evacuated animals from its Cape Cod shelter amid dealing with a power outage caused by Monday’s nor’easter.
The MSPCA-Angell evacuated nearly 50 animals from its Cape Cod shelter on Tuesday after running low on fuel to power its generator during widespread power outages, the animal shelter said.
In social media posts, the animal shelter asked for the public’s help, and roughly a dozen people responded, said Sara-Rose Brenner, a spokesperson for the MSPCA-Angell.
Cape Cod power:
The shelter posted on Facebook that it was operating on a generator and was running low on fuel. Brenner said MSPCA-Angell was struggling to access more fuel as many residences and local businesses were also without power.
The MSPCA-Angell emergency evacuated all its animals to other shelters before fuel ran out.
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The animals – 22 cats, 10 dogs, five kittens, six rats, and five guinea pigs – were relocated from the Cape Cod shelter to the Nevins Farm and Boston locations, according to an MSPCA-Angell press release.
Brenner said there were no complications with the evacuation, though the Boston shelter had to temporarily house some dogs in offices to maximize space.
Though the animals were safe, the Cape Cod shelter was still at risk of damage without heat, the organization noted in its post.
A diesel delivery arrived late Tuesday night before the shelter ran out, allowing generators to operate “for approximately 40 hours per refuel,” MSPCA-Angell added in a comment on Facebook.
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The Cape Cod space will now serve as a temporary shelter for pets whose homes are without power, according to a press release.
“Given that space was already open and thousands of homes on Cape Cod remain without power, the MSPCA-Angell decided to pivot and use that space as a resource for residential pets in need,” MSCPA-Angell said.
Through the SafePet program, animals displaced by natural disasters or domestic emergencies can remain in MSPCA-Angell’s care until it’s safe to return home, the organization noted.
“A lot of people will remain in houses without power where they’re freezing because they can’t bring their pets to a shelter or other temporary housing,” said MSPCA-Angell Vice President of Animal Protection Mike Keiley. “We’re grateful to be in a position to offer this resource so that people don’t have to choose to be unsafe in order to do what they believe is best for their pets.”
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