Shelter animals displaced by Vermont flooding are now up for adoption in Massachusetts

A group of shelter animals that were displaced during last week's historic flooding in Vermont have arrived in Massachusetts and are now ready to be adopted.

On Wednesday, nine dogs, 11 cats and one chinchilla touched down in Bedford, Massachusetts on an emergency flight sponsored by the BISSELL Pet Foundation. MSPCA-Angell, which is a Central Vermont Humane Society (CVHS) incident management partner, accepted the animals to its Boston, Methuen, Salem and Cape Cod shelters.

Five dogs and 10 cats are still awaiting veterinary checkups and should be available to adopt as early as Tuesday. Two dogs transported from Vermont, named Ellie and Lavender Haze, are already available for adoption in Methuen. The chinchilla, named Hamilton, is also looking for a home and can be inquired about at MSPCA's Boston adoption center.

With the present natural disaster in Vermont, CVHS is expecting more lost pets and animals in need of emergency rescue. The animals transported to Massachusetts were already living in the shelter, which means there’s no risk they are someone’s missing pet.

In the weeks ahead, CVHS staffers will focus on reuniting pets displaced by the floods with their families. But like many shelters, CVHS is at capacity, according to Mike Keiley, director of adoption centers and programs at the MSPCA-Angell.

Keiley added that since many locals will likely shift their priorities to “repairing their homes and, in many cases, their lives,” he's hoping these animals will have a better chance of finding a forever home in Massachusetts.

If you’re interested in bringing home any of these animals, the MSPCA suggests regularly checking its adoption website to find a center near you.