MSPCA-Angell
The Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals-Angell Animal Medical Center (MSPCA-Angell) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with its main headquarters on South Huntington Avenue in the Jamaica Plain neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts. It was founded in 1868, and is the second-oldest humane society in the United States.[1] "MSPCA-Angell" was adopted as the society's identity in 2003, and indicates the names of its two closely related predecessor organizations: Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and Angell Animal Medical Center (formerly known as Angell Memorial Animal Hospital). The organization provides direct care to thousands of homeless, injured, and abused animals each year, and provides animal adoption, a veterinary hospital, advocacy, and humane law enforcement.
For the Lifesaving group, see Massachusetts Humane Society.Formation
Services[edit]
As of 2012, the MSPCA-Angell operates three Animal Care and Adoption Centers: Boston, Nevins Farm and Equine Center (Methuen), and Cape Cod. It also operates Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston and, since 2014, MSPCA-Angell West in Waltham, both 24/7 emergency facilities. Together these facilities employ nearly 80 full-time veterinarians including board-certified specialists in fields such as 24/7 emergency and critical care, avian and exotic medicine, anesthesiology, behavior, cardiology, dentistry, dermatology, diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine, internal medicine, I-131 treatment for hyperthyroid cats, neurology, nutrition, oncology, ophthalmology, pain medicine, pathology, surgery, and preventative medicine.[2]
Angell Animal Medical Center has magnetic resonance imaging equipment, with a state-of-the-art, high-speed updated machine installed in November 2014 to replace the original Angell MRI. The original Angell MRI was the first MRI located within a veterinary hospital in New England and the second available in the United States. This equipment was part of a $28 million building campaign to improve the Boston facility. The renovation was completed in 2005. The refurnished Boston facility also includes the Helen Schmidt Stanton Clinical Care Center and the Copeland Animal Care and Adoption Center.[2] Also among Angell's equipment is a high speed CT unit offering multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT, or multi-slice CT). This machine enables 3D reconstructions of images for accurate diagnoses and better treatment.
Each year, the MSPCA-Angell's veterinary hospital locations welcome over 100,000 patient visits. These locations include MSPCA-Angell Clinics in Boston, Methuen and Centreville, Massachusetts for low-income clients as well as the MSPCA-Angell West in Waltham, Massachusetts and Angell Animal Medical Center in Boston which both provide 24 x 7 emergency service, specialty care and primary care.
The MSPCA has a Law Enforcement Department and organizes the annual Walk for Animals on Boston Common.
MSPCA-Angell takes a strong stand on a number of animal-related issues and is influential in creating animal-related legislation in Massachusetts. Among the areas in which MSPCA-Angell takes a position are:
Other areas in which MSPCA-Angell has a position are genetic engineering and animal patenting,[19] the training of guard dogs to increase their aggression,[20] hunting for sport or as a tool for wildlife management,[21] the capture of wild animals as pets and attempts at their domestication,[22] the commercialization of animal breed by pet stores,[23] and the use of animals in rodeos.[24] The MSPCA-Angell also takes a relatively negative view of zoological parks and aquaria unless such institutions meet "rigid criteria, without which there is insufficient justification for their existence" [25]
In 2007, the MSPCA-Angell led a successful campaign for the Boston City Council to create a city ordinance prohibiting pet rental agencies from operating in Boston.[26][27][28]