Mspca Angel

I volunteer for a local animal welfare group and my work for this group brought me to Nevins Farm MSPCA.
I trust the folks here at Nevins are better with animals than they are with people.
As far as human relations go, I found the place disorganized, with terrible customer service, a rude, condescending, probably burned out Director, and well meaning but poorly trained volunteers.
The best part of my visit — I was invited to have a seat in room without chairs! At least it that was good for a laugh.
From what I read, the work done here for animals is very good, but they certainly need to reevaluate their interface with the public.

The facility is clean and the animals are well cared for. You can certainly tell that they care for their animals. My 2 star review isn’t a reflection of the way the animals are treated.
I went to this facility two times for a visit looking for a dog to adopt. The first time I called and had mentioned that my mother was handicapped and wouldn’t be able to visit the puppy as they like all family members in the household present. I was informed that this would not be an issue. I was also told that we could spend «Alone» time with the dog to make sure it was a good match for my young child. I was also told over the phone that wouldn’t be an issue.
On our first visit we fell in love with one of the dogs and asked to spend time with her. The girl that took us out didn’t really take her time to answer questions and was rushed to bring the dog back inside the building. I asked her if we could spend time with the dog alone and she said they’re not allowed to do that. We walked out thinking about the adoption a little more. I called back up the next day and said we were really interested in this particular dog and would like «alone» time that wasn’t allowed the day prior. They said to come in and that wouldn’t be an issue yet again. Our second visit another lady took us out and was also in a rush to go back inside and we again were told alone time wasn’t allowed.
My whole family really wanted this dog. We talked about it a little more and decided to adopt the dog. Another girl started the process and said that my mother is required to be present before we can take the dog home. After explaining the fact she is handicapped and not really able to visit she said she would really like my Mother to visit since the dog is very active. We left discouraged.
In the meantime I visited a few other facilities and found a dog we fell in love with. This dog is the same personality and requires a little extra TLC. The second dog found a «Forever home».
I feel this place needs to work on communication a little more and better training for the volunteers as far as communicating with potential adopters. When we left the volunteer called me back saying the «Require» alone time with the dogs before adopting. There are far too many inconsistencies. I’m sad I couldn’t take this particular dog home due to the process, but I am happy we found another dog elsewhere that we could rescue.

I walked in expecting it to be jail-​like. Instead it’s bright and clean and there are all sorts of opportunities to meet and interact with the animals. There’s a really neat assortment of animals and it looks like quite a few people come just to visit them.
When we adopted our rabbit (our first) they spent lots of time answering our questions. Everyone we worked with was friendly and clearly loved being there (even though it was an incredibly busy Sunday).

I have been a regular supporter of the Nevins Farm, aka MSPCA in Methuen for over 20 yrs. I have adopted cats from there, and a few dogs that did not work out. However, this is why I am giving a 2 star rating, instead of a 4 – 5 star:
While the staff could not be nicer, including the volunteers – the place is very clean, there are double doors for the dog pens, tons of good cats and other animals…(those are my 4 – 5 star ratings), I am extremely disappointed in their push to rescue and campaign/​educate for pit bull adoption.
On any given day, throughout the year, over 60−70% of their dogs are pitbulls — usually purebred. While I would hope the screening for their temperments and overall health is rigid, it cannot be overlooked that this is a Family adoption center. While I applaud their promotion efforts, No one is going to approach me or my rescued, «family» pitbull, when walking it in the woods, downtown, or around my neighborhood, unless they adore the breed, understand it, and are brave enough, especially if they have a child in tow.
I know pitbulls by nature, love kids, are very smart, etc… But… they are also likely damaged as other breeds/​x breeds are, and why they are brought there in the first place. I should note, that a friend’s daughter adopted a young pitbull there, and she’s been wonderful, but I am skeptical that the screening process for them proves that they are any more apt to be trusted family pets (or solo owners who still need to keep a dog socialized) than a goofy retriever, or neurotic, but affectionate chihuahua.
So, my contributions have stopped. A neighbor who had a puppy mill pit bull, ended up costing me over $ 350 in the ER years ago, when he tore from his owner’s hands, and ripped my dog up. He survived, but the bill I made them pay for, still did not matter as far as muzzling him. He was from Methuen MSPCA, and the owners discovered he was never socialized well.
I am sad to say, I’d only get a cat from there again. Staff is friendly, over worked with too many potential adopters all the time, and the wait is very long on many days, only to find the dog you may want is a «Pending adoption.» I will probably go to Animal Rescue League, Boston, perhaps, next time.
Sorry so long, but I hope someone at Methuen SPCA, or a future adopter reads this.

My family and I have adopted several cats over the years from the wonderful people at this MSPCA. The staff is so helpful and it is abundantly clear that they have a deep love for animals big and small. All spaces are kept immaculate and they are great at getting to know the individual personalities and needs of the animals.

We had originally gone to an event at Lowell humane society to adopt a kitten. Well there was so many people there everyone was given a number to hang on the cage of cat they wanted without even getting to know them and see if they would be good fit with their family. I found it very sad/​odd. Within the first few minutes all the kittens were gone. So we decided to head over to the MSPCA and I’m so glad we did.
We didn’t know but they have a kittenathon on some Friday nights so it was perfect when we went. They had many to choose from and we originally saw an orange kitten we thought might be good and they took him out and let us play with him in a enclosed play area. I’m so glad we did because I have a 7 year old sister and he was obviously an anxious/​shy kitten and hid behind me. Its scary to think a cat like that could go home to a loud house with kids the way the Lowell Humane Society event was. So we moved on to another kitten and pretty much in the 1^st min of playing we knew she was made to be part of our fam :) Our kitten was a week too young so we had to pick her up the following Friday. Everything went great. Initially the adoption counselor seemed slightly nasty but as we started talking with him more he was funny! They are very thorough and we left knowing everything we needed to. She has adjusted great and loves her new home :)

i have 2 cats and a dog i was paying prices in the sky
fora visit to a veterinarian in an angel mspca
Until someone told me about this clinic «Merwin Memorial Free Clinic For Animals»
It’s amazing I always always always donate 40 $ for every animal I bring
Compared to 80 $ I was paying before.
They work ONLY by volunteers and for free, so please do not be selfish
and CheaP !
excellent professional service and thanks to the down to earth price you can give better care to your 4 pew best friend .
Sometimes you have to wait in line but that’s not so bad.
I love the place

Another wonderful branch of the MSPCA, that houses more than just the average cats and dogs awaiting adoption. This MSPCA has a big rabbit room, a barn for horses, and some other farm animals around the property.
However, my biggest tip is for bunny owners. The Methuen farm sells fantastically fresh timothy hay… far superior and cheaper than anything prepackaged in a pet store. My bunnies go absolutely ga-​ga for their hay. It’s visibly fresher, longer, stemmier than store-​bought bags. I make the trip from Boston, just for hay.
The MSPCA has some smallish bags available for $ 4 a bag in the lobby OR, as I do, you can ask (and you have to ask) to buy a whole bale of hay! Not many people buy hay by the bale, so those working the register don’t always know what to do or how much to charge. I usually pay $ 16 for a huge, gigantic bale. My buns eat hay (and veggies) only; a bale lasts for a couple months.
Sometimes they offer big trash bags; I suggest bringing the contractors-​size trash bags to save your car from a hay explosion.

This shelter is amazing. So clean and the staff and volunteer are great friendly and really helpful. I got my beautiful Catahoula Leopard Dog here and she is the best part of my life. I am such a fan of this shelter that I am now a volunteer and foster parent. They do the best for their animals and make a great impact on the overpopulation of animals in Massachusetts. They have great spay/​neuter programs and are really working for the best of animals not only today but in the future.
Great work!

I love this place. They have all kinds of animals and really nice people. We got our cat, Boomer, here and he is just an «angell». They have some nice fund raisers here too, fun for the family.
I would have given them 5 stars, but I don’t agree with the policy that they only take surrenders on certain days and times… this probably sends some innocent animals into dangerous situations.

Open admissions shelters (also called «kill» shelters by people like the other reviewer) take in ANY animal — including those that are too old, sick, or otherwise «unadoptable» through a «no-​kill» shelter. The MSPCA does its best to place each and every animal that comes through the doors — including many animals that have been turned away by small, breed-​oriented rescues or no-​kill shelters, but unfortunately sometimes that means they need to make difficult decisions regarding euthanasia. These decisions are made in the best interest of the animals, their quality of life, and the public’s safety. They are never taken lightly. There are no set limits on how long a surrendered animal has to find a home. It is a sad fact that in our society animals are too often thought of as disposable. Until our society’s underlying attitudes about pets undergo a drastic change, it is an unfortunate reality that open admissions shelters serve an important purpose.