March 14, 2025 • 39 mins
The Animal Rescue League of Boston saw 29% of their pets surrendered in 2024 were due to housing-related issues such as sudden housing instability, homelessness or having to move to a new place that does not allow pets. To combat housing related challenges for pets and their owners, the ARL and MA lawmakers are working on legislation that aims to maintain stable housing for families with pets in an economic crisis as well as ensure pet parity across housing authorities. ARL President & CEO, Dr. Edward Schettino joined us to discuss!
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
He's nice side with Dan Ray. I'm WBSY Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Al Griffith. As we move into
our nine o'clock hour here on a Friday night, it
is the weekend of Saint Patrick's Day, High Holiday, High
Holy Day, if you will, in certainly in New England.
And if there's anything we like more than holidays, I
think the only thing that I can think of that
I like more than holidays are pets, animals, cats, and dogs,
(00:30):
particularly dogs. But a guy who loves all animals, all animals,
is my next guest. He's the president and CEO of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston. I got that right,
Doctor Edward Stina doctic scatia. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I'm doing wonderful pleasure being here with you. Dan. Thank
you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Thanks very much, and thanks for the time yesterday on
the phone. So let's let's sort of lay this out.
Normally when you're on the on with us here a representative,
the anti or other of the of Animal Rescue League
of Boston has done the phone. Were you were talking
about some sort of an adoption special weekend, But we're
(01:10):
we're talking legislation here tonight. Uh to to basically address
some issues and problems that the Animal Rescue League of
Boston has identified. So let's let's take it first. What's
the problem that we have to fix and how are
you and others proposing that we fix the problem?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Thank you, Dan, that is a great way to start.
So what we know is nearly half of Massachusetts residents
for pet owners. We also know that on people struggle,
pets struggle, and the Boston is the fourth most expensive
need to live in the United States and Boston is
also was ranked the least friendly pet city by a
(01:57):
study by wallet Hut. We all also know that nationally nationally,
fourteen percent of surrenders of pets to animal shelters due
to housing related issues fourteen percent nationally. At the Animal
Rescue League of Boston, we are above that we are
seeing twenty nine percent of all the animals that are
(02:18):
surrendered to us in twenty twenty four were surrendered due
to housing related issues of their pet owners. This is
an increase of ten percent from twenty twenty three and
a twenty one percent increase of animals being surrendered due
to pet housing reasons since twenty twenty two. And this
is due because pet policies are extremely restrictive and regarding
(02:41):
certain breeds or weights, and when pet owners are forced
to make incredible difficult decisions regarding their pets, and this
is what we've been finding. We also know we've been
finding certain cases where people are leaving their pets tied
up somewhere outside, very visible, wanting their pets to be
found because are kind of in dire straits, no malicious intent.
(03:03):
People just have to make a decision of what to do,
and a lot of those decisions are based on housing
related issues.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
If this situation is now exposing itself by the number
of pets that you find not being or populating your
shelters normally, I assumed there's an eb and to follow
during the course of any given year, But are you
finding that there are more pets available as a result
(03:30):
of these problems that you've identified in pets shelters and
it's more difficult to get pets obviously rehoused rehomed.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Or finding that the number of animals being surrendered to
us due to owners having how housing related issues have
increased substantially over the last couple of years. And we
also found that we are way over the national average
of pets being surrendered to having related issues. And in
Massachusetts only thirty nine percent of rental units accept dogs,
(04:01):
and when you consider the number of rental units that
accept dogs without any breed or weight restrictions, that number
goes down to seven percent. So there's a real reason
why folks that need to make some housing decisions and
they have a dog in their lives, they have to
make some really difficult decisions.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
How okay, you've identified the problems, You've identified what's going on.
I know that there's some ancillary aspects of this which
are not necessarily hugely contributing factors, but let's at least
just mention them. There were a lot of people who
decided to adopt a dog or adopt a cat at
(04:43):
when they were living at home during COVID crisis, were
working remotely. Now they're going back to work. I'm sure
that has some impact. And I'm sure that the exodus
of animals that seem to be found in the South
for a whole bunch of reasons, perhaps meteorologically, culturally. I
(05:04):
know that there are are dogs and cats brought up
here from some of the Southern states on a fairly
regular basis. So they can find adoptive homes here in
New England, and I know that those are contributing factors.
But the two pieces of legislation that the Animal Rescue
League of Boston on is now focusing on to address
(05:27):
each of these problems, as interrelated as these problems are.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Do you mind if I go back to one thing
you just said them? That's okay?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Sure, sure, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
You mentioned people adopting pets during the pandemic, and that
is one hundred percent true. And sometimes these pets work
out great now that people are going back to work.
Sometimes it's not the right fit. When somebody surrenders a
pet to us at the Animal Rescue Leage of Boston,
we ask them why they're surrendering their pet to us.
Could we want to understand are there any trends or
(05:59):
are there anything that we need to start thinking about.
And so what we're really focused on is housing, because
that is the trend that has been really increasing the
animals being surrendered. So there are two bills, as you mentioned,
that we're working on in the state legislature. One is
an Act to maintain Stable Housing for Families with pets
and the other one is to codify pet Family, elderly
(06:21):
housing policies, and Ensure pet parody are cross housing authorities.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So let's take them. Let's break them up as we
can as separately as possible, because obviously both of them
are important, but they both have a little bit of
an overlap. But I'd like to just try to make
it as clear as possible in the listener's minds. So
if they are running into their local state rep. Or
their local state Senator at the diner, as we say
(06:46):
here in Boston over the weekend, they could say, hey,
there's a couple of bills that we're interested in.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Maybe this isn't Maybe this isn't the best weekend to
do that at the diner.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, you know, it's always when you when you finally
see the state rep in the state senators, when they
come out of higradation and they're walking in the neighborhood.
Actually it's never you never missed that opportunity to go true.
So the first to.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Maintain Stable Housing yet the Act to Maintain Stable Housing
for Families with Pets. The goal of this bill is
to make housing more friendly for families with pets by
increasing access to housing and reducing the cost of pet
rent and insurance. What this bill will do is prohibit
discrimination by landlords and condo associations based on a dog's breed, size, weight,
(07:38):
and appearance. It will also limit the amount landlords can
charge for pet rent. It will state that during a
state of emergency, it will prohibit hotels from unreasonably refusing pets.
And it will expand current pet programs and elderly housing
authorities to apply for all state funded housing. So there's
a variety of things this is doing, and the most
(08:00):
important thing is really removing the restrictive pet policies based
on a dog's weight or size and appearance.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Okay, so let's break those down. Okay, you're going to
have the real estate industry lobby against this bill. If
you're going to try to in any way limit the
amount that that theoretically a landlord might charge for the
presence of a pet, that's going to make it a
(08:33):
tougher sell at the state House. I'm sure you figured
that out.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
We have. We have, and it's not limit, it's not
telling it's not telling landlords they can't charge anything additional.
But it's really making it equal if somebody has a pet.
It's not discriminating or based on the breed or size
of the dog, and that is what we're really focusing
on now.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I see, Okay, So okay, so if well, within that bill,
they can't say, oh, if you had a chouah, we'll
charge you an extra twenty dollars a month, but since
you have a bull mastiff, we're going to charge you
five hundred a month. Something is obviously that's part part
of it, part of it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
That's definitely part of it.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Correct, okay, and what else give us? Let's break down
the facets of that bill, so everybody's converse and what's
the other points you made?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
So if you're a renter, landlords and insurance can't charge
can't charge you more or out refuse renting to you
based on your dog's breed, size, light, or appearance. If
you're a homeowner, insurance companies can't charge you more or
refuse or cancel coverage solely based on the breed of
the dog in your home. And if you're a condo,
(09:48):
association can't refuse to allow dogs on the basis of
a breed of a dog or prohibit a dog that
might increase insurance premiums. So it's all the christ factors.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Our kindo was so now in Massachusetts able to have
a no pet condo. I should probably know this, but
I don't. If let's say there's a condo association of
I don't know, you know, ten units, a relatively small group,
and everybody in the group, for whatever reason, is not
(10:22):
you know, doesn't feel about pets as you and I do.
Can they say can they in effect? I mean, obviously
they cannot say a Constitutionally, if let's say they are
all of one race, they can't say no, one can
sell to someone of a different race. We know that's unconstitutional,
(10:43):
as it should be. But are condo associations able to
agree amongst themselves, hey we will we will not have
any dogs or cats in our unit?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Is that I believe they can. I believe they can.
I believe they can make the decision no pets entirely, okay,
And that's what this bill is not addressing that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Right, No, I understand that. I think it's important to
make to point that out. That that that's that's why
I asked the question. So what you're saying is is
that if pets are allowed, they can't say, okay, you
can have a dog that weighs no more than twenty
pounds or ten pounds. Okay, right, they can't. They can't
(11:26):
if once they accept dogs or cats, they can't make
restrictions or on the breeds.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, so that is correct, one hundred. So let's let's
let's address addressing.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Let's address not the elephant in the room, doctor, but
let's address.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The pit bull, the lovable Yes, let's talk about Well.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I think I think it's important because I think that
that this is an issue that we need to address it,
and my daughter would be very upset with me if
we didn't address it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I know what type of hot dog your daughter hasn't
shared with me yesterday. I'm a little afraid of that
breed yesterday. Don't tell your daughter, and don't mention the
breed name, because I don't want to get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
No, I won't. Most of my my good listeners, my
loyal listeners, know exactly what type of breed Mustard is,
So we'll let's let that go. But anyway, so you
feel you feel, and I know my daughter feels, although
she does not have a pit bull, that that pit
bulls have have been given they haven't earned, but they
have been given a bad reputation.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Tell us why I I agree with that. I agree
that pippoles haven't given a bad reputation. And can I
have a few facts about pit bulls that I think?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, that's what you're the you're the witness. I'm just
asking the questions. Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I don't like me to call the witness. I'm afraid
of where this is going, but I accept no. Oh,
I know, I know. A pit bull is the term
pitfull an umbrella term for various broots. It includes the
American tipule terrier, American bully, the Staffordshire bull terrier. So
when somebody says pitbull, what do they really say? That's
(13:10):
number one? And a lot of people are making assumptions
based on what a dog looks like that it's a
pit bull, and usually those are mixed breed dogs. We
also know that environmental factors cause aggression, not a particular
breed or type of dog biting. Biting is not breed specific,
and it's often caused by any many other factors. And
(13:32):
there's no scientific evidence that indicates one kind of dog
is more likely to injure human than another. And there've
been studies done on this and lastly, lastly, pitboll specific
legislations do nothing to keep people safer. In fact, it
can make things more dangerous because in areas where there
are bands in place regarding pitbulls, people that own pitbulls
(13:54):
tend to restrict their dog's outdoor time and socialization. And
when you do that, that can act worse than or
even great behavioral issues and caused that dog to be
more harmful. So what we think we're doing is protecting
people from a particular breed and am using their quotes
can actually be doing more harm and causing something that
we're trying to avoid.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Okay, Now, I love to tell the story that many
years ago when I had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
and I was in a bank one Dame's the cutest
dog in the world, and there was an older woman
who across the bank asked me, oh, what type of
dog is that. In being a practical joker and just
(14:35):
doing a little bit of a social experiment myself, I said, oh,
he's a pit bull. As she was walking towards the dog,
she stopped in her tracks and started to back away. Now,
obviously she had no idea what a pitfull looked like
because a cavalar King Chiles Spaniel, And I of course correct,
I said, I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. He's a
(14:55):
cavalier King Chile Spaniel and come on over and he's
a lovable dog. But that was proof to me that
in the minds of some people, just the word pitbull
was intimidating. So that is I think a big part
of this. What are you going to do to try
(15:16):
to make the public better understand that it is a
question of nature versus nurture and that a pitfall that
is brought up properly is no more dangerous than a
capitali Ar King Charles Spaniel that would be brought up properly.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
What we do at the Amareesk League of Boston is
we try not to identify breeds on the animals in
our air because unless it's a pure bred dog, we
could only make a guess based on what the dog
looks like. And what we do at the Amoresk League
of Boston is when somebody is interesting in adopting a dog,
they may come in because their look online and they'll
see a beautiful dog that they just must have. But
when folks come in it's a conversation. We ask folks,
(15:55):
why are they interested in that particular dog. Tell us
what they're looking for in a dog, tell us about
your family, tell us about your lifestyle. And then what
we do is we learn as much as we possibly
can from the dogs in our care. And sometimes it's
an obvious match, but other times it's not because some
dogs need a little bit more structure in their lives,
(16:16):
and it's we try to pair up animals and we
really don't. We don't really have that issue where people
are coming in afraid of pitbulls. I think when people
come into our doors and into one of our animal
care and adoption centers, their hearts are open, their homes
are open, and they're really there just to see what
they can do and who's who who they can invite
(16:38):
into their home.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Okay, my guest is the CEO and the president of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston. We've talked about one
piece of legislation, and we're going to talk about the
second piece of legislation. And I'm also going to invite
people to call and join the conversation. I know that
in this day and age of tariffs and trade wars
(17:03):
and cease fires. These may not be the top issues
on your mind, but it is. This is a very
important conversation in my opinion, here in the context of
Massachusetts and New England. And if you'd like to join
us six one, seven two five four to ten thirty,
any question that you might have for Doctor Edward Scatino,
(17:25):
he's the president and CEO of the Animal Rescue League
of Boston and he feels very strongly that there needs
to be the playing field needs to be leveled here,
not only for folks who maybe don't have the ability
to buy a home with two acres of land and
buy whatever dog they want, but people who are living again,
(17:46):
either in apartments or in condominiums, rental units or whatever.
Feel free give us a call six months seven two
five four to ten thirty or six months seven nine
three one ten thirty. I apologize for the technical interruption
earlier this half hour. I promise I hope fingers crossed
that it's not going to happen again. The for the
Battles of the Night, it happens about once every three
(18:09):
months periodically, and unfortunately for the role of the dice.
Doctor Skatina Wo had interrupted us, but we'll pick up
the pace and we'll talk about the other piece of
legislation right after the news break at the bottom of
the hour. Stay with us here on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Sorry, we're talking about pets, and specifically pets who need
a home and need to be adopted, and how we
can make it easier for not only people to adopt pets,
but to keep pets. With me is doctor Edward Scatino.
He is the president and CEO of the Animal Rescue
League of Boston, and we talked about a piece of
(18:52):
legislation in the last half hour that, if passed, would
make it more difficult for discrimination really to occur against
pets based upon their size or their breed, or also
insurance companies deciding that they're going to charge exorbitant rates
(19:14):
for homeowners or landlords who do either want to have
pets or want to allow pets. However, there's another issue,
and that is that in the various senior housing in
certain communities, there's no consistency as it appears to us,
(19:36):
and I think you want to address that issue. So
doctor Scatino tell us about what needs to be changed there.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Sure, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
So the second bill focusing focuses on pet family, elderly housing,
and many housing authorities, as you mentioned, have different pet policies.
Some of them include outright provision on pets, and in
some housing for fac ladies and persons with disabilities, pets
aren't allowed. So what this bill will do is help
codify existing pet programs and elderly housing into law. It
(20:09):
will expand this to all states funding housing for families
or for people with disabilities. And it would prohibit restrictions
on dog breeds, sizes, weight, and appearance. And it would
also prohibit the requiring a decline of cats, which is
now also illegal in Massachusetts. It would also prohibit the
eviction slowly on the basis of owning a pet. It'll
(20:32):
address pet rent and housing authorities and create an advisory
group to assist with these regulations, which would include a
human health and animal welfare experts. And I would like
to mention one other thing of why if these two
bills are so important to us at the Animal Rescue
of Boston. We believe pets are part of the family,
and we believe that and we're doing everything we can
(20:53):
to keep pets and people together and trying to prevent
animals from being surrendered to us. We do this for
a variety of reasons, but the one thing I would
like to share is the health benefits of pet ownership.
All of us that have pets, regardless dogg or pet
or anything else, we know why we have a pet,
how it makes us feel. Studies have shown their mental
(21:13):
health benefits for owning a pet. Reduces stress and anxiety,
helps feelings of loneliness, creates a calming presence. It gives
people a sense of purpose. With physical health benefits, pet
ownership reduces the risks of cancers, and this is by
establishing daily movement and healthy weight for folks that are
out walking their dogs. It also shows that decreased level
(21:37):
of cortisol by owning a pet that could help decrease
blood pressure and increase cardiovaspar health. Owning a pet makes
it healthier as you age. It helps provide central, social
and emotional support for older adults, which reduces retroduction and
stress and loneliness. Aging in place is so important. It
(21:57):
reduces the rate of depression and really helps with long
term dijesus like dementia by decreasing distressed loneliness and also
helps with children in development, helps children with autism and
attention deficit disorder by allowing kids to focus their attention,
and also helps kids become calmer and have better social interactions.
So keeping pets and people together, that's what the bills
(22:20):
are trying to do. Create healthy people, healthy pets, healthy communities,
and a healthy city. And that's why this is so
important to us.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Well, you represented really well and everything that you said.
I was thinking about the time the times that I'm
now a grandfather of two dogs I guess or whatever
you want to call them, okay, who occasionally take up
residence here. For a long time, I had a Cavalier
(22:51):
King Charles Spaniel, and I got to tell you, I've
said to friends of mine and if anyone is out
there thinking about a pet, as I got the calv
from my daughter and my son, but primarily my daughter
really wanted a dog, and she was about nine years old,
eight or nine years old, and obviously what an eight
(23:12):
or nine year old daughter wants, she gets, and I
got her Charlie, the Cavalier King Charles, King Charles Spaniel,
who in about you know, he was in about maybe
three days. He became my best buddy. And you know,
I was the one who would get up in the
morning at two am if he had to go out
or whatever. But they're so intelligent they sense your mood.
(23:35):
In the case of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. For
the ten years that we were blessed to have him
with us, my kids grew up and they became teenagers
and young adults, and as they grew, you know, they
they would look for, you know, dad, can I have
a few bucks or whatever? And then who's can I
have the keys to the car. And of course my
(23:59):
wife would always give me to do lists. And Charlie
the dog, he just wanted to hang with me. I mean,
you know, watch a football game, or you know, lay
of the couch, sit on the couch next to you
and snuggle. And how can anyone hate that? I mean,
I conditional love. And I don't know if there are
(24:20):
people out there who are listening tonight who have never
had a pet, but everyone at some point should and
there should be no barrier to people of whatever age,
of whatever circumstance or situation. And this is what these
two pieces of legislation do. I don't know if before
we finish tonight, and we're not close to finishing, we
(24:41):
still have another twenty minutes or so. I don't know
if these pieces of legislation have been given either names
or bill numbers at this point, but if they have
at the end, it would be great. Okay, good, we'll
get those. In the meantime, we're going to get to
some phone calls six months, seven, two, five, four, ten, thirty.
(25:02):
If you want to back us up or support us
and what we're saying here, obviously would appreciate it. If
you have a question, a more technical question for doctor
Edward Scatino, He's going to handle all the tough questions. Okay,
so yes, thank you. Let's get to the phones. Not
a problem. I've figured that you're more than capable of
handling tough questions or easy question. I'll take the easy ones,
(25:23):
you get the tough ones. Let's go to Jennifer problem
see Okay, let's go to Jennifer and Brockton. Hi, Jennifer, welcome.
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray and doctor Edward Scatino,
the President and CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
First of all, thank you, thank you. Thank you for
all the work you've done and for the legislation that's
that's on the table right now. This is all things
that I am arr and do in my heart. And
it's a relief tonight to not talk about politics and
everything else and to talk about something that matters.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You think you're relieved, Jennifer, how do you think I feel?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I heard much that every night.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
You know, I'm like, boy, damn, let's need a break.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
But well, this is something, this is something hopefully we
can all agree upon, So go ahead, Jennifer.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Absolutely. So. We live in a managed apartment complex in Brockton,
and you can imagine we have stray problems, sterial colony problems,
loose dogs, you name it. But we I just want
to say all the problems you're describing with the housing,
it also affects the community, so you know, and we
(26:37):
we volunteer. We offer support to our local shelters, the
Animal Protection Center in Brockden, and what happens there's a
lot of turnover here. There's about four hundred units and
people come and people go and they just leave their cats, yeah,
(26:58):
and or they like we also have restrictions. So when
we first rented here. They basically said one cat only.
We had two cats. But the leasing agent he basically said, no,
I don't worry. As long as you don't have ten cats,
don't worry. Just don't mention it. And so we brought
the few cats in. Yeah, I was terrified if they
(27:20):
find out, we're gonna you know, we're gonna have a
big issue. And it's very stressful. In the meantime, we
see people that literally they have enclosures outside on the balcony,
they have cats that they don't permit in their home,
or they just leave them. We've probably picked up about,
you know, twelve cats over the years and brought them
(27:40):
to the shelter. Kittens left behind, somebody took their cat
and left the litteral kittens.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Cats.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Yeah, we had one cat that was abused that we
had to bring in and she had to be put down. Unfortunately,
another one that you know did. I mean, it just
it's a problem bottom line.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Bills that these bills. Unfortunately, it's not really focused on cats.
It's really focused on dogs and bring and weight restrictions
on dogs. Yeah, it really doesn't affect much with cats.
But I want to share with you that we have
an incredible program dealing with community cats that if you
mentioned there's some story cats in your complex, go on
(28:24):
our website Arlboston dot org. It's our contact information is there.
We have a special program that we have folks that
go out into communities. They can meet you in your complex.
You can show them the colony of cats and we
can work with you in your community to help bring
those cats in to trap, new their release, and even
adopt them out. So we have a program that can
come to you, help you in your community, focus on
(28:46):
the community cats that are outside, and we can help
with with alleviating that problem over time. If you if
you if you want.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Help with that, absolutely some thank you. Sometimes we have
a cat and you know, I have two daughters and
we're all involved, and you know they can sometimes have
a disease and so we don't know the cats and
we end up Yeah, I would love that. Right now,
(29:12):
we don't have so much trouble, but you know, things
the summer's coming and you know things can change sly.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Yeah, yeah, give us a call, go on our website,
give us a call to our field service department and
they'll be able to help you and set somebody up
to come out and meet you and you can show
them what's going on, and we can come up with
a plan with you in your community to kind of
make a difference and help the cats and help the
community as well.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
That would be great. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Can you ask question?
Speaker 5 (29:45):
Yeah, one question that's are in the news recently that
there's like seven hundred I think seven hundred thousand stray
cats in Massachusetts. Yes, and that with it Animal Rescue
League that was behind an initiative to try to Is
that that's living with the website. Yes, yes, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
You for doing what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Also, thank you, thank you, Jennifer. Good night, Good night, Jennifer,
have a happy San Patrick's day. You know that's interesting
when they say seven hundred thousand straight cats, is that
seven hundred thousand feral cats.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Yeah. I didn't surprise you with us yesterday when we spoke.
I wanted to say this for tonight. No, there are
approximately seven hundred thousand stray cats in the state of Massachusetts,
seventy thousand stray cats in this Boston alone. They're not
called stray cats. We call them community cats. These are
cats that live outdoors, either cats as Jennifer mentioned, that
are either left behind friendly cats. These are cats that
(30:46):
are feral cats that have had kittens outside and cats hide.
You don't know, You don't see these cats unless you're
like Jennifer and and you're and then there's a problem.
And we have a program that helps work with communities
and folks to trap, meuter, bring the cats into us
and sometimes we're we're able to adapt out seventy five
percent of those types of cats and the other twenty
(31:06):
five percent we were turned back out to the field
and then they just live the rest of their lives
outside and have a wonderful life and everything's signed, but
they're all stayed and needed when they go back out.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
All right. My guest is doctor Edward Scatino, President and
CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Back with
more phone calls, if you'd like to join us. I
got a little bit of room six one seven, two, five,
four ten thirty six, one seven, nine, three, ten thirty
Coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on w b Z the news radio.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Okay, back to the phones we go. My guest is
doctor Edward Scatino. He is the president and CEO of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and they've got a pieces,
a couple of pieces of legislation, uh dealing with pets
which would make it easier for people to own pets,
to keep pets, UH, and for those pets to prosper
in someone's home. Let me go to Chris and Havero. Chris,
(32:01):
you are next on Nice Time with doctor Scatino, CEO
and President of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Go ahead, Chris, Good evening, Dan, I'm a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Well, we'll get you a run of a flause from
my legal studio audience. They're standing right now, thank you.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
All right, Okay, Well, I have an interesting story to
tell you about five years ago. In January, my husband
knew I had wanted a dog for a while, so
I ended up and I knew he knew I wanted
a King Charles Cavalier, Okay, And so I did my
(32:40):
research and everything, and in February I went and got
my puppy. And I was seventy four years old then
and had a lot of mobility issues. But my husband
passed away the following month after I got aernie. Oh no,
must he must have known. He had to have known
(33:04):
that I needed the comfort because that was just the
beginning of COVID. So even while he was in the hospital,
I couldn't be with him. Okay, but I had this
beautiful little girl and she has been my wonderful, wonderful friends.
So I every time you say good night to Charlie,
(33:27):
I enjoy it every single night. And you know, you
never can tell what's going to happen. She's a dog,
wonderful dog.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
As I say every night, all dogs, all pets, all
cats go to have, all cats, all yes go to heaven.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
And I'm so glad as far as the bills that
are being proposed that I mean, it's important that our
seniors be able to have the pets that we want
to be able to have. I'm in an over fifty
five community and they've restricted the size of the pet,
which I think is absolutely foolish. Look John, but that
(34:06):
that is the way it is. But I want to
thank you for listening to my story.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Well, you have a state representative up there, Representative Gary
Jerry g E r R y uh and uh you
when you see her, just drop her note and tell
her that that you and I both feel the same way.
She's a really good state representative. She's been on the program. Uh,
and I'm sure that she will support this piece of legislation.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
Okay, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Okay, thanks very evening.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
First phone call. Looking forward to Chris's second phone call.
Thanks Chris. Let's keep rolling here, going to go to
Joyce in Mansfield. Joyce, you're next on Night Side with
doctor Edward Scatino, the President CEO of the Animal Rescue
League of Boston. Joyce, go right ahead.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Yes, I'm very excited to talk to long story shirt.
I got very heavy about four years into advocating for
you animal So my husband and I when I see
bills posted by you, we always call the representative and
say please pass them through. And I'm really hoping that,
(35:13):
you know, funding for people to keep animals will go through. Now.
The animal that we adopted from the Denim shelter, we
named him Smokey. He's a rabbit. We've all adopted man
he was he was just put out with like about
five of the rabbits. Somebody just dumped them. Unfortunately, we
(35:37):
heard that the Animal Rescue came and got them now,
of course I have no way of knowing was it
because the people couldn't afford to take care of them,
or they just didn't want the babies, But as an
animal lover of all animals, that it obsessed me tremendously
(35:58):
when these types of things.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Happen, So I would think I would look at things
a little bit differently. I think everybody struggles, and we
never know the reason why somebody does something, so we always,
we at the ORSK League, always assume they're trying to
do the best they can with what they have, and
that is why we're here, and that is why you're there.
And all we do is bring in these animals, regardless
(36:21):
of how they come to us, give them all the
love and energy and vetinary care they need, and find
them homes like yours, and really not questioning the reason why.
And in fact, at the Animal Rescue League, we have
so many programs and resources for folks that are struggling
just to keep a low cost vetinary care, stay new
their pet food, and supplies so many things. So we
(36:43):
just encourage everybody to reach out to us and they
need assistance and help, and and we just we just
the world is crazy enough we just we just think
everybody is doing the best they can with what they have,
and if they can't and they need help, we're here
to help them. However, that whatever that looks.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Like, great, Carol. I'm running out of time here, Joyce,
but I just wanted to say, gives gives smoking the
rabbit a big pet for us tonight. Thanks for cal
and I want to give him the doctor a little
time to wrap it up. But thanks very much, and
appreciate you taking the time tonight and adopting. Thank you
Sara so much, thank you, thank you very much. Ye Joyce,
(37:19):
doctor Scatino, thank you very much again. Let's if you
have the numbers. Are the names of those bills, let's
hear them, go.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Right ahead, all right. The first bill the Act to
Maintain Stable Housing for Families with Pets. It's H one
five five nine or Senate Bill one zero two two
H five five nine or Senate Bill zero one zero
two two.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Here's the first one is the first one, the stable
housing was that one five five nine or five five
nine one?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
I'm sorry one.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
House one five five nine, Senate one zero two two.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
In the second one, the second one is House one
four seven six and it's just has a house number
right now.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Okay, and again that bill deals with basically friendly elderly housing. Okay,
those are the bills, folks. Let's get on the phones
and as I say, for Chris and Haverol, call your
state representative Colleen Gary, who is really a good state rep.
And I'm not sure I think she's got drink it.
(38:29):
Maybe she doesn't have HAVERO, but give her a call
either way. Uh, Doctor Skatino, thank you very much for
what you do, and thank everyone at the Animal Rescue
League of Boston. And if folks want to adopt you,
you've got some great great pets available catch dogs, rabbits
and other species.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
So thanks everything in between, everything in between.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
I have a great Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Thanks, doctor Skatino.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Thank you very much, Dan, my pleasure, Thank you welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
But by the way, this hour you can pull down
and will be posted by Rob at nightside on demand,
and you can circulate that to all of your supporters
from the Animal Rescue League and if they missed this
hour tonight, they can listen to it at their own
leisure nightside undermand. All right, thanks so much. When we
get back We're going to talk about the decision that
(39:15):
came down in federal court yesterday on the Karen Rea trial.
She will be retried on all three counts, I guess,
beginning as early as April. Back on Nightside, right after
the ten o'clock News
He's nice side with Dan Ray. I'm WBSY Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:06):
Thank you very much, Al Griffith. As we move into
our nine o'clock hour here on a Friday night, it
is the weekend of Saint Patrick's Day, High Holiday, High
Holy Day, if you will, in certainly in New England.
And if there's anything we like more than holidays, I
think the only thing that I can think of that
I like more than holidays are pets, animals, cats, and dogs,
(00:30):
particularly dogs. But a guy who loves all animals, all animals,
is my next guest. He's the president and CEO of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston. I got that right,
Doctor Edward Stina doctic scatia. How are you.
Speaker 3 (00:46):
I'm doing wonderful pleasure being here with you. Dan. Thank
you so much for having me.
Speaker 2 (00:49):
Thanks very much, and thanks for the time yesterday on
the phone. So let's let's sort of lay this out.
Normally when you're on the on with us here a representative,
the anti or other of the of Animal Rescue League
of Boston has done the phone. Were you were talking
about some sort of an adoption special weekend, But we're
(01:10):
we're talking legislation here tonight. Uh to to basically address
some issues and problems that the Animal Rescue League of
Boston has identified. So let's let's take it first. What's
the problem that we have to fix and how are
you and others proposing that we fix the problem?
Speaker 3 (01:35):
Thank you, Dan, that is a great way to start.
So what we know is nearly half of Massachusetts residents
for pet owners. We also know that on people struggle,
pets struggle, and the Boston is the fourth most expensive
need to live in the United States and Boston is
also was ranked the least friendly pet city by a
(01:57):
study by wallet Hut. We all also know that nationally nationally,
fourteen percent of surrenders of pets to animal shelters due
to housing related issues fourteen percent nationally. At the Animal
Rescue League of Boston, we are above that we are
seeing twenty nine percent of all the animals that are
(02:18):
surrendered to us in twenty twenty four were surrendered due
to housing related issues of their pet owners. This is
an increase of ten percent from twenty twenty three and
a twenty one percent increase of animals being surrendered due
to pet housing reasons since twenty twenty two. And this
is due because pet policies are extremely restrictive and regarding
(02:41):
certain breeds or weights, and when pet owners are forced
to make incredible difficult decisions regarding their pets, and this
is what we've been finding. We also know we've been
finding certain cases where people are leaving their pets tied
up somewhere outside, very visible, wanting their pets to be
found because are kind of in dire straits, no malicious intent.
(03:03):
People just have to make a decision of what to do,
and a lot of those decisions are based on housing
related issues.
Speaker 2 (03:08):
If this situation is now exposing itself by the number
of pets that you find not being or populating your
shelters normally, I assumed there's an eb and to follow
during the course of any given year, But are you
finding that there are more pets available as a result
(03:30):
of these problems that you've identified in pets shelters and
it's more difficult to get pets obviously rehoused rehomed.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
Or finding that the number of animals being surrendered to
us due to owners having how housing related issues have
increased substantially over the last couple of years. And we
also found that we are way over the national average
of pets being surrendered to having related issues. And in
Massachusetts only thirty nine percent of rental units accept dogs,
(04:01):
and when you consider the number of rental units that
accept dogs without any breed or weight restrictions, that number
goes down to seven percent. So there's a real reason
why folks that need to make some housing decisions and
they have a dog in their lives, they have to
make some really difficult decisions.
Speaker 2 (04:22):
How okay, you've identified the problems, You've identified what's going on.
I know that there's some ancillary aspects of this which
are not necessarily hugely contributing factors, but let's at least
just mention them. There were a lot of people who
decided to adopt a dog or adopt a cat at
(04:43):
when they were living at home during COVID crisis, were
working remotely. Now they're going back to work. I'm sure
that has some impact. And I'm sure that the exodus
of animals that seem to be found in the South
for a whole bunch of reasons, perhaps meteorologically, culturally. I
(05:04):
know that there are are dogs and cats brought up
here from some of the Southern states on a fairly
regular basis. So they can find adoptive homes here in
New England, and I know that those are contributing factors.
But the two pieces of legislation that the Animal Rescue
League of Boston on is now focusing on to address
(05:27):
each of these problems, as interrelated as these problems are.
Speaker 3 (05:32):
Do you mind if I go back to one thing
you just said them? That's okay?
Speaker 2 (05:35):
Sure, sure, absolutely so.
Speaker 3 (05:38):
You mentioned people adopting pets during the pandemic, and that
is one hundred percent true. And sometimes these pets work
out great now that people are going back to work.
Sometimes it's not the right fit. When somebody surrenders a
pet to us at the Animal Rescue Leage of Boston,
we ask them why they're surrendering their pet to us.
Could we want to understand are there any trends or
(05:59):
are there anything that we need to start thinking about.
And so what we're really focused on is housing, because
that is the trend that has been really increasing the
animals being surrendered. So there are two bills, as you mentioned,
that we're working on in the state legislature. One is
an Act to maintain Stable Housing for Families with pets
and the other one is to codify pet Family, elderly
(06:21):
housing policies, and Ensure pet parody are cross housing authorities.
Speaker 2 (06:25):
So let's take them. Let's break them up as we
can as separately as possible, because obviously both of them
are important, but they both have a little bit of
an overlap. But I'd like to just try to make
it as clear as possible in the listener's minds. So
if they are running into their local state rep. Or
their local state Senator at the diner, as we say
(06:46):
here in Boston over the weekend, they could say, hey,
there's a couple of bills that we're interested in.
Speaker 3 (06:52):
Maybe this isn't Maybe this isn't the best weekend to
do that at the diner.
Speaker 2 (06:56):
Well, you know, it's always when you when you finally
see the state rep in the state senators, when they
come out of higradation and they're walking in the neighborhood.
Actually it's never you never missed that opportunity to go true.
So the first to.
Speaker 3 (07:15):
Maintain Stable Housing yet the Act to Maintain Stable Housing
for Families with Pets. The goal of this bill is
to make housing more friendly for families with pets by
increasing access to housing and reducing the cost of pet
rent and insurance. What this bill will do is prohibit
discrimination by landlords and condo associations based on a dog's breed, size, weight,
(07:38):
and appearance. It will also limit the amount landlords can
charge for pet rent. It will state that during a
state of emergency, it will prohibit hotels from unreasonably refusing pets.
And it will expand current pet programs and elderly housing
authorities to apply for all state funded housing. So there's
a variety of things this is doing, and the most
(08:00):
important thing is really removing the restrictive pet policies based
on a dog's weight or size and appearance.
Speaker 2 (08:11):
Okay, so let's break those down. Okay, you're going to
have the real estate industry lobby against this bill. If
you're going to try to in any way limit the
amount that that theoretically a landlord might charge for the
presence of a pet, that's going to make it a
(08:33):
tougher sell at the state House. I'm sure you figured
that out.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
We have. We have, and it's not limit, it's not
telling it's not telling landlords they can't charge anything additional.
But it's really making it equal if somebody has a pet.
It's not discriminating or based on the breed or size
of the dog, and that is what we're really focusing
on now.
Speaker 2 (08:58):
I see, Okay, So okay, so if well, within that bill,
they can't say, oh, if you had a chouah, we'll
charge you an extra twenty dollars a month, but since
you have a bull mastiff, we're going to charge you
five hundred a month. Something is obviously that's part part
of it, part of it.
Speaker 3 (09:16):
That's definitely part of it.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Correct, okay, and what else give us? Let's break down
the facets of that bill, so everybody's converse and what's
the other points you made?
Speaker 3 (09:26):
So if you're a renter, landlords and insurance can't charge
can't charge you more or out refuse renting to you
based on your dog's breed, size, light, or appearance. If
you're a homeowner, insurance companies can't charge you more or
refuse or cancel coverage solely based on the breed of
the dog in your home. And if you're a condo,
(09:48):
association can't refuse to allow dogs on the basis of
a breed of a dog or prohibit a dog that
might increase insurance premiums. So it's all the christ factors.
Speaker 2 (09:58):
Our kindo was so now in Massachusetts able to have
a no pet condo. I should probably know this, but
I don't. If let's say there's a condo association of
I don't know, you know, ten units, a relatively small group,
and everybody in the group, for whatever reason, is not
(10:22):
you know, doesn't feel about pets as you and I do.
Can they say can they in effect? I mean, obviously
they cannot say a Constitutionally, if let's say they are
all of one race, they can't say no, one can
sell to someone of a different race. We know that's unconstitutional,
(10:43):
as it should be. But are condo associations able to
agree amongst themselves, hey we will we will not have
any dogs or cats in our unit?
Speaker 3 (10:56):
Is that I believe they can. I believe they can.
I believe they can make the decision no pets entirely, okay,
And that's what this bill is not addressing that.
Speaker 2 (11:05):
Right, No, I understand that. I think it's important to
make to point that out. That that that's that's why
I asked the question. So what you're saying is is
that if pets are allowed, they can't say, okay, you
can have a dog that weighs no more than twenty
pounds or ten pounds. Okay, right, they can't. They can't
(11:26):
if once they accept dogs or cats, they can't make
restrictions or on the breeds.
Speaker 3 (11:35):
Yeah, so that is correct, one hundred. So let's let's
let's address addressing.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
Let's address not the elephant in the room, doctor, but
let's address.
Speaker 3 (11:43):
The pit bull, the lovable Yes, let's talk about Well.
Speaker 2 (11:50):
I think I think it's important because I think that
that this is an issue that we need to address it,
and my daughter would be very upset with me if
we didn't address it.
Speaker 3 (12:00):
I know what type of hot dog your daughter hasn't
shared with me yesterday. I'm a little afraid of that
breed yesterday. Don't tell your daughter, and don't mention the
breed name, because I don't want to get in trouble.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
No, I won't. Most of my my good listeners, my
loyal listeners, know exactly what type of breed Mustard is,
So we'll let's let that go. But anyway, so you
feel you feel, and I know my daughter feels, although
she does not have a pit bull, that that pit
bulls have have been given they haven't earned, but they
have been given a bad reputation.
Speaker 3 (12:33):
Tell us why I I agree with that. I agree
that pippoles haven't given a bad reputation. And can I
have a few facts about pit bulls that I think?
Speaker 2 (12:43):
Yeah, that's what you're the you're the witness. I'm just
asking the questions. Go ahead.
Speaker 3 (12:49):
I don't like me to call the witness. I'm afraid
of where this is going, but I accept no. Oh,
I know, I know. A pit bull is the term
pitfull an umbrella term for various broots. It includes the
American tipule terrier, American bully, the Staffordshire bull terrier. So
when somebody says pitbull, what do they really say? That's
(13:10):
number one? And a lot of people are making assumptions
based on what a dog looks like that it's a
pit bull, and usually those are mixed breed dogs. We
also know that environmental factors cause aggression, not a particular
breed or type of dog biting. Biting is not breed specific,
and it's often caused by any many other factors. And
(13:32):
there's no scientific evidence that indicates one kind of dog
is more likely to injure human than another. And there've
been studies done on this and lastly, lastly, pitboll specific
legislations do nothing to keep people safer. In fact, it
can make things more dangerous because in areas where there
are bands in place regarding pitbulls, people that own pitbulls
(13:54):
tend to restrict their dog's outdoor time and socialization. And
when you do that, that can act worse than or
even great behavioral issues and caused that dog to be
more harmful. So what we think we're doing is protecting
people from a particular breed and am using their quotes
can actually be doing more harm and causing something that
we're trying to avoid.
Speaker 2 (14:14):
Okay, Now, I love to tell the story that many
years ago when I had a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
and I was in a bank one Dame's the cutest
dog in the world, and there was an older woman
who across the bank asked me, oh, what type of
dog is that. In being a practical joker and just
(14:35):
doing a little bit of a social experiment myself, I said, oh,
he's a pit bull. As she was walking towards the dog,
she stopped in her tracks and started to back away. Now,
obviously she had no idea what a pitfull looked like
because a cavalar King Chiles Spaniel, And I of course correct,
I said, I'm only kidding. I'm only kidding. He's a
(14:55):
cavalier King Chile Spaniel and come on over and he's
a lovable dog. But that was proof to me that
in the minds of some people, just the word pitbull
was intimidating. So that is I think a big part
of this. What are you going to do to try
(15:16):
to make the public better understand that it is a
question of nature versus nurture and that a pitfall that
is brought up properly is no more dangerous than a
capitali Ar King Charles Spaniel that would be brought up properly.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
What we do at the Amareesk League of Boston is
we try not to identify breeds on the animals in
our air because unless it's a pure bred dog, we
could only make a guess based on what the dog
looks like. And what we do at the Amoresk League
of Boston is when somebody is interesting in adopting a dog,
they may come in because their look online and they'll
see a beautiful dog that they just must have. But
when folks come in it's a conversation. We ask folks,
(15:55):
why are they interested in that particular dog. Tell us
what they're looking for in a dog, tell us about
your family, tell us about your lifestyle. And then what
we do is we learn as much as we possibly
can from the dogs in our care. And sometimes it's
an obvious match, but other times it's not because some
dogs need a little bit more structure in their lives,
(16:16):
and it's we try to pair up animals and we
really don't. We don't really have that issue where people
are coming in afraid of pitbulls. I think when people
come into our doors and into one of our animal
care and adoption centers, their hearts are open, their homes
are open, and they're really there just to see what
they can do and who's who who they can invite
(16:38):
into their home.
Speaker 2 (16:39):
Okay, my guest is the CEO and the president of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston. We've talked about one
piece of legislation, and we're going to talk about the
second piece of legislation. And I'm also going to invite
people to call and join the conversation. I know that
in this day and age of tariffs and trade wars
(17:03):
and cease fires. These may not be the top issues
on your mind, but it is. This is a very
important conversation in my opinion, here in the context of
Massachusetts and New England. And if you'd like to join
us six one, seven two five four to ten thirty,
any question that you might have for Doctor Edward Scatino,
(17:25):
he's the president and CEO of the Animal Rescue League
of Boston and he feels very strongly that there needs
to be the playing field needs to be leveled here,
not only for folks who maybe don't have the ability
to buy a home with two acres of land and
buy whatever dog they want, but people who are living again,
(17:46):
either in apartments or in condominiums, rental units or whatever.
Feel free give us a call six months seven two
five four to ten thirty or six months seven nine
three one ten thirty. I apologize for the technical interruption
earlier this half hour. I promise I hope fingers crossed
that it's not going to happen again. The for the
Battles of the Night, it happens about once every three
(18:09):
months periodically, and unfortunately for the role of the dice.
Doctor Skatina Wo had interrupted us, but we'll pick up
the pace and we'll talk about the other piece of
legislation right after the news break at the bottom of
the hour. Stay with us here on Nightside.
Speaker 1 (18:24):
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (18:31):
Sorry, we're talking about pets, and specifically pets who need
a home and need to be adopted, and how we
can make it easier for not only people to adopt pets,
but to keep pets. With me is doctor Edward Scatino.
He is the president and CEO of the Animal Rescue
League of Boston, and we talked about a piece of
(18:52):
legislation in the last half hour that, if passed, would
make it more difficult for discrimination really to occur against
pets based upon their size or their breed, or also
insurance companies deciding that they're going to charge exorbitant rates
(19:14):
for homeowners or landlords who do either want to have
pets or want to allow pets. However, there's another issue,
and that is that in the various senior housing in
certain communities, there's no consistency as it appears to us,
(19:36):
and I think you want to address that issue. So
doctor Scatino tell us about what needs to be changed there.
Speaker 3 (19:45):
Sure, thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (19:46):
Dan.
Speaker 3 (19:47):
So the second bill focusing focuses on pet family, elderly housing,
and many housing authorities, as you mentioned, have different pet policies.
Some of them include outright provision on pets, and in
some housing for fac ladies and persons with disabilities, pets
aren't allowed. So what this bill will do is help
codify existing pet programs and elderly housing into law. It
(20:09):
will expand this to all states funding housing for families
or for people with disabilities. And it would prohibit restrictions
on dog breeds, sizes, weight, and appearance. And it would
also prohibit the requiring a decline of cats, which is
now also illegal in Massachusetts. It would also prohibit the
eviction slowly on the basis of owning a pet. It'll
(20:32):
address pet rent and housing authorities and create an advisory
group to assist with these regulations, which would include a
human health and animal welfare experts. And I would like
to mention one other thing of why if these two
bills are so important to us at the Animal Rescue
of Boston. We believe pets are part of the family,
and we believe that and we're doing everything we can
(20:53):
to keep pets and people together and trying to prevent
animals from being surrendered to us. We do this for
a variety of reasons, but the one thing I would
like to share is the health benefits of pet ownership.
All of us that have pets, regardless dogg or pet
or anything else, we know why we have a pet,
how it makes us feel. Studies have shown their mental
(21:13):
health benefits for owning a pet. Reduces stress and anxiety,
helps feelings of loneliness, creates a calming presence. It gives
people a sense of purpose. With physical health benefits, pet
ownership reduces the risks of cancers, and this is by
establishing daily movement and healthy weight for folks that are
out walking their dogs. It also shows that decreased level
(21:37):
of cortisol by owning a pet that could help decrease
blood pressure and increase cardiovaspar health. Owning a pet makes
it healthier as you age. It helps provide central, social
and emotional support for older adults, which reduces retroduction and
stress and loneliness. Aging in place is so important. It
(21:57):
reduces the rate of depression and really helps with long
term dijesus like dementia by decreasing distressed loneliness and also
helps with children in development, helps children with autism and
attention deficit disorder by allowing kids to focus their attention,
and also helps kids become calmer and have better social interactions.
So keeping pets and people together, that's what the bills
(22:20):
are trying to do. Create healthy people, healthy pets, healthy communities,
and a healthy city. And that's why this is so
important to us.
Speaker 2 (22:28):
Well, you represented really well and everything that you said.
I was thinking about the time the times that I'm
now a grandfather of two dogs I guess or whatever
you want to call them, okay, who occasionally take up
residence here. For a long time, I had a Cavalier
(22:51):
King Charles Spaniel, and I got to tell you, I've
said to friends of mine and if anyone is out
there thinking about a pet, as I got the calv
from my daughter and my son, but primarily my daughter
really wanted a dog, and she was about nine years old,
eight or nine years old, and obviously what an eight
(23:12):
or nine year old daughter wants, she gets, and I
got her Charlie, the Cavalier King Charles, King Charles Spaniel,
who in about you know, he was in about maybe
three days. He became my best buddy. And you know,
I was the one who would get up in the
morning at two am if he had to go out
or whatever. But they're so intelligent they sense your mood.
(23:35):
In the case of the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel. For
the ten years that we were blessed to have him
with us, my kids grew up and they became teenagers
and young adults, and as they grew, you know, they
they would look for, you know, dad, can I have
a few bucks or whatever? And then who's can I
have the keys to the car. And of course my
(23:59):
wife would always give me to do lists. And Charlie
the dog, he just wanted to hang with me. I mean,
you know, watch a football game, or you know, lay
of the couch, sit on the couch next to you
and snuggle. And how can anyone hate that? I mean,
I conditional love. And I don't know if there are
(24:20):
people out there who are listening tonight who have never
had a pet, but everyone at some point should and
there should be no barrier to people of whatever age,
of whatever circumstance or situation. And this is what these
two pieces of legislation do. I don't know if before
we finish tonight, and we're not close to finishing, we
(24:41):
still have another twenty minutes or so. I don't know
if these pieces of legislation have been given either names
or bill numbers at this point, but if they have
at the end, it would be great. Okay, good, we'll
get those. In the meantime, we're going to get to
some phone calls six months, seven, two, five, four, ten, thirty.
(25:02):
If you want to back us up or support us
and what we're saying here, obviously would appreciate it. If
you have a question, a more technical question for doctor
Edward Scatino, He's going to handle all the tough questions. Okay,
so yes, thank you. Let's get to the phones. Not
a problem. I've figured that you're more than capable of
handling tough questions or easy question. I'll take the easy ones,
(25:23):
you get the tough ones. Let's go to Jennifer problem
see Okay, let's go to Jennifer and Brockton. Hi, Jennifer, welcome.
You're on Night Side with Dan Ray and doctor Edward Scatino,
the President and CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Speaker 4 (25:36):
Wow.
Speaker 5 (25:39):
First of all, thank you, thank you. Thank you for
all the work you've done and for the legislation that's
that's on the table right now. This is all things
that I am arr and do in my heart. And
it's a relief tonight to not talk about politics and
everything else and to talk about something that matters.
Speaker 2 (25:57):
You think you're relieved, Jennifer, how do you think I feel?
Speaker 3 (26:01):
I heard much that every night.
Speaker 5 (26:04):
You know, I'm like, boy, damn, let's need a break.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
But well, this is something, this is something hopefully we
can all agree upon, So go ahead, Jennifer.
Speaker 5 (26:13):
Absolutely. So. We live in a managed apartment complex in Brockton,
and you can imagine we have stray problems, sterial colony problems,
loose dogs, you name it. But we I just want
to say all the problems you're describing with the housing,
it also affects the community, so you know, and we
(26:37):
we volunteer. We offer support to our local shelters, the
Animal Protection Center in Brockden, and what happens there's a
lot of turnover here. There's about four hundred units and
people come and people go and they just leave their cats, yeah,
(26:58):
and or they like we also have restrictions. So when
we first rented here. They basically said one cat only.
We had two cats. But the leasing agent he basically said, no,
I don't worry. As long as you don't have ten cats,
don't worry. Just don't mention it. And so we brought
the few cats in. Yeah, I was terrified if they
(27:20):
find out, we're gonna you know, we're gonna have a
big issue. And it's very stressful. In the meantime, we
see people that literally they have enclosures outside on the balcony,
they have cats that they don't permit in their home,
or they just leave them. We've probably picked up about,
you know, twelve cats over the years and brought them
(27:40):
to the shelter. Kittens left behind, somebody took their cat
and left the litteral kittens.
Speaker 3 (27:47):
Cats.
Speaker 5 (27:48):
Yeah, we had one cat that was abused that we
had to bring in and she had to be put down. Unfortunately,
another one that you know did. I mean, it just
it's a problem bottom line.
Speaker 3 (28:02):
Bills that these bills. Unfortunately, it's not really focused on cats.
It's really focused on dogs and bring and weight restrictions
on dogs. Yeah, it really doesn't affect much with cats.
But I want to share with you that we have
an incredible program dealing with community cats that if you
mentioned there's some story cats in your complex, go on
(28:24):
our website Arlboston dot org. It's our contact information is there.
We have a special program that we have folks that
go out into communities. They can meet you in your complex.
You can show them the colony of cats and we
can work with you in your community to help bring
those cats in to trap, new their release, and even
adopt them out. So we have a program that can
come to you, help you in your community, focus on
(28:46):
the community cats that are outside, and we can help
with with alleviating that problem over time. If you if
you if you want.
Speaker 5 (28:51):
Help with that, absolutely some thank you. Sometimes we have
a cat and you know, I have two daughters and
we're all involved, and you know they can sometimes have
a disease and so we don't know the cats and
we end up Yeah, I would love that. Right now,
(29:12):
we don't have so much trouble, but you know, things
the summer's coming and you know things can change sly.
Speaker 3 (29:22):
Yeah, yeah, give us a call, go on our website,
give us a call to our field service department and
they'll be able to help you and set somebody up
to come out and meet you and you can show
them what's going on, and we can come up with
a plan with you in your community to kind of
make a difference and help the cats and help the
community as well.
Speaker 5 (29:38):
That would be great. Thank you so much.
Speaker 2 (29:40):
Can you ask question?
Speaker 5 (29:45):
Yeah, one question that's are in the news recently that
there's like seven hundred I think seven hundred thousand stray
cats in Massachusetts. Yes, and that with it Animal Rescue
League that was behind an initiative to try to Is
that that's living with the website. Yes, yes, thank you,
thank you, thank you, thank.
Speaker 3 (30:06):
You for doing what you're doing.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Also, thank you, thank you, Jennifer. Good night, Good night, Jennifer,
have a happy San Patrick's day. You know that's interesting
when they say seven hundred thousand straight cats, is that
seven hundred thousand feral cats.
Speaker 3 (30:23):
Yeah. I didn't surprise you with us yesterday when we spoke.
I wanted to say this for tonight. No, there are
approximately seven hundred thousand stray cats in the state of Massachusetts,
seventy thousand stray cats in this Boston alone. They're not
called stray cats. We call them community cats. These are
cats that live outdoors, either cats as Jennifer mentioned, that
are either left behind friendly cats. These are cats that
(30:46):
are feral cats that have had kittens outside and cats hide.
You don't know, You don't see these cats unless you're
like Jennifer and and you're and then there's a problem.
And we have a program that helps work with communities
and folks to trap, meuter, bring the cats into us
and sometimes we're we're able to adapt out seventy five
percent of those types of cats and the other twenty
(31:06):
five percent we were turned back out to the field
and then they just live the rest of their lives
outside and have a wonderful life and everything's signed, but
they're all stayed and needed when they go back out.
Speaker 2 (31:16):
All right. My guest is doctor Edward Scatino, President and
CEO of the Animal Rescue League of Boston. Back with
more phone calls, if you'd like to join us. I
got a little bit of room six one seven, two, five,
four ten thirty six, one seven, nine, three, ten thirty
Coming right back on night Side.
Speaker 1 (31:32):
Now back to Dan ray Line from the Window World
night Side Studios on w b Z the news radio.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Okay, back to the phones we go. My guest is
doctor Edward Scatino. He is the president and CEO of
the Animal Rescue League of Boston, and they've got a pieces,
a couple of pieces of legislation, uh dealing with pets
which would make it easier for people to own pets,
to keep pets, UH, and for those pets to prosper
in someone's home. Let me go to Chris and Havero. Chris,
(32:01):
you are next on Nice Time with doctor Scatino, CEO
and President of the Animal Rescue League of Boston.
Speaker 4 (32:07):
Go ahead, Chris, Good evening, Dan, I'm a first time caller.
Speaker 2 (32:11):
Well, we'll get you a run of a flause from
my legal studio audience. They're standing right now, thank you.
Speaker 4 (32:19):
All right, Okay, Well, I have an interesting story to
tell you about five years ago. In January, my husband
knew I had wanted a dog for a while, so
I ended up and I knew he knew I wanted
a King Charles Cavalier, Okay, And so I did my
(32:40):
research and everything, and in February I went and got
my puppy. And I was seventy four years old then
and had a lot of mobility issues. But my husband
passed away the following month after I got aernie. Oh no,
must he must have known. He had to have known
(33:04):
that I needed the comfort because that was just the
beginning of COVID. So even while he was in the hospital,
I couldn't be with him. Okay, but I had this
beautiful little girl and she has been my wonderful, wonderful friends.
So I every time you say good night to Charlie,
(33:27):
I enjoy it every single night. And you know, you
never can tell what's going to happen. She's a dog,
wonderful dog.
Speaker 2 (33:35):
As I say every night, all dogs, all pets, all
cats go to have, all cats, all yes go to heaven.
Speaker 4 (33:42):
And I'm so glad as far as the bills that
are being proposed that I mean, it's important that our
seniors be able to have the pets that we want
to be able to have. I'm in an over fifty
five community and they've restricted the size of the pet,
which I think is absolutely foolish. Look John, but that
(34:06):
that is the way it is. But I want to
thank you for listening to my story.
Speaker 2 (34:10):
Well, you have a state representative up there, Representative Gary
Jerry g E r R y uh and uh you
when you see her, just drop her note and tell
her that that you and I both feel the same way.
She's a really good state representative. She's been on the program. Uh,
and I'm sure that she will support this piece of legislation.
Speaker 4 (34:30):
Okay, thank you very much.
Speaker 5 (34:32):
Okay, thanks very evening.
Speaker 2 (34:35):
First phone call. Looking forward to Chris's second phone call.
Thanks Chris. Let's keep rolling here, going to go to
Joyce in Mansfield. Joyce, you're next on Night Side with
doctor Edward Scatino, the President CEO of the Animal Rescue
League of Boston. Joyce, go right ahead.
Speaker 6 (34:51):
Yes, I'm very excited to talk to long story shirt.
I got very heavy about four years into advocating for
you animal So my husband and I when I see
bills posted by you, we always call the representative and
say please pass them through. And I'm really hoping that,
(35:13):
you know, funding for people to keep animals will go through. Now.
The animal that we adopted from the Denim shelter, we
named him Smokey. He's a rabbit. We've all adopted man
he was he was just put out with like about
five of the rabbits. Somebody just dumped them. Unfortunately, we
(35:37):
heard that the Animal Rescue came and got them now,
of course I have no way of knowing was it
because the people couldn't afford to take care of them,
or they just didn't want the babies, But as an
animal lover of all animals, that it obsessed me tremendously
(35:58):
when these types of things.
Speaker 3 (35:59):
Happen, So I would think I would look at things
a little bit differently. I think everybody struggles, and we
never know the reason why somebody does something, so we always,
we at the ORSK League, always assume they're trying to
do the best they can with what they have, and
that is why we're here, and that is why you're there.
And all we do is bring in these animals, regardless
(36:21):
of how they come to us, give them all the
love and energy and vetinary care they need, and find
them homes like yours, and really not questioning the reason why.
And in fact, at the Animal Rescue League, we have
so many programs and resources for folks that are struggling
just to keep a low cost vetinary care, stay new
their pet food, and supplies so many things. So we
(36:43):
just encourage everybody to reach out to us and they
need assistance and help, and and we just we just
the world is crazy enough we just we just think
everybody is doing the best they can with what they have,
and if they can't and they need help, we're here
to help them. However, that whatever that looks.
Speaker 2 (36:57):
Like, great, Carol. I'm running out of time here, Joyce,
but I just wanted to say, gives gives smoking the
rabbit a big pet for us tonight. Thanks for cal
and I want to give him the doctor a little
time to wrap it up. But thanks very much, and
appreciate you taking the time tonight and adopting. Thank you
Sara so much, thank you, thank you very much. Ye Joyce,
(37:19):
doctor Scatino, thank you very much again. Let's if you
have the numbers. Are the names of those bills, let's
hear them, go.
Speaker 3 (37:26):
Right ahead, all right. The first bill the Act to
Maintain Stable Housing for Families with Pets. It's H one
five five nine or Senate Bill one zero two two
H five five nine or Senate Bill zero one zero
two two.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Here's the first one is the first one, the stable
housing was that one five five nine or five five
nine one?
Speaker 3 (37:53):
I'm sorry one.
Speaker 2 (37:54):
House one five five nine, Senate one zero two two.
Speaker 3 (37:57):
In the second one, the second one is House one
four seven six and it's just has a house number
right now.
Speaker 2 (38:06):
Okay, and again that bill deals with basically friendly elderly housing. Okay,
those are the bills, folks. Let's get on the phones
and as I say, for Chris and Haverol, call your
state representative Colleen Gary, who is really a good state rep.
And I'm not sure I think she's got drink it.
(38:29):
Maybe she doesn't have HAVERO, but give her a call
either way. Uh, Doctor Skatino, thank you very much for
what you do, and thank everyone at the Animal Rescue
League of Boston. And if folks want to adopt you,
you've got some great great pets available catch dogs, rabbits
and other species.
Speaker 3 (38:46):
So thanks everything in between, everything in between.
Speaker 2 (38:49):
I have a great Saint Patrick's Day weekend. Thanks, doctor Skatino.
Speaker 3 (38:52):
Thank you very much, Dan, my pleasure, Thank you welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:55):
But by the way, this hour you can pull down
and will be posted by Rob at nightside on demand,
and you can circulate that to all of your supporters
from the Animal Rescue League and if they missed this
hour tonight, they can listen to it at their own
leisure nightside undermand. All right, thanks so much. When we
get back We're going to talk about the decision that
(39:15):
came down in federal court yesterday on the Karen Rea trial.
She will be retried on all three counts, I guess,
beginning as early as April. Back on Nightside, right after
the ten o'clock News
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