Hundreds of animals being cared for at ARL Boston after recent cruelty

BOSTON — They rescue and rehabilitate hundreds of animals every year from some of the worst circumstances.

"A lot of these younger kittens don't survive.  They end up getting sick and dying." said Lt. Alan Borgal, Director of Law Enforcement at the Animal Rescue League of Boston.  He says these sick kittens were rescued from a feral cat colony in Westport, Massachusetts.

"It's going to take some time to get them healthy," Borgal said.

But, it's a different case from Westport that has required most of their attention these past few weeks.  This summer, animal control officers responded to the largest ever case of farm animal cruelty in the northeast.

Responders found hundreds of animals that were dead, dying, or injured spread across a 70-acre farm.

It's been the job of the Animal Rescue League of Boston with the help of other agencies to rescue, rehabilitate, and relocate more than a thousand animals from the farm.

Borgal told FOX25 he has seen a lot in his 40 years serving as a special state officer for ARL.

One case that stands out was an elephant named Ruth that was rescued in the 80s. She now lives in the Buttonwood Park Zoo in New Bedford and a painting she made hangs in his office.

Borgal still spends most of his days on the road and says he rarely gets home on time.

"I still do rescues. I've got cages in the back I'm prepared to stop and do a horse rescue if a horse gets injured. I love the rescue aspect."  He told FOX25.

He estimates he’s handled some 60,000 cats over his career, including one with a broken leg that was dropped off at the same feral colony they found the kittens.

"People see other cats and they assume the cat will survive.  He got hit by a car. Somebody just abandoned him."  Borgal said.

No matter how many times he sees it, Borgal said he'll never understand it.

"If people can take the time to drive somewhere to dispose of an animal and cruelly abandon it, they can bring it to a humane society." He said.

If you want to file a cruelty report with the Animal Rescue League of Boston visit http://www.arlboston.org/law-enforcement-services/

To learn more about adopting an animal from ARL Boston visit http://www.arlboston.org/search-adoptables/

Cox Media Group