Belchertown Animal Control

06/01/2026

"All good ☺️They're not growling"
Hang on.
Some dogs can and do growl in play.
It can be completely normal.

"So how can I tell"?
It can be tricky to tell the difference between healthy play and those interactions that are something else entirely.
There are some areas we can look at to help us decipher.

➡️Immediate posture changes/rigidity/stillness

Some dogs pause, go still and then explode with loose and wiggly movements. That’s often play.
The problematic kind of rigidness is different.
It can linger for longer.
Even when the other dog is showing everyway they can "all's good here".
That stillness and posture is "tight".

It can come with hard stares, leaning or standing over.
Stiff body posture from either dog, even the one on the ground.

That’s not play

➡️When high energy switches to frantic.

Chasing and being chased. Some dogs love this.
There can be an energy change with chasing that we need to watch for though.
It can turn.
It can become far more frantic and direct.

If one dog is always the chaser, and when they catch the other, the tone changes, the body language tightens, the movements escalate and it stops looking mutual?
That’s when caution is needed.

We don't want to stop dogs playing but we do need to recognise when it's no longer fun for all dogs involved.

05/31/2026

05/31/2026

***** UPDATE~Found safe!!!!*******

Please share and BOLO for Bailey, blond husky Shepard mix, 3 years old, very friendly. Lost in South Belchertown area of West St & N.Liberty St. Please call family or Animal Control at 413-519-1754 if spotted.

05/30/2026

* We have a petfood pantry and will help anyone in need with what we have available

Some people are holding onto their dogs by a thread.
And we're arguing about blueberries.

Now isn't the time to shame people for feeding their dog the only way they financially can.

If some rice needs to be added to bulk a meal out because there simply isn't enough food, then that's where some people are right now.

A perfect raw diet served in a beautiful bowl with blackberries, green-lipped mussels and salmon oil might look great on social media.

But for some people, it feels like a slap in the face, over and over again.

They don't know you're already skipping meals yourself.

They’ve no idea you're juggling rent, power, groceries, fuel and a dozen other bills while trying to keep your dog fed too.

Being told "if you cared, you'd find a way" is SO easy when you're not the one standing in the supermarket trying to figure out how on earth you can get the whole family fed for the week when your bank app says seventeen dollars.

Let's be real.

People are surrendering their dogs because they can no longer afford to keep them.

Others are doing everything they can not to.

They're behind on the mortgage.
Behind on the rent.
Putting off things they really need.
Living in cold houses because the power bill has become yet another thing to worry about.
Answering the phone?
Well, you don’t really do that anymore because you know it’s someone wanting money that you just don't have.

And through all of this.
Day in and day out.
People are trying to keep their dog.

Because their dog is family.

Their dog that sleeps on their bed, snuggles and snores.
Their dog that got them through the divorce.
Their dog that sat beside them when life just fell apart.

Their dog was there in those moments when nobody else was.

People are clawing and scraping to hold onto that relationship.

And while they're doing everything they can to keep their dog in their home, they're being told they aren't good enough because they just can't afford someone else's version of the perfect diet.

Perspective matters.
Of course nutrition matters.
And yup, we should feed the best diet we reasonably can.

But right now.
In these economic times.
A dog eating a less-than-perfect diet in a loving home is often in a far, far better position than a dog that loses that home altogether.

And for many families, that's not a hypothetical.
That's the very decision they're trying desperately not to make.

05/29/2026

Tomorrow is our Pet Supply Tag Sale~ we've got tons of brand new leashes, halters & collars. If your pooch needs steps to get up we've got them soft & hard. Doggy gates? Got'um. Barriers to keep your pooch in the back seat of your vehicle? We've got several styles. Dog beds and mats? We've got you covered. Pet clothes? Yup yup. Cat waterers, bowls, towers & toys? Plenty! So.Much.Stuff! Sat & Sun 5/30 & 5/31 9-12pm. See you there!
***All proceeds go to our gift fund to provide additional support to the animals in our care***

05/23/2026

There is no exaggeration here.

At the extreme end, these dogs will jump through windows, chew through walls and severely injure themselves trying to get back to their person.

And even when it never reaches that physical extreme?
Emotionally, these dogs can still be deeply distressed.

For the families living with this, life can become incredibly small.

People outside the home often don’t understand.

Why you can’t just “go for coffee”.
Why you can’t just go away for a weekend.
They don’t understand why someone always has to rush home.

Life can start revolving around time limits, strict routines and preventing panic before it even begins.

Please hear me when I say this though.
There is hope.
There is ALWAYS hope.

And sometimes it starts with something incredibly small, tiny even, because it has to.

A person standing up.
Taking one step away.
Returning calmly.
Helping your dog learn that distance does not always predict distress.

The timing here matters.
And yes, you will need other people to help you practice this properly.

Hang in there.
Don’t rush this.

Your life doesn’t have to stay this small forever.

05/22/2026

It’s panic. They’re running away.

You were out and about. The leash was taken off and for a few seconds it feels perfect.
Freedom.
Running.
Joy and some super fast circle zoomies

Then suddenly your dog is “gone”. Not physically.
Yet.
But it’s about to happen and your stomach down by your boots knows it.

Their ears stopped hearing you.
Their body changes.
Those eyes lock onto everything else.
You call once. Twice. Ten times.
And that awful feeling starts rising from your ankles to your chest.

You panic.
You’re now kicking yourself for letting them off that lead.
You’re frustrated, angry at yourself for that tiny decision you made.

People blame THAT moment.

But most off lead problems started way before the dog actually ran off.
They started in the much smaller moments, even on that lead.

A dog who rarely checked in.
Maybe recall only worked when nothing interesting was happening.
Or they were already prepared for the “recall game” in your backyard again.

More off lead freedom can feel like the answer.
But it’s not.
Yet.

Because sometimes, every "uncontrolled" off lead session is simply rehearsing disconnection from you.

That is why this can feel so upsetting for people.
Because they want to feel connected to their dog again.
And in that very moment, when they’re high tailing it out of there?
There's none.

But the good news is, connection can absolutely be built. Even out there in the real world.

Quiet check ins.
Tiny successes.
Long lines.
Rewarding engagement before things fall apart.
Building distraction levels slowly instead of hoping for the best.

Because truly reliable off lead freedom is not built on hope.
It is well and truly built on connection.

05/22/2026

Yay!! "Lulu" the pup we found as a stray wasn't ever claimed so she's off to her new life with Donna & family. Happy life! 🐾🐕❤️🐾

05/22/2026

🗺️ How to Find a Licensed Wildlife Rehabber Near You! 🗺️

​If you’ve found an injured or orphaned wild animal in Massachusetts, please use the interactive MassWildlife map to connect with someone licensed to help. Our graphic breaks down exactly how to use it!

​Quick Tips for Using the Map:
Navigate: Click and drag to move across the state, or use the zoom feature to narrow down your area.

​Match the Species: Look at the different map icons! They represent what kinds of animals (like songbirds, small mammals, or turtles) that specific rehabber takes in.

​Get Contact Details: Click directly on an icon to open up their name, phone number, and authorized species list.

​⚠️ Reminder: Please, always call first! Many rehabilitators specialize in specific species, and their capacity changes daily.

​🔗 Find a rehabber here:
https://www.mass.gov/info-details/find-a-wildlife-rehabilitator

​

05/22/2026

“You’re just avoiding it" 🙄
Yes and no.
What we are avoiding is escalation.

Or if they’re already in a full verbal reaction, we are avoiding keeping them there for a second longer than necessary.

But we have to remember something really important here.

Dogs are often reacting long before we hear barking, growling or lunging.

They fixate.
Their movement changes.
The body slows and stiffens.
Breathing changes.
They can posture.
Their nervous system is already shifting.

That stronger reaction we see?
It’s often the final stage, not the beginning.

The U turn is not about pretending the trigger does not exist.
It is about recognising emotional change earlier and responding before the dog fully tips over threshold.

Distance changes behaviour.

As distance increases you will often see
• softer body language
• reduced fixation
• quicker disengagement
• less emotional intensity

And above all else, it teaches you to observe.

You begin noticing the tiny changes before the explosion happens and you start recognising patterns.
You begin trusting that your dog’s body language is giving you information, constantly.
Way before the barks.