About Us

The Friends of the Marshfield, MA Animal Shelter, Inc. is an all-volunteer, community-based non-profit established in August 2015. We are a 501(c)3 public charity, recognized as tax-exempt by the Internal Revenue Service and registered with the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Our mission is to promote awareness of the town owned Marshfield Animal Shelter through fundraising, financial support and volunteer manpower. We also create and deliver our own programs furthering the well-being and safety of Shelter residents, as well as animals in the community of Marshfield, MA and nearby towns. We support the shelter, a no-kill facility, by supplementing town funding for food, supplies and veterinary care. We provide training, socialization, daily care and adoption services for shelter residents.

Our other programs aim to end pet overpopulation through low-cost spay/neuter services available through us or other partner organizations. We also assist struggling pet owners with food and/or veterinary care to prevent pet surrender or abandonment.

Officers and Board of Directors

Vicky Lynch, Founder, President and Treasurer
Lisa Messina, Secretary
Christina Friel, Director Courtney Lombardo, Director Maureen Panagrossi, Director
Melissa Tait, Director

Community Veterinary Cost Assistance
Friends of the Marshfield Animal Shelter will assist with payment for veterinary costs and medications in cases of emergency and/or demonstrated financial need. You must be a resident of Marshfield or a surrounding town. You will be required to provide basic financial data and family size. All payments must be made directly to the veterinary practice or vendor providing the care and/or materials. The amount of aid is determined on a case by case basis. Not all veterinary services or procedures are eligible for assistance. We do not assist with annual/wellness exams or associated bloodwork, periodic vaccines, euthanasia of animals that are not terminally ill, private cremations and associated keepsakes, routine/preventive dental procedures, etc. Aid is limited to actual cost, less a required copayment on the part of the pet owner, up to a maximum assistance payment of $1,000 per owner. Please contact us at 781-837-9759 for assistance. Additional resources for low-cost veterinary services and financial assistance are listed at the Massachusetts Animal Coalition’s website - massanimalcoalition.com, reference Vet Clinics and Financial Assistance.

Pet Food Assistance
Friends of the Marshfield Animal Shelter will provide an occasional emergency pet food supply of prescription food required for your pet in times of demonstrated financial need. You must be a resident of Marshfield or a surrounding town. Please contact us at 781-837-9759 to arrange for assistance. Additionally, non-prescription food and supplies are available from the Marshfield Animal Shelter’s Mobile Pet Food Pantry, located at 156 Clay Pit Road, Marshfield, MA or at other locations in the community, from time-to-time. You may also want to seek assistance from the South Shore Pet Food Pantry and your local food pantry.

Low-cost Spay and Neuter Services
Friends of the Marshfield Animal Shelter will provide assistance with spaying or neutering your pet cat, dog or rabbit. We can provide you with referrals to low-cost veterinarians and even provide financial aid for the procedure where there is demonstrated financial need. You will be required to provide basic financial information and family size. All payments will be made directly to the veterinary practice performing the procedure. The amount of aid is determined on a case by case basis and an owner co-payment is required. Please contact us at 781-837-9759 for assistance.

Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) Initiative
In collaboration with Marshfield Animal Control and collaborating veterinarians, Friends of the Marshfield Animal Shelter assists with TNR for feral/community cats to help end pet overpopulation. This limited program provides for trapping the animal, providing spay/neuter services and returning the animal to the location where it was trapped to live out its life. If you need assistance with feral/community cats, please contact Marshfield Animal Control at 781-834-6655, ext. 1500.

Rabies Vaccination and Microchipping Clinics
Marshfield Animal Control holds clinics each spring and/or fall offering low-cost one and three year rabies vaccines and low-cost microchips for your pet dog or cat. To receive the 3 year rabies vaccine, you must present proof of current vaccination at the time of service. The clinic is held at the Marshfield Animal Shelter, 156 Clay Pit Road, Marshfield, MA 02050. This service is open to residents of all towns. Please, all cats must be in carriers and all dogs on leash. See our events page for upcoming clinic dates and details.

Shelter Pet Reading Program
This program is currently on hiatus.

Each Saturday and Sunday, the shelter is open to young readers from 11:15 am to 11:45 am for a pet reading program. Children can bring their favorite book, or choose from the supply on hand, and read to the shelter pets. We have found anecdotally that the pets are soothed and a child’s reading skills are improved! Please contact us to be sure space is available for the date you are considering.

For additional assistance with any of our programs please reach out directly to us at 781-837-9759 or friendsofthemarshfieldshelter@yahoo.com

Be sure to include your phone number in all correspondence.

Adopting a pet can be a 15 to 20 year commitment. Please give the responsibilities of pet ownership the serious consideration it deserves. Think about the time required to care for and nurture a loving bond with the pet, the changes to your lifestyle to accommodate the pet’s needs and the financial implications of providing food, supplies, routine annual and even emergency veterinary care. Proceed to adopt a pet, if you are able to consistently provide for its wellbeing. You will be rewarded with a lifetime of unconditional love.

Pets available for adoption will be posted on this website (please scroll through all the photos using the arrows), Petfinder.com, and social media. If interested in adopting, please complete and submit an adoption application.

If approved, further arrangements will be made for you to meet and adopt the pet.

Please only apply for pets that are currently available. We DO NOT create and maintain waiting lists.

Only approved adopters are invited to the shelter to meet the pets.

Approved adopters may make arrangements to visit the shelter on weekdays and weekends by appointment with Marshfield Animal Control at 781-834-6655, ext. 1500.

Current Adoption Fees - payable by Cash or Check only:

• Cats - $175

• Kittens - $225 or $400 for a pair

• Senior Cats over 8 years old - $100

• Dogs - $450

• Dogs previously spayed or neutered - $350

• Senior Dogs - $250

• Small Animals - $25

Foster A Pet

Foster families provide a healthy, safe and vital alternative to the shelter environment for some cats, kittens, puppies and dogs. Animals that need more TLC due to medical conditions requiring daily medication, or that are frightened or not doing well in the shelter benefit from foster homes. As a foster, you will provide housing, transportation to veterinary appointments, transportation to the shelter to meet with prospective adopters and most importantly lots of love and socialization. Foster families should live within a 20 minute drive time to Marshfield, MA for easy access to the shelter and veterinary care. Please complete and submit the foster application and you will be contacted with further information, if there is a current need for a foster family.