Dedham Animal Control

We responded to assist in an incident about which we don't need to go into details; however, it has prompted us to put out this PSA...

If your pet or someone else's pet is traveling inside your motor vehicle with you, please secure the pet with some type of restraint system that humanely secures the pet and restricts it from moving about your vehicle.

This protects you, the pet(s) inside your vehicle and other motorists.

When the owner of an indoor cat contacts us to report that their cat has escaped, one of the things we advise is that indoor cats don't tend to venture farther than a few-house radius, as they are usually quickly frightened and seek an immediate hiding spot.

A few days ago that theory proved true, although this indoor cat's displacement hideout came with a little more than for what than the cat had bargained when it found itself stuck underneath a heavy cave-like matted pile of leaves, coupled with an entanglement within an old palleted wooden fence and two intertwined wire fences, one of which was also embedded underneath the leaf cave deep into the ground.

The report was made to us after the caller's dog discovered the cat when it was let out into its backyard.

Fortunately, there were two upsides to the cat's predicament. First, the space was shaded, as it was sunny and nearly 90 degrees outside, and second, the cat's head was clear of the wood, wires and heavy debris, allowing it an open space for airflow.

The downside was that the location of the cat's trapped body was actually on an abutting property with no one home to allow our entry.

At this point, we didn't even know the full extent of the cat's predicament since all we could see was it's head/face; however, the cat was calm, quiet and displayed no symptoms of heat exhaustion or stress, which allowed us some relief and time.

We could only reach the cat's head with a long stick and we did offer it some words of encouragement and several well-received light strokes of affection on the sides of its face, but when we moved the stick near to where we considered the rest of the cat's body was located, it agitated the cat leaving us a bit concerned it might be injured.

Fast forward about two hours after we continued to monitor the cat and once we were able to access the neighbor's property and grasp the extent of the cat's predicament.

We dug through the leaf cave and made contact with the cat's body; however, we still couldn't move it. The property owner wasn’t thrilled about our consideration to cut the wires of his fence so we tried using a catch pole to lift and hold back a portion of the wire fencing while we uncoiled and bent various sections of the wire. At first we didn't think it would be enough, but then amidst our efforts the cat pushed through a small space we created and ran into the caller's yard.

We were then able to secure the cat with a little unexpected help by the cat's owner, who noticed our parked ACO vehicle and called out to us from the top of the yard, considering that we may be in the area for her cat which had escaped her home (next door) the prior evening. The owner's presence led to us to backing off to allow the cat a familiar 'friend' to ease its fears of capture.

Once 'Chibbs' was in its owner's arms, we were able to better confirm that the cat presented with no obvious injuries or other health concerns, so we advised its owner to monitor it, hydrate it, and once settled, check it's body and gait more thoroughly for any initially unnoticed injuries (or ticks!)

Thanks for alerting us to 'Chibbs' so that we could help rescue it, Sarah! And please thank your sweet Boxer for his marvelous snout of discovery!

Remember, cat owners, if your cat should go missing, start with all of your neighbors as the cat is probably that close to home!

Yup, another heat advisory for the next few days!

🌞🐾Keep your pets indoors

🌞🐾Avoid hot pavement

🌞🐾Provide constant fresh water

🌞🐾Limit walks to early morning and/or late evening

🌞🐾Never leave an animal in a parked car

'If you see something, say something'!🐾

We are helping our good friends at Norwood Animal Control find just the right home for Ralphie! Please share and please keep in mind that huskies are not for everyone, as detailed in Norwood ACO’s post. Ensuring that the right home/owner is matched with the right dog/breed is always important. Wrongful adoptions can turn into re-surrenders and we never want to see a dog go through that if we can help it. ACO Hernandez does an outstanding job with placement and adoptions so we really want to try to help her get the word out on this happy boy!

🐾 Ralphie Take 2 🎬! 🐾

Ralphie is an approximately 2-year-old neutered male with a fun-loving personality, plenty of energy, and lots of love to give. He enjoys being the center of attention and would thrive as the only pet in the home, where he can soak up all the love and attention for himself.

Ralphie’s ideal family will provide:
• 🏡 A securely fenced yard
• ❤️ Patience and a commitment to ongoing training
• ✂️ Regular grooming and coat maintenance
• 🐕 Daily exercise (preferably multiple times a day) to help prevent boredom, anxiety, and destructive chewing
• 📅 A stable, structured home with a consistent routine
• 🐾 A pet-free household

Ralphie is looking for someone who understands his needs and is ready to give him the time, guidance, and companionship he deserves. In return, you’ll gain a loyal companion with a big personality and an even bigger heart.

If you think Ralphie could be the perfect addition to your family, please contact Norwood Animal Control at 781-762-3159.

Due to the expected interest, we ask that you please leave a message with your name, address, telephone number, and a brief description of your lifestyle. We will return your call as soon as possible.

Please share to help Ralphie find the loving home he’s been waiting for! 🐶❤️

Whether it be sheltering, rescuing, adopting, treating, training, investigating, advocating, volunteering, fostering or supporting, Massachusetts is known for being a nationwide leader in animal protection.

Several animal rescue and shelter organizations across the state are a big part of the reason that Massachusetts continues to hold this ranking.

While we can't help but feel a little extra warm and fuzzy when articles come out that pop our good friends at Animal Rescue League of Boston atop their lists, our gratitude to the missions of ALL our state rescues and shelters, whether listed or not, is tremendous!

A shout out to Taking The Kids influencer Madeline Carver for calling attention to these incredible organizations and helping to keep Dedham on your map!

https://takingthekids.com/these-massachusetts-dog-rescues-are-worth-supporting-in-2026/?fbclid=IwdGRjcAThSnxwZG9mBWZkaWQWUL-jjQeS25Q0L-UnjM1gbGN3ZadIg2V4dG4DYWVtAjExAHNydGMGYXBwX2lkCjY2Mjg1NjgzNzkAAR5EpJMlyr6VstqGsKUBlvMV09WpeqnU_xazRK9Av_XHGm23yz8vOIJBarPvzw_aem_lBwCYt4FP-FFICFZUlxDLQ

These 9 Massachusetts Dog Rescues Are Worth Supporting In 2026 Look into the loving eyes of dogs waiting for a second chance and support Massachusetts rescues helping them find safe, happy homes.

We met so many great people while helping to give tours of the Dedham Public Safety Building during the Dedham Police Department's National Night Out event today!

We even outfitted our office and our ACO vehicle with some faux domestic pets and wildlife, prompting lots of discussions about public safety, public health and animal welfare within our community!

Earlier this week, we rescued this owl after a resident reported seeing it underneath her outdoor stairs.

Once on scene, it was evident to us that the owl was injured so we carefully collected it and transported it to our good friends at the New England Wildlife Center (NEWC) where X-rays revealed bilateral leg fractures.

While it isn’t uncommon for a juvenile owl to fall from a tree while exploring various branches, it is rare, according to the experts at NEWC, for an owl to suffer dual leg fractures as a result of such fall.

We questioned whether the owl may have had a bone density issue, which we have previously learned could be caused by a deficiency in an owl’s calcium level; however, the treating veterinarian felt that based on the radiographs, the owl’s overall skeleton appeared normal and the fractures were consistent with a traumatic injury.

The owl remains under the care of the NEWC where the best decisions will be made for its treatment and compassionate care.

We just wanted to give a huge shout out to a member of Dedham’s Parks & Recreation department for his outstanding help yesterday while we were trying to rescue a dog that had gotten itself into a bit of a quandary after an accidental slip of its collar. You’re awesome, Jaime - thank you!

We also want to thank Sgt. Holland and Officers Downey and Flint for their strong efforts and support as well, as in instances like this it is highly beneficial to have more than one person maintaining visual contact while tracking and trying to rescue a fast-moving dog.

Thankfully, the dog is ok and we were able to reunite it with its incredible and devoted owner who is equally appreciative (and relieved) by our Dedham teamwork!

'Coyotes, raccoons and skunks, oh my!'

We've been receiving an array of calls about daytime wildlife, so we want to remind everyone that it is normal to see the presence of various species of wildlife out during the daylight, as both young and adult wildlife are highly active this time of year.

Young wildlife are learning both how to forage on their own and how to explore new territories and surroundings, often without notable parental supervision.

Parent wildlife are teaching, supervising and protecting their youngsters as they utilize their newfound skills, whilst, along with unparenting adults, doing their own hunting, searching and self-fulfilling instinctive activities.

Adults and parents are still very much protective of their young, their territories and themselves and as the youngsters grow, they too will become just as territorial and protective of their food sources, surroundings and siblings.

Please continue to leash and closely supervise your pets when they are outside, even in your own yards, especially if your property abuts or is near wooded or conservation space or if your property provides heavy brush, or other hiding/resting spots. Now is a good time to readdress any unintentional food sources on your property.

If wildlife simply passes through your yard, even if your property doesn't offer any sources of food or shelter, remember that wildlife can be opportunistic and resourceful and they do not know the difference between other wildlife and domestic pets.

Wildlife is also actively crossing roads, day and night, so please exercise extra awareness to the sides of the roadways when driving.

As we enter August, we expect more of the same presence of wildlife, especially coyotes and foxes which may become even more frequently visible during the daytime and evenings as they continue to teach (parents), learn and grow (youth), which often brings them closer into our neighborhoods.

Both our human residents and our wildlife residents have been doing an outstanding job coexisting with one another of which we are incredibly proud. Thank you all!

Missing cat! 🐈

Poku was last seen at her home on Central Ave on 7/24.

Anyone with information is asked to please contact us. 781.751.9106