Massachusetts Among the Best States to Adopt a Dog

Fact Checked by Pat McLoone

After the way the Celtics and Bruins finished their seasons, Massachusetts sports betting fans needed a best friend, so it’s no surprise many of them turned to dogs.

Because of that need for companionship when things get tough, BetMassachusetts.com decided to look into the states with the most dog rescues per square mile.

We used data from RescueMe.org to find the number of dog rescue groups and adoption agencies in every state. Then, we ranked each state by how many rescue organizations they had per square mile.

Massachusetts bettors must be 21+ and present to place wagers in the state. Gambling problem in Massachusetts? Play it smart from the start! GamesenseMA.com or Call 1-800-327-5050 to speak with a trained specialist free and confidentially 24/7. Full Terms apply

States with Most Dog Rescues per Square Mile

Here is a cultural story with statistics you won’t find on any Massachusetts sports betting apps.
 

RankState# Dog Rescue GroupsRescues per Sq. Mile
1Rhode Island920.059551165
2Connecticut2450.044196623
3New Jersey3480.039896453
4Delaware860.034555916
5Maryland2580.020796506
6Massachusetts1670.01528228
7New Hampshire1090.011658801
8Florida6230.009445634
9Pennsylvania4350.009445364
10Vermont830.008631124
11North Carolina4580.00850998
12Ohio3670.008187289
13Tennessee3440.008162442
14Virginia3470.008112228
15Georgia4510.007589252
16New York4050.007423704
17South Carolina2340.007307821
18Indiana2570.00705665
19California9150.005589673
20Alabama2750.005246082
21Kentucky1920.004787099
22Illinois2690.004644854
23West Virginia1120.004622361
24Texas10300.003834749
25Arizona4200.003684524

 

Looking at the States at Top

Rhode Island came in first but it’s little, like the Chihuahua of states. Massachusetts came in a very respectable sixth place.

According to pawlicy.com, almost 29% of Massachusetts residents own a dog – only 23.5% own cats. In the Boston area, dog ownership is about 26%. Massachusetts dog-lovers can only legally own four canines before they’re forced to get a kennel license. The average Massachusetts dog owner owns 1.4 dogs.

Rover.com says that the best way for Massachusetts residents to adopt a dog is to start locally. The site offers a list of high-rate shelters across the Bay State, or it recommends searching online for “[your city] dog rescue.” Other options are websites like Petfinder.com and Adopt-A-Pet.com, which collect listings from various shelters.

The best time to look to adopt is in the spring and summer because rescue shelters tend to have more dogs then. Although you might be overwhelmed by a particular rescue’s puppy dog eyes, it’s smart to have a good idea going in whether you’re more of a big dog person or a little dog person. If you live in a Boston studio apartment, you probably should be a little dog person. Or perhaps consider fish.

Rescue dogs should be spayed/neutered and most shelters will perform that service before putting the dog up for adoption. But not always.

The cost of adopting a dog in Massachusetts can range from around $150 to close to $500, depending on the shelter and the dog. The adoption fees help keep the shelters running.

Like most states, Massachusetts’ favorite breed of dogs are Labradors, followed by German shepherds and Golden retrievers. For some reason, in the big city they’re also fond of Boston terriers.

Keep an eye out for BetMassachusetts.com for Massachusetts betting promos.
 

Massachusetts bettors must be 21+ and present to place wagers in the state. Gambling problem in Massachusetts? Play it smart from the start! GamesenseMA.com or Call 1-800-327-5050 to speak with a trained specialist free and confidentially 24/7. Full Terms apply

Author

Howard Gensler
Howard Gensler
Journalist / Reporter

Howard Gensler is a veteran journalist covering the Massachusetts sports betting market for BetMassachusetts.com. Before his focus on U.S. sports betting, Howard worked at the Philadelphia Daily News, TV Guide and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Howard is also a founding editor of bettorsinsider.com.

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