The very beginning of what we now know as the MetroWest Humane Society (MWHS) dates back to September 14, 1976, when Framingham resident Carol Monaghan and a small group of devoted animal lovers formed a non-profit organization called the Framingham Animal Humane Society (FAHS), with the goal of helping to care for and find homes for local cats and dogs in need. Without a physical space to house the animals, cages were set up in basements, attics, and spare rooms – wherever they could find space. The work was difficult, but the dedication of those early volunteers never wavered. By the early 1980s, Carol Marchione, a local realtor and animal lover, had joined the organization and became president of the Board of Directors.
In 1985, Carol learned of a large colony of feral cats living in dire conditions on Union Avenue in Framingham. FAHS volunteers rescued the cats and housed them in Carol’s daughter’s attic, creating the organization’s first safe space devoted exclusively to ferals. Members of the group adopted these cats, but word quickly spread and FAHS started getting calls for help. At that time, a small group of volunteers, some of whom had responded to an advertisement Carol had placed in the newspaper, worked together informally to rescue local at-risk cats, including both ferals and non-ferals. These volunteers were experienced cat owners (and lovers) but had no formal training in animal rescue. Linda Locke, one of the original volunteers, remembers sitting around Carol’s dining room table with other volunteers figuring out how to syringe-feed the rescued kittens sitting on their laps. It was a learning process – and an absolute labor of love.
The group focused on feral cats because these felines desperately needed help. At the time, shelters would not accept ferals, and either local animal control officers would not respond, or if they did, they would show up just to euthanize the animals. We believed then, as we do now, that feral cats should be placed into a safe situation and whenever possible become socialized in the hopes they can eventually be adopted. In the 1980s, no other rescues in this area took that approach. It was before Trap Neuter Return (TNR) and the feral cat population in the area was on the rise.
As rescue efforts intensified, we needed more space. In 1985, FAHS began renting the upper floor of the Southborough Kennels. This facility was better than the attic if just barely; the cages were made of chicken wire and there was no running water. Volunteers carried gallon jugs of water up two flights of stairs to care for the cats and kittens. It was a primitive setup, but the space was a major step forward for our organization, and we remained there for nine years. We were flying by the seat of our pants, but we were thrilled to be there because it was our first real shelter!
In 1994, Carol found a small house in Ashland that FAHS could purchase. We raised funds using every activity and event we could think of. The building was an old house; the cats and kittens were housed on a single floor (which is now the second floor of the MWHS shelter at 30 Pond Street). Volunteers built cages of wood and chicken wire. Having our own building was so exciting! But, once again, we quickly outgrew it and at times we had over one hundred cats calling the shelter home. It was crowded, but we made do with what we had.
By 2000, our rescue work had expanded well beyond Framingham, and the Board of Directors decided that a new name was in order. On January 1, 2001, the Framingham Animal Humane Society officially became the MetroWest Humane Society. In 2003, Sheryl Merchant became the Board President and continued to grow the organization.
As the years passed, the need for cat rescue continued to increase as did the need for more shelter space. In 2007, a donation from a very generous individual along with a successful fundraising campaign helped fund a project to completely renovate the building at 30 Pond Street and expand the shelter from one floor to three, creating the beautiful facility we have today. The expanded shelter included an isolation room, a kitten room, office space, a store, and spacious free-roaming areas on the first and second floors. The entire third floor was dedicated to our shy and feral cats.
There were cats who were permanent residents on the first and second floors, and the third floor served as a “Sunshine Room;” i.e., a sanctuary for cats rescued from all types of situations: single trappings and mass trappings. There was one characteristic they all had in common – they were all animals that could not be returned or released to their original location because it wasn’t safe. Perhaps the person who was feeding them had passed away and the neighbors were planning to eliminate the cats. Or a feral mom had a litter of kittens in someone’s shed. Sometimes owners moved away and abandoned their cats in houses or apartments. Our tireless trappers would go to any location (e.g., construction sites, vacant lots, backyards, wood piles, and more) to trap these at-risk animals.
Over the past two decades, MWHS has continued to evolve through changes in our leadership, volunteers, and staff. After the unexpected passing of Sheryl Merchant in 2015, her dear friend and longtime Board member Leslie Croci-Reed became Board President and shepherded MWHS into its fifth decade. When Leslie and her daughter relocated out of state in 2022, the Board elected Maria Balzarini as MWHS President.
Over the course of 50 years, MWHS has stayed true to our mission: being an advocate for animal welfare and focusing on the well-being of cats in the Metrowest Boston area, including finding loving homes or providing life-long care when needed, while educating the community and reducing the feral/stray cat population. Our organization has made an enormous difference in the well-being of thousands of cats and kittens thanks to the efforts and support of so many extraordinary people.
Our incredibly generous donors have helped fund our shelter and program operations every year and always step up whenever there is a special need, such as when an animal requires complicated surgery to recover from a life-threatening injury or condition. Our volunteers are the most loving, compassionate individuals that selflessly do whatever it takes to make the lives of our cats better. Our dedicated shelter staff keeps the shelter running smoothly and ensures the best quality of life for every cat in our care. Our compassionate veterinarians and their wonderful staffs have supported us throughout the years, and we are most grateful for their work – without them, far fewer cats would have been saved. Our Boards of Directors have provided the leadership needed to steer MWHS through a rapidly changing world and have guided us to where we are today.
And for the future? We at MWHS will tirelessly continue rescuing, trapping, fostering, spaying, neutering, healing, socializing, caring for, loving, and finding homes for cats in need and helping our community. We hope you will continue to support our vital work. We are looking forward to achieving remarkable things together in the next 50 years!