West Highland terriers are suddenly turning up all over Chelsea and Everett, and police want to know who is leaving them behind.
In the span of days, officers and volunteers have rounded up a small pack of Westies and Westie mixes: a litter of puppies with a dog believed to be their nursing mother, three slightly older pups, and two adult Westies spotted sprinting along busy Route 16. None of the dogs has been claimed, and Chelsea police say the cluster of discoveries is no coincidence.
All of the dogs are now safe and being cared for while investigators try to piece together where they came from and who abandoned them in the first place.
Officers describe what was found
According to the Chelsea Police Department, multiple Westies and Westie mixes have been picked up in recent weeks in both Chelsea and Everett. The department says officers encountered a dog believed to be a mother with puppies who had recently nursed, along with three older pups. In a separate incident, two adult Westies were rescued while running along Route 16 and later went unclaimed.
Investigators are treating the cases under number 162226 and are hoping public tips will help explain how so many similar dogs ended up in the same general area.
How to submit tips
Officials are asking anyone who recognizes the dogs or has information about how they wound up in Chelsea and Everett to contact Everett Police Dispatch at (617) 387-1212 or email Animal Control Officer Stacia Gorgone at [email protected], according to Patch. Tipsters are urged to reference case number 162226 so reports can be linked quickly.
Locals alarmed as unclaimed dogs pile up
The department’s post notes that this stretch of Route 16 is a long-standing dumping ground for unwanted dogs and that several Westies picked up in the area are still sitting unclaimed. Neighbors and local rescue groups reacting to the post voiced concern about the dogs’ welfare and about the strain that repeated drop-offs place on already crowded shelters, especially when multiple small-breed dogs arrive at once.
Police say they are coordinating with animal control partners to care for the dogs, work on appropriate placements, and figure out what should happen next in the investigation.
If you find a stray
Officials say that if you come across a loose dog in the area, resist the urge to chase it and instead call local police or animal control so trained staff can step in. They recommend snapping photos if you can safely do so and writing down the exact location and time you saw the animal, since those details can help match stray dogs to owners or ongoing cases.
Residents who want to lend a hand directly are advised to contact a local rescue group or animal-control officer for guidance, rather than dropping animals at an already full shelter on their own.
Police say the investigation is ongoing and are asking anyone with video or other potential evidence to come forward. The department’s social media post includes photos and the case number for those tracking updates. Anyone with information can call Everett Police Dispatch or email the animal control officer to assist with the probe.
