Most animals who enter MSPCA-Angell are hoping for a home, but Chicken, an Irish wolfhound, always arrives looking for friends.
When Alyssa Krieger, a staff member at MSPCA-Angell, first welcomed Chicken home, she immediately sensed that this fluffy puppy was something special. Named Chicken of the Sea in honor of her late sibling, Tuna, Chicken’s gentle, loving nature brought a healing presence to Krieger’s home—a warmth she wanted to share with the shelter residents.
Introducing Chicken to the Shelter Family
While bringing a new dog into a busy shelter could be a challenge, Krieger was confident that Chicken had the perfect temperament for the job. Her confidence was confirmed one day when they arrived at the shelter and encountered a resident puppy during a walk.
At just 10 months old, Chicken already towered over the puppy, but she didn’t intimidate them at all. She gently played with the puppy for a short time before heading inside with her mom.
Building Bonds with Shelter Animals
Shortly after, Chicken met another puppy, completely different from the first, yet she instinctively knew how to connect with them.
“A couple of days later, we had a very shy puppy, and I offered to bring her up to my office for the day to just get out of the kennel,” Krieger shared. “Chicken was much calmer with that one like she knew she needed something different from her.”
From that moment on, Chicken met nearly every animal that arrived at MSPCA-Angell. Regardless of their size, age, or species, Chicken had a special way of befriending everyone. She always allowed them to approach her at their own pace, remaining calm and patient until they were ready to interact.
“Chicken has a super important job at MSCPA-Angell,” Krieger wrote on Instagram. “It’s her responsibility to give shelter puppies a safe space to relax if they’re feeling stressed at the shelter (and occasionally a kitten we take home).”
A Special Friendship with Gumball
Among her many new friends, Chicken formed a heartwarming bond with a tiny orphaned kitten named Gumball.
“He was totally unafraid of her, and she was always within a few feet of wherever he was while we fostered him,” Krieger said. “It was extremely cute because he was the size of one of her paws, but they just followed each other all around the house.”
You can see Chicken and Krieger’s bond form here:
Some shelter residents instinctively feel safe around Chicken, while others learn to trust her through her calm demeanor. Ana, an anxious resident puppy, struggled to make friends.
“Ana was having a really hard time meeting dogs because she makes herself look pretty scary when they approach,” Krieger wrote on Instagram. “We wanted to give her the chance to meet a dog who was not going to escalate the situation so that we could see if she was just afraid or if she really doesn’t like dogs.”
After just a few hours together, Ana transformed from a reactive dog to a calm companion who played appropriately with her new friend. This transformation proved to the staff that Ana would make a wonderful foster care and adoption candidate.
You can watch Chicken and Ana’s day together here:
Saving Lives Through Blood Donation
Chicken isn’t just changing lives at MSPCA-Angell—she’s saving them, too. The sweet girl donates blood and is uniquely positioned to save as many lives as possible.
“She’s a universal donor, so she can help any dog that comes in through our ICU needing a transfusion, and the fact that she’s so easy-going and comfortable in the hospital environment makes her an ideal candidate,” Krieger explained.
When she’s not caring for shelter animals, Chicken enjoys playing with her best dog friends—an Irish wolfhound named Poppy, a pit bull mix named Junie, and a collie named Enid—cuddling with her beloved human brother, Max, or soaking up all the attention from strangers at the park.
At almost 3 years old, Chicken has already achieved so much in her short time. And with many more friends to make and lives to change, this sweet girl is just getting started.