Greetings!
I would like to begin this month’s message by expressing my sincere thanks to the fabulous staff and volunteers who made this year’s Paws in the Park event a tremendous success. In addition to being a fun-filled fundraising event, Paws in the Park allows us to reconnect with many of the pets adopted from our shelter and their humans, and serves as an annual reminder of the value and effectiveness of our ongoing work.
The services we provide continue to be in high demand. For example, we currently have four dogs in our hardship boarding program and I anticipate that we will experience increasing demand in the coming months. We are proud to offer programs that allow pet owners a chance to retain ownership of their pets during difficult times. In addition to our hardship boarding program, our Animal Health Center and the Marvin Fund constantly respond to low and moderate income pet owners who are seeking affordable veterinary care for their pets and our Humane Education Department offers educational programs to local schools and community groups. Currently we are offering our educational programs online. We are anxious to get back into classrooms to present those programs in person once the pandemic restrictions are eased.
Our law enforcement division has been busier than usual, if that is possible. You may have seen news reports recently concerning the successful disposition of a case we worked along with the East Greenwich Police and North Kingstown Animal Control that resulted in several seized dogs being relinquished to the Rhode Island SPCA. One of those dogs has already been adopted and the others, all young pit bulls, are in training and are expected to be adoptable in the near future. That case, however, was only one of many. This month, in response to complaints received, our special agents seized goats, chickens, cats, kittens and a dog that was suffering from a severe, untreated eye infection. Many of these animals were in need of immediate veterinary care which we provided at our Animal Health Center. We often work with local authorities when cruelty cases involve aberrant behaviors, particularly in hoarding situations, which are all too common, in lieu of pursuing the prosecution of those cases criminally. As a result, our law enforcement activities also have a strong community service component.
As always, if you know of any pet owners in need of assistance in order to be able to keep their pets or if you know of instances of animal cruelty which warrant investigation, please contact us. We are here to protect and care for animals and we strive to do so in a way that benefits the community.
Thanks for caring.
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Wayne M. Kezirian, Esq.
President and General Agent
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Paws in the Park ~ THANK YOU! |
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What an amazing day we were blessed with for Paws in the Park 2021 ~ a great time was had by all, humans and hounds alike! There are so many to thank for helping to make our 19th annual “all things dog” event a huge success!! Sponsors, walkers, donors, vendors, food trucks, volunteers, staff, friends, family, and of course all those adorable pups – THANK YOU!
Funds raised from Paws in the Park 2021 will help support the Rhode Island SPCA’s many critical community programs and services including adoption, humane education, foster care, and community veterinary services at the Rhode Island SPCA Animal Health Center.
YOU helped us surpass our $30K goal for the animals. YOU made a difference!
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This is a bit of an understatement, but September was an awesome month! The weather for the Paws in the Park dog walk was picture perfect, the dogs were well behaved and so were their humans. There were lots of dogs of all ages, shapes and sizes, and lots of them had been adopted from the Rhode Island SPCA, just like me! I even enjoyed the actual dog walk, which went off without a hitch. Forgive me if I sound a bit smug, but my humans should have known that I would make them proud – they were worried for no good reason! I had a good time and I am looking forward to seeing all of you again next year!
In August, I told you about my friend Gronk, the 99-pound bulldog/mastiff mix that I was afraid might not be adopted. Thankfully, that is no longer an issue. Gronk has left the building! He has been adopted by a couple with experience with large dogs who met him at the shelter and immediately knew that they would be a good match. He was fun to have around and, while he will be missed, it was great to see him placed with a loving family. I know he will do well and from a selfish perspective, I am breathing a sigh of relief – I was afraid I was going to end up with another dog in my house!
My training has progressed to the point where I am now allowed to come to work with my human. It is going pretty well. I am continuing a proud tradition that was started by Dr. Finocchio with Marvin and then with Molly, who both were adopted from the Rhode Island SPCA and came to work with him to represent the Society. I hope to live up to the standard they have set. I will be working part-time for a while as I am not quite ready to give up all of my spa days at doggie day care, but if you stop by the shelter, ask for me. There is a good chance I will be in the office. I am looking forward to getting to work picking up where Marvin and Molly left off. I don’t want to be overly critical, but this place needs a dog’s touch!
Until next time…
Lily
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Love Doesn't Discriminate Fund
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The Rhode Island SPCA is excited to announce our new Love Doesn’t Discriminate Fund. Here at the RISPCA we love all animals, even those that need a little extra support, medical attention, and kindness; and we want to make it easier for them to find FOREVER homes. That is why we are creating a new fund strictly to help those animals that need more pre- and post-adoption care. Each year, the RISPCA takes in hundreds of animals from our community and many of them require additional medical treatment and behavioral needs. The burden of that care is often passed on to the adopters which can deter some from adopting one of these special animals, or adopting from a shelter again. We want to break down that barrier and ease the financial difficulties by treating and offering assistance to the special humans who love our special needs animals post-adoption if needed. This fund is for all shelter residents – cats, dogs, small animals alike!
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Bissell Pet Foundation ~ Empty the Shelters Event |
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All adult cat and dog adoptions will be $25. October is also Adopt a Shelter Dog Month, so we of course have to help as many dogs find forever homes as we can during this event! Choose adoption, save a life! #EmptytheShelters
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This October, Subaru will continue their long-standing commitment to help shelter dogs – especially those with special needs like the older, deaf, blind, and “different” dogs that we lovingly call the “Underdogs” – get adopted. Subaru and its retailers will help support local animal welfare organizations, like the RISPCA, across the country by donating $100 for every pet (dogs and cats) adopted during October*.
And you can help too! For each public pet posting (one per pet) uploaded to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or TikTok during this timeframe with the hashtag #SNELovesPets, Subaru of New England pledges to donate $5 towards their $60,000 commitment to 12 organizations across New England and we are one of them! So get those cameras ready and post away starting Oct. 1 and all through the month! Don't forget to tag Anchor Subaru, our local supporter, and #SNELovesPets.
*up to $3100.
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Back to School with Humane Education |
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We are currently offering virtual classroom visits. Teachers may visit our website and select from one of our lessons. If you have a specific topic you’d like to have presented to your class please email our Director of Humane Education directly.
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Here are our Top 5 Wish List items that our animals would LOVE!
1.Friskies Pate wet cat food
2.Blue Buffalo Wilderness Trail treats
3.Hickory Smoked Beef Training Treats
4.Top Loading Pet Carriers
5.Grass Mats
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Are you looking for a dog-friendly, tongue-flopping friend with legs like a gazelle?! If so, Paxton is your man!!! This incredibly fast and smart 1 yr old hound mix is looking for a home with another tail-wagging pal, to help him be more comfortable in his own skin! He is SUPER active, and loves to run, he would totally make any backyard his own personal racetrack. He would do best in an adult only home, as he has told us kids make him uncomfortable. If you’re interested in this Santa’s Little Helper look-a-like, come on down!!!
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Say hello to Eva!
This sweet, gentle, affectionate 12 year old spayed female is looking for her furr-ever home. Eva would do best in a quiet, only pet home, with someone who could give her lots of love.
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Scituate Art Festival ~ Want to HELP? |
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We are seeking volunteers to assist at the RISPCA booth during the 55th Annual Scituate Art Festival! This three day event is taking place on Columbus Day weekend, October 9th-11th on the village green in North Scituate, RI. The RISPCA holds a regular spot at this event, offering various pet products to the public and also sharing information about current happenings and adoptable animals. There are currently both morning and afternoon shifts available on all three days. If you are interested in volunteering your time at this fun fall event, please e-mail Megan at myaffe@rispca.com or call 401.383.9120.
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Oscar is the BEST Doxie ever! We are doing very well except he desperately needs leash training... he's a headstrong "puller". I've purchased a Dachshund harness for him, and tomorrow he and I will begin our training sessions (slow and steady).
I have my hands full right now with Oscar (and loving every minute of it), so volunteering just won't fit in my schedule. Maybe, once we're more settled, I can offer my time again.
In the meantime, please share my sincere "Thank You" to you and with Rianna as well for the service you provide to our pet populations. Oscar and I found each, because you had your doors open to the both of us!!!
Best regards,
Norma
62 animals were adopted in September!
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We are the Rhode Island SPCA ~ There are many organizations throughout the country and the world that have “SPCA” and/or “Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals” as part of their name. We often hear from intended local donors who believed that they had made a donation to the Rhode Island SPCA but had mistakenly directed their donations to an unrelated organization. The Rhode Island SPCA is an independent organization and we are not affiliated with any other SPCA. If you find our work to be worthwhile and plan to support our efforts, please be sure that you direct your contribution to the Rhode Island SPCA. ~ Thank you for your support
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19th annual Paws in the Park Sponsors! |
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About the Rhode Island SPCA ~ Founded in 1870, the Rhode Island SPCA is the oldest humane organization in the state of Rhode Island and the third oldest in the United States. As a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, we rely on donations from individuals, businesses, and foundations, and we are not affiliated with any national humane organization.
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Rhode Island SPCA | 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915
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