Greetings!
It’s been a busy and challenging summer here at the Rhode Island SPCA. The demand for the services we provide is increasing steadily and that can be discouraging to our staff. However, challenging our work may be, we are inspired on a regular basis by members of the pubic who share our passion for animals as is illustrated by Windsor’s story.
Windsor was a handsome older dog (11-year old) with a sweet disposition who appeared to be a yellow lab mix of some kind. His owner was moving and could not take him and he ended up in our shelter. He quickly become a staff and volunteer favorite. However, during his intake examination, our veterinarian found that Windsor was suffering from laryngeal paralysis, a condition that had the potential to worsen over time and to become debilitating and he was in the shelter for a while without sparking any interest.
Michelle and Ken were interested in adopting an older dog and after consulting with one of our veterinarians, they decided to adopt Windsor. He immediately settled in as part of their family. Unfortunately, at the time of his adoption, none of us knew that Windsor was suffering from another ailment. After a couple of days in his new home, he stopped eating and it was determined that he had a large mass on his kidney for which no treatment was possible. Because he was in pain, the difficult decision to euthanize him was made.
You might think that his adopters would have been a bit miffed to learn that a dog they had just adopted was terminally ill, but that was not the case! Instead, we received an e-mail from them following Windsor’s passing that described Windsor as “the best boy” who “loved snuggling with us and his new stuffed dragon” and ended with, “(H)e knew life in a loving home for his final days. Thank you for helping us give him the opportunity to know love before he passed.”
When people ask me why we do what we do, I often respond that it is because I believe that animals teach us how to love and to accept being loved. Michelle, Ken and Windsor validate my faith in the value of what we do here.
Thanks to them and thanks to you for all you do!
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Wayne M. Kezirian, Esq.
President and General Agent
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Paws in the Park ~ 20th Annual Dog Walk |
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We hope to see many of you at our 20th Annual Paws in the Park Dog Walk on Saturday, September 17th at Rose Larisa Park in Riverside! Grab your leash and poop bag, and come on down to the park for a fun-filled day of all things dog! Lite 105 and Mario Hilario from NBC10 will be there along with 20+ vendors and several food trucks for people and pups.
Check-in/registration opens at 10am, costume contest at 11, walk will kick-off at 11:45, and raffle drawing around 12:30 with shopping and eating in between!
There is still time to register in advance and we always appreciate the fundraising efforts of our supporters! Check out the link below for all the de-tails!
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Well, Paws in the Park is coming up on September 17th and guess who won’t be there! I think I behave quite well and should be allowed to go but my human doesn’t agree. So what if I throw a hissy fit every once in a while when I see another dog? Aren’t all dogs created equal? All I do is bark and make noise. Shouldn’t I have the right to free expression just like my human? I hope it isn't because I'm a pit bull! I happen to be one of the cutest pit bulls on this planet and I think that should count for something.
Despite my disappointment about having to miss Paws in the Park, it has been a good summer. I have been spending a lot of time with my human at work and we are pretty deep into the renovation of the Rhode Island SPCA’s new building in Warwick. You may have seen the news reports that a transport of 40 beagles from the Humane Society of the United States was accepted at the new building in Warwick. Except for me, those beagles are the only dogs who have seen the new building. Construction is just starting and the renovation should be finished by about the end of this year. Stay tuned, it is going to be pretty spectacular.
Of the 40 beagles, after medical treatment and socialization, 39 of them been placed successfully. Cruller, who has just completed some medical treatment, is now ready for adoption. Despite their challenging start to life, these beagles have proven to be well adjusted animals and I expect they will be great pets and maybe some of them will even be at Paws in the Park. Among the many other good things that have happened at the Rhode Island SPCA this summer, my friend Freddi (the one-eyed pit bull - rottweiler mix who was returned after a prior placement) found a great home with his new family.
Until next time,
Lily
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"Not Just A Shelter" Project |
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The Rhode Island SPCA recently purchased a new 29,000 square foot building in Warwick, RI! This new facility, which will be operational by early 2023, will be our primary location and will allow us to continue to grow our programs and services for pet owners in RI!
This new building will allow us to double the size of our Animal Health Center and will also feature significant renovations that involve public facing facilities supporting animal care & adoptions, such as:
- A spectacular cat room
- A small animal display area
- 40 large public facing presentation kennels
- On site quarantine facilities
- Indoor training & socialization areas
- A natural dog walking area adjacent to the building
This is truly a new era for the Rhode Island SPCA!
For more information contact Brooke Fairman at bfairman@rispca.com or 401.228.3316
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Food for our Feline Friends |
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Fancy Feast, Friskies, Purina oh my |
Our kitty friends are always in need of wet food. If you are out and about or shopping on-line, please consider picking up a can or a case, any flavor is just fine by our felines. Tony will be happy you did!
Donations can be shipped to or dropped off in person
7 days a week ~ 186 Amaral St., Riverside, RI 02915
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This August we partnered with NBC10 for their Clear the Shelters event. Throughout the month we gave our adopters a chance to "spin to win" adoption discounts, RISPCA swag, and other fun prizes. Hill's Pet Nutrition was a sponsor of the event so our adopters also went home with a Hill's goody bag!
We are happy to report that 106 animals were adopted during Clear the Shelters and included cats, dogs, rats, mice, guinea pigs, rabbits, and even a lizard!
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Hi!
Just wanted to give you an update on Chase, who I renamed Bandit. He is doing so well and he’s my little bestie! He gets along with my dogs great:)
He is so playful, yet sweet and snuggly too!
Thank You!
Kendyl
261 animals were adopted this Summer!
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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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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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Rhode Island SPCA | 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915
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