September 2021

Greetings! Last month I started this column by saying that it had been an eventful month here at the Rhode Island SPCA. However, every month seems to bring new challenges and I anticipate that we will be confronted with many challenges through the end of 2021 as families with pets struggle to maintain their housing status.   The Rhode Island SPCA and the people and animals we serve have weathered the COVID-19 pandemic reasonably well up to this point in time. Unlike other animal welfare organizations, we have not seen a major increase in the number of people who have surrendered pets due to their recent return to work. However, we are seeing a steady flow of pet surrenders by people who have indicated that they have to move and cannot take their pet or pets to their new rental housing. Until recently, there has been a nationwide moratorium on evictions. However, the United States Supreme Court in a decision rendered on August 26th held that the Centers for Disease Control exceeded its authority in extending that moratorium and declared the moratorium to be invalid. That decision calls into question the future of thousands of families and their pets. In an article published on the same day as the Court’s opinion, the New York Times stated that, “(t)he decision puts hundreds of thousands of tenants at risk of losing shelter”. Many of those at risk families are Rhode Island families and many of them have pets. I continue to be hopeful that the available Federal relief for tenants facing eviction will begin to flow more freely and that additional state relief will be offered so as to avoid a major increase in the number of evictions in Rhode Island, but the future is uncertain. Whatever the future brings, the Rhode Island SPCA is and will continue to be prepared to help families with pets in the event of an eviction or hardship.  Our hardship boarding program is available to all pet owners experiencing housing or medical emergencies. We will board a pet or pets for up to two weeks to give a pet owner an opportunity to make plans for continued pet ownership. If pet owners are unable to take custody of their pets after that two-week period but have a plan that would allow them to be united with their pets in the reasonably near future, we offer reduced cost, longer term boarding and, in appropriate circumstances, we offer long term foster care. We believe that the bond between pet owners and companion animals is important and should be protected and we are ready to help.  I hope that none of our readers are facing housing challenges but if you are please feel free to reach out to us for help. If you know of a pet owner who is facing the potential for eviction who needs help, please encourage that person to contact us. Thanks for caring.

Wayne M. Kezirian, Esq. President and General Agent wkezirian@rispca.com 401.438.8150 x105

Have YOU Registered?

Calling all dog owners and animal lovers!  Only 16 days until our 19th Annual Paws in the Park event at the beautiful Rose Larisa Park in East Providence, RI on September 18th. If you haven’t registered yet, you should definitely do so NOW!  You don’t want to miss out on this wonderful community event. There will be a variety of local vendors for people and pets, a “superhero” themed canine costume contest, food trucks for pups and people, a fabulous raffle, a dog agility/obstacle course sponsored by Dogtopia, and of course FUN for everyone! Registration is only $15 per person and all participants receive a cinch bag (generously donated by SquadLocker) filled with goodies from our sponsors and friends!

Register NOW!

From Lily's Pad

It is hard to believe that the Paws in the Park dog walk is less than three weeks away. I have been spending time in the offices at the Rhode Island SPCA recently and all has gone well so far so I expect to be there with you. I think I am ready for crowds and excitement and can’t wait for the big event on September 18th. I hope to see you there!  There are a lot of very cool dogs in the kennel this month and, to be honest, I am a bit jealous of one dog in particular who has caught my human’s eye. Gronk is a 99-pound gentleman who is really well behaved. He is about five years old and is probably an American bulldog/Mastiff mix. He has been here for about two weeks and has even been on television, but no one has expressed an interest in him. I think that is probably due to his large size. I am told that as big as he is, he walks better on a leash than I do! I hope that someone adopts him soon as I am getting tired of hearing how he is better behaved than I am. Give me a break! He is two years older than I am and I’m doing the best that I can! What do they expect? Please, help me to find Gronk a new home! He needs to be gone sooner rather than later or I might end up with another dog in my house! I will tell you more about how I did at the Paws in the Park event and about Gronk in next month’s newsletter.  Until then, stay safe! Lily

Love to Shop?

Here is a sneak peak of the vendors that will be at Paws in the Park on Saturday, September 18th! Come support local businesses and remember to Shop Small this holiday season. Andrea’s Custom Collars, Bow Chika Wow Town, Buppy Pets, Caribbean Tails, Cat in the Box, Chaffee Roofing, Dave's Marketplace, Dogtopia, Evergreen Solar, Faithful Friends Pet Crematory, FurrFighters, Handsome Dan's Rescue, Hope Rope Co., Lucky Dog Resort, Inc., Pup Portraits RI, Rumford Pet Express, Tatutina, Touchstone Crystal by Swarovski Jewelry, Warwick Animal Hospital, Wave Credit Union, & West Greenwich Animal Hospital.

Paw-some Support!

A HUGE thank you to all of our Paws in the Park sponsors to date! Lap Dog Sponsors include  Hill's Pet Nutrition, Rumford Pet Express, Dave's Marketplace, & Dogtopia. Best Friend Sponsors include Anchor Subaru, Chaffee Roofing, Wave Credit Union, Up Country, Angell Pension Group & The Martone Group. Companion Sponsors include Washington Trust Company, Delmyra Kennels, Cross Insurance, Inc., Twin River Casino Hotel, & Warwick Animal Hospital. Purr-fect Sponsors include Big Blue Bug Company, Ward, Fisher & Co., West Greenwich Animal Hospital, JDog Junk Removal & Hauling RI, & Salty Dog Daycare; as well as to our Media Sponsors ~ ABC6 and Lite 105; and we can’t forget our in-kind sponsors ~ SquadLocker, RPI Printing, and Pup Portraits RI. Please help us thank them by supporting their businesses! Learn More>>>

Diamond in the Ruff!

Just a quick update on our girl Diamond! Her skin condition continues to improve every day thanks to her daily meds recommended and provided by our vet team. As soon as she has her spay she will be ready for adoption ~ hopefully next month. We won't post her on our website until then but if you are interested, please call our President, Wayne Kezirian, for more information. 401.438.8150 ext. 105

Critter Camp...It's a Wrap!

Four sessions, 48 campers, and hundreds of smiles later, Caring Kids Critter Camp has come to an end for 2021. A huge thank you for a job well done to our camp leaders Miss Amy, Miss Stephanie, and Miss Bethany. And of course we cannot forget our special guests - RI State Police K-9 unit, Miss Destiny and her pets Pepper the chinchilla and Huey the ferret, Denise and her horse Angelina, Jan and her pony Oreo, Gerard from Freedom Farm in Rehoboth with his miniature horses Hugs and Kisses, and the many, many shelter animals that came to play every day! Please be on the lookout next Spring for information about our 2022 Caring Kids Critter Camp where it’s cool to be kind!

September's Wish List

Here's our Top 5 Wish List items that our animals would LOVE! 1. Bully Sticks 2. Miracle Nipples - mini 3.Grass Mats 4.Trainging Treats 5. Crinkle Balls  You can take a look and order online at our Amazon Wish List or drop off donations at our shelter 7 days a week at 186 Amaral Street in Riverside! Our staff, volunteers, and animals thank you:)

Take Me Home!

Say hello to Specks! A young Heeler mix who exudes tons of energy! This little guy is ready to go, go, go all the time and will enjoy a few active types to keep him busy. His best fit will be with families with teens, and because of his energy level and herding tendencies, will be best as the only pet. Say hello to Big Boy! This handsome 2 year old male loves people and other cats! He may be okay with smaller cat-savvy dogs and would also be okay with cat-savvy kids. Big Boy is in early renal failure and will require a special diet for this. He also takes a pill in a pill pocket with his breakfast each morning and takes it like a pro!  Big Boy is a medi-cat, so his adoption fee will be waived and he will have the opportunity to get continued medical care at the RISPCA Animal Health Center at a discounted rate.

Interested in adopting? Great! You are welcome to visit the RISPCA, fill out an application or email us at adoption@rispca.com with any questions. Thank-you!

Want to HELP?

Happy Tail ~

Satin and Chenille (now Daisy)

Hello!  We have had such a successful first few hours! The girls have settled right into our home, and have even jumped right up into the couch, purring, and ready to nap after all the play and excitement! Thank you all soooo much for being so flexible and kind to us through this adoption process, and we will be sure to send you so many more adorable pictures! Thank you again, Abby, Brendan, Satin and Daisy 98 animals were adopted in August!  A heartfelt THANK YOU to everyone who chose to adopt at the Rhode Island SPCA. Have a Happy Tail you'd like to share? Send your messages and pictures to Happy Tails.

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

19th annual Paws in the Park Sponsors!

Lap Dog Sponsors

Best Friend Sponsors

Companion Sponsors

Purr-fect Sponsors

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 401.438.8150 | info@rispca.com | rispca.com ‌ ‌ ‌