March 29, 2024

Rhode Island Foundation Grants Will Help East Providence Shelter Care for Animals

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The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) in East Providence will be able to provide better care for animals up for adoption thanks to a $12,698 grant from the Rhode Island Foundation. The funds will be used for kennel improvements and new equipment including a dishwasher and power sprayer.

“The most basic and essential task of caring for our animals is maintaining a sanitary living environment. This includes the daily cleaning of our kennels with an electric power washer and sanitizing food and water bowls and washable dog toys in our commercial dishwasher,” said Dr. Ernest J. Finocchio, D.V.M., RISPCA president. “Our facility has kennel space for 30 dogs. The interior kennels lead to exterior kennels via a guillotine door. Now we can replace the outdated, chain-link style doors with more secure models in order to minimize injuries to both patrons and dogs.”

The grant was among nearly $440,000 that the Foundation awarded to 27 animal welfare programs across the state that do everything from providing low-cost vet care for needy pet owners to rescuing injured seals.

“The generous support of our donors and the dedication of our grantees is expanding humane education, raising awareness and increasing the quality of animal care in Rhode Island,” said Adrian Boney, the grants program officer who oversees the Foundation’s Program for Animal Welfare (PAW). “New approaches to animal welfare and humane education are emerging and our animal welfare grant program is supporting a wide variety of programs from a diverse array of organizations and community efforts across the state.”

PAW funds organizations that promote and provide humane treatment of animals or work more generally on the welfare of animals. Grants are for projects or programs that have a positive impact statewide or in individual communities with regard to animal care, education about the humane treatment of animals and animal welfare in general.

“Animal welfare grants actually reach much further than is obvious. For instance, a grant to help emergency pet sheltering saves human lives because people will heed evacuation warnings if they have somewhere to take their pets, where they would not if they had to leave their pets in harm’s way,” said Dr. Scott Marshall, Rhode Island State Veterinarian.

PAW is funded with assistance from the Virginia B. Butler Fund, Abbie A. Brougham Memorial Fund, John B. and Ruth L. Kilton Fund, Helen Walker Raleigh Animal Fund, Dawn, Gregg and Leland Weingeroff Animal Fund, Mary Lou Crandall Fund, Vinny Animal Welfare Fund, Vernon and Mary Pierce Fund, Ginger, Sheba and Susie Carr Fund and Jeanne Marie Mehmed Fund.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2013, the Foundation made grants of more than $31 million to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. Through leadership, fundraising and grantmaking activities, often in partnership with individuals and organizations, the Foundation is helping Rhode Island reach its true potential. For more information, visit www.rifoundation.org.

Rhode Island Foundation; RISPCA;

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