R.I. Foundation awards $470K in grants for animal welfare to 28 nonprofits

LIZ Skrobisch, executive director of Ocean State Animal Coalition of Warwick, stands at the podium during a Rhode Island Foundation event. OSAC received $49,500 from the foundation, primarily to provide needy pet owners statewide with low-cost spay and neuter services for their dogs and cats and free transportation to the R.I. Community Spay/Neuter Clinic in Warwick. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION
LIZ Skrobisch, executive director of Ocean State Animal Coalition of Warwick, stands at the podium during a Rhode Island Foundation event. OSAC received $49,500 from the foundation, primarily to provide needy pet owners statewide with low-cost spay and neuter services for their dogs and cats and free transportation to the R.I. Community Spay/Neuter Clinic in Warwick. / COURTESY RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION

PROVIDENCE – Twenty-eight Rhode Island animal welfare programs, which range from low-cost spay and neuter services to humane education, received a combined $470,000 in grant funding from the Rhode Island Foundation, according to a Thursday release from the organization.

State Veterinarian Dr. Scott Marshall said grants to animal welfare programs are more impactful than most may think.

“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,” he said in a statement.

Rhode Island Foundation’s Program for Animal Welfare, also known as PAW, is overseen by Adrian Bonéy, who said the generosity of donors has allowed for the expansion of humane education, raised awareness and helped improve the treatment of animals across the state. PAW grants are awarded to programs that have a positive impact locally, or statewide, on education about the humane treatment of animals, their welfare and care.

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During this round of funding, the foundation awarded the largest grant, $49,500, to Ocean State Animal Coalition of Warwick to provide low-income pet owners with inexpensive spay and neuter services. In addition, those pet owners who use the services will receive free transportation to the R.I. Community Spay/Neuter Clinic in Warwick, where operations will take place.

In addition, East Providence’s Pets in Need Veterinary Clinic, which opened in June and expects to treat 2,800 animals during its first year in operation, received a $20,000 donation to purchase surgery supplies.

Dr. Hank Wietsma, executive director of the clinic, estimated the facility will perform 500 surgeries over the year. “This funding will enable us to purchase supplies, including sterile scrubs, gloves and gowns; intravenous catheters, anesthetics and scalpels,” he said.

An $11,412 grant was given to the R.I. Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. The East Providence-based business will use the funding to purchase medical equipment for its veterinary clinic as well as agility equipment for dogs in need of exercise and enrichment.

“Our clinic treats animals that have been surrendered to us, seized as a result of a cruelty investigation, or are owned by elderly or disabled residents,” said Dr. Ernest Finocchio, president of the society.

Newport’s Robert Potter League for Animals was awarded $15,000 to expand its Aquidneck Island CoyoteSmarts public education program which is taught in cooperation with the Conservation Agency, R.I. Natural History Survey, Aquidneck Land Trust and Norman Bird Sanctuary.

Christie Smith, Potter League executive director, said: “Our goal is to raise public awareness of coyotes, encourage best management practices and promote effective strategies for keeping pets, families and communities safe.”
Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island in North Kingstown received $10,677 to construct additional outdoor caging to address the increasing number of birds and animals cared for by the organization.

Kristin Fletcher, executive director, said this year they cared for more than 5,000 injured and orphaned animals, which, without care would not survive.

PAW is funded with assistance from the Virginia B. Butler Fund; Abbie A. Brougham Memorial Fund; Ginger, Sheba and Susie Carr Fund; Chariho Westerly Animal Rescue League Animal Welfare Fund; Mary Lou Crandall Fund; Jeanne Marie Mehmed Fund; Vernon and Mary Pierce Fund; Helen Walker Raleigh Animal Fund; Ilon Sillmon/Sara Andrews Endowment Fund; Vinny Animal Welfare Fund and Dawn, Gregg and Leland Weingeroff Animal Fund.

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