East Greenwich Animal Protection League Awarded $6K Grant

EAST GREENWICH, RI — An East Greenwich animal shelter received a $6,000 grant from the Rhode Island Found, as part of the $500,000 given to animal organizations statewide.

Tammy Flanagan Gallo, the executive director of the East Greenwich Animal Protection League, said the money will pay for a dental machine and an IV Pump for the organization's new surgical suite.

"Because many of our dogs and some of our cats come in through transport, they are often unowned or neglected and have had little or no veterinary care," Gallo said. "One of the issues we see regularly is dental disease. As we all know, dental disease contributes to other health issue such as heart disease. Having the ability to provide that care is very important. Sending pets out for that procedure is costly and the transportation after being relinquished to us can be very stressful."

The dental machine will allow the organization to treat, operate on and address dental problems on-site with one anesthesia, eliminating the need to sedate animals twice and send to outside providers.

"Because of COVID 19 restrictions, getting animals into practitioners for serious issues is tough," Gallo said. "Since dentals are not considered urgent, it is very hard to even get an appointment. The dental machine will truly be a godsend for the shelter saving time, money and, most importantly, eliminating the stress of taking animals back and forth to vet visits."

The grant was part of approximately $500,000 awarded to organizations around the state on Jan. 27. Other recipients included:

• Potter League for Animals, Middletown: $100,000
• Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Smithfield: $7,500
• The Rhode Island Natural History Survey, South Kingstown: $10,000
• CoyoteSmarts, Middletown: $5,000
• Animal Rescue Rhode Island, South Kingstown: $19,500
• Friends of Animals In Need, North Kingstown: $15,000
• The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals: $34,000
• West Place Animal Sanctuary, Tiverton: $25,000
• Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island, North Kingstown: $28,000.