2 Animal Organizations In North Kingstown Get $43K In Grants

NORTH KINGSTOWN, RI — Two North Kingstown animal organizations received $43,000 from the Rhode Island Foundation. The grant was part of nearly $500,000 given to animal welfare organizations around the state.

Friends of Animals In Need in North Kingstown received $15,000 for its Veterinary Care Assistance Program, which provides veterinary care for companion animals whose owners have low incomes. This helps prevent the abandonment, surrender or euthanizing of a pet.

"Our goal is to keep people and their beloved pets together" Executive Director Russ Shabo said. "These are people whose pets have been an integral part of their family life. In some cases, as with the elderly or widowed, their pets fill an emotional void by providing them with love, companionship, comfort and purpose."

Shabo said the coronavirus pandemic is having severe impact on pet owners, who were already under financial pressure. The organization served about 300 clients last year, about a 50 percent increase compared to 2020.

"Some are low-income wage earners, sometimes working multiple jobs to make ends meet, others are disabled, and some are living on fixed incomes," Shabo said. "Their pets are beloved members of their family. When their pets are in distress, and they are living on a limited income and facing an unaffordable medical emergency, many wouldn’t have anywhere else to turn for veterinary care."

The remaining $28,000 went to the Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island. It will use the money to add on-site x-ray capability to its wildlife clinic to provide immediate, accurate medical diagnosis and treatment of injured wildlife.

"Currently this service is accessible only by scheduling appointments at other veterinary facilities," Executive Director Kristin Fletcher said. "This results in stressful off-site transfers and handling from our Wildlife Clinic and back. Reduction of stress in captive, injured wild species is imperative for successful treatment and outcome."

Rhode Island Foundation said the clinic cares for around 5,500 wild birds and animals from across the state annually.

"Any wild patients presenting with trauma or undiagnosable injuries will benefit from timely x-rays to determine best course of action," Fletcher said. "Furthermore, x-ray availability will allow for monitoring of conditions, including proper healing fractures and movement of lead pellets through the system."

The grants were part of approximately $500,000 awarded to organizations around the state. Other recipients included:

• Potter League for Animals, Middletown: $100,000
• Audubon Society of Rhode Island, Smithfield: $7,500
• CoyoteSmarts, Middletown: $5,000
• East Greenwich Animal Protection League: $6,000
• 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