North Kingstown groups win grants for pet and animal care

Three North Kingstown nonprofits are among the organizations that will share $480,000 in grants for animal welfare services across Rhode Island. The grants from the Rhode Island Foundation will fund everything from low-cost vet care for the pets of needy owners to preparing shelter animals for adoption.

“The generosity of our donors and the commitment of our partners are expanding humane education, increasing awareness and improving the quality of animal care in Rhode Island,” said Adrian Bonéy, who oversees the Foundation’s Program for Animal Welfare (PAW). “Their work is producing new approaches to animal welfare and increasing the number of animals receiving direct care across Rhode Island.”

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 locally or statewide on animal care, education about the humane treatment of animals and animal welfare in general.

Friends of Animals In Need in North Kingstown received $20,000 for its Veterinary Care Assistance Program, which supports medical care for companion animals whose owners need financial assistance, in an effort to help prevent the abandonment, surrender or euthanizing of a pet.

“Our goal is to keep people and their beloved pets together. 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,” said Russ Shabo, executive director.

“Working with reduced-fee veterinary services, we attempt to address the medical needs of their pets, throughout Rhode Island, by underwriting the cost of needed veterinary care. The bond and attachment of these people to their pets is strong, as they have loved and cared for them for most of their pets' lives,” he said.

PawsWatch of North Kingstown received $35,000 to expand its efforts to manage the state’s free-roaming-cat over-population. The work includes supporting spay and neuter procedures as well as other veterinary care.

“We will address the complexities of RI’s free-roaming cat challenge and pursue solutions to the state’s free-roaming cat overpopulation problem,” said Gil Fletcher, chairman of the Board of directors. “The astounding number of cats without homes, their poor living conditions and their dreadful mortality rates are clear evidence of the need.”

The Pet Refuge of the North Kingstown/Exeter AnimalProtection League on Sandy Lane received $10,000 prepare shelter animals to for adoption, including spay and neuter procedures, medical exams and medical care, medicine, vaccinations and surgeries.

“A staggering number of cats, pregnant cats and kittens are brought to the Pet Refuge, but we are committed to ensuring their health and finding suitable homes for all of them,” said Renate Sager-Daniels, president of Pet Refuge, the league’s parent organization.

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, Julius and Lena DelPapa Memorial Fund, John Richard Duhamel Fund for Animals, 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.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. Working with generous and visionary donors, the Foundation raised $38 million and awarded $43 million in grants to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities in 2017. 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 rifoundation.org.