Boy Scout Providing Community Service for Local Animal Rescue

My name is Bobby Zeller.  I am 11 years old and live in Newport and I am a Boy Scout with Troop 82 Portsmouth.  I am working on several merit badges at this time, but the most important one is Citizenship in the Community.  When I was looking for a charitable organization to work with I found Smith & Agli’s Pottbelly Manor.  I have two dogs of my own who are both rescues and could not imagine what would have happen to them if they had not come to live with us.  While one of them was in a no-kill shelter the other one of them was from a rescue down south where she was scheduled to be euthanized if she was not adopted within a matter of days.

Smith & Agli’s Pottbelly Manor in North Kingstown takes in animals that are rescues.  Audrey Agli begins her day feeding forty-five plus animals before heading off to her regular job working for the state.  It is a working farm which means she takes care of her animals 24/7/365.  Audrey is a retired military veteran.  She is currently taking care of 34 pigeons, 1 turkey, 2 llamas, 1 cow, 7 pigs, 1 dog, several cats and several feral cats, 1 rabbit and 2 ducks.

If not for the donations of money, blankets, food and shoes (a part of the recycling program that helps to pay for animal feed); the time of the volunteers who help come to help feed and clean up after the many animals; and Audrey and Liz’s undying love and devotion to these animals these animals would have no place to call home.

I spend one day a week after school going over to help Miss Audrey feed and water the animals.  Along with her I also help clean up after the pigs in the back pasture.  While working there I have been able to work on several requirements as well as merit badges including Communication, Animal Science, Journalism and American Heritage thanks to Miss Audrey’s military service.

I get a kick out of ‘Wickford’ the guard cow who moos the minute anyone comes to greet him at the fence; I love how ‘Ariel’s’ nose pokes out under the fence as you walk up to it with her carrots; how ‘Bert’ & ‘Ernie’ chase me after I change their water and how ‘Malachi’ likes to mirror when you bob your head up and down.  Everyone one of these special guys and girls have a story all their own and Audrey would be happy to share them with you anytime you want to come down and help her out.

Smith and Agli’s Pottbelly Manor was started as a pig and farm animal rescue in 1995.  One of the most famous residents of Pottbelly Manor is ‘Miss Ariel’ whose mother was one of 100 pigs who were rescued from a hoarder.  She is a part of a pet-assisted therapy program visiting area schools and nursing homes.  She helps teach kids to be nice to animals and brings smiles to the elderly.  She has also appeared in a campaign commercial for Jim Bender for Senate.

Audrey served her country faithfully for 33 years and she continues to serve her animal rescues the same with the same amount of devotion that she has shown her country.