Friends of the Plymouth Pound Adopted by Independence Mall

The Friends of the Plymouth Pound celebrate the opening of its new adoption center at the Independence Mall in Kingston this Saturday after searching for a local facility for nearly 20 years.

FPP president and founder Gayle Fitzpatrick was approached by mall management barely three months ago after Kingston Animal Control Officer Joanna Boudreau suggested the organization. Marketing Director David DesRochers had originally asked the Kingston Animal Shelter about opening an adoption center, but Kingston already has a facility.

The mall was looking for a pet adoption agency to fill the storefront inhabited by Debby's Petland for many years. The pet store had just moved out and the mall had the facility open.

"This is wonderful because we have had adoption rooms in retail stores for almost 20 years now, but have had to travel to Braintree; Hyannis; Norwood and Pembroke," Fitzpatrick said. "This is right in our own backyard and we are very excited about it."

FPP's volunteers have worked for a month to clean the storefront, enlarge cages, install new flooring and ceiling tiles and generally spruce up the place.

The organization pays significantly reduced rent for the space and is allowed shorter hours than most stores because of it's volunteer schedule, according to mall management.

"You will be amazed how the area has been transformed in to a happy place," Fitzpatrick said.

Fitzpatrick, and other animal adoption agencies, have spoken out against pet stores that sell puppies, kittens and other animals for years. Opponents say most of the animals come from "puppy mills" where the mother dogs and cats are overbred and the litters are unsocialized and taken care of poorly. Debby's Petland has always denied the accusations, asserting that their puppies came from responsible breeders.

The Friends of the Plymouth Pound will hold an open house at its new Adoption Center from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Saturday, Nov. 5. Prospective pet owners will be able to meet and greet cats and dogs, but Fitzpatrick warns animal lovers not to expect to leave that day with a cat or dog.

If you're planning to get a pet for your children this holiday season, be prepared to answer questions from Fitzpatrick and FPP's volunteers. To adopt an animal in FPP’s care, you must fill out an application and be interviewed. 

“You have to be approved before a meet and greet,” Fitzpatrick said.

Caring for a dog or a cat is a big responsibility Fitzpatrick said. It requires more than just food and water. Pets need annual physicals just like people. Basically they take time and money, and not everyone can give both. Owning a pet is a commitment.

All animals at the Friends of the Plymouth Pound Adoption Center are clean, have had their shots and have been screened for diseases.

Pet owners who need to surrender their pet should not do so at the Adoption Center, however. People who need to surrender their pets should call the local animal shelter.

Friends of the Plymouth Pound was named more than 20 years ago when it was formed to raise money to build the animal shelter in Cedarville, after that, the organization went its separate way, and has found homes for hundreds of cats and dogs, and even a pet pig or two.

The Adoption Center will feature cats and small dogs, and Fitzpatrick is compiling a book of FPP's larger dogs that need homes as well.

The Independence Mall's annual Charity Night Nov. 20 will benefit the Friends of the Plymouth Pound. Tickets for that event cost $5 and can be purchased at the mall's customer service desk.