RI Foundation grants target pet and animal care

Two East Providence nonprofits will be able to improve their care for pets and animals thanks to grants from the Rhode Island Foundation.

“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 humane education across Rhode Island.”

The Pets in Need Veterinary Clinic in East Providence received $30,900 to purchase vaccination and surgical supplies. The clinic has treated more than 2,100 animals since opening last year.

“Our goal is provide necessary surgical treatment and wellness care for pets of low-income owners. Our core vaccinations include rabies for cats and dogs as well as combination feline and canine distemper vaccines. We strive to vaccinate as many qualified pets as possible in order to prevent animal diseases and to decrease the risk of human exposure to zoonotic diseases,” said Dr. Hank Wietsma, the clinic’s executive director.

The Rhode Island Society for Prevention of Cruelty toAnimals in East Providence received $4,500 to purchase a Safe Capture Animal Drop Net. The net can be used to capture a wide variety of animals that are lost or have escaped from their habitat.

“The animal live-capture drop net is unique to all other safe-capture mechanisms and it often used when all other options fail. Most traditional capture mechanisms utilize a cage system, which can be a deterrent for some animals and are also limited by size. The safe capture drop net is suspended on four corner poles, remotely activated and capable of being used for larger animals,” said Dr. Ernest Finocchio, president.

Those two grants are among more than $470,000 the Foundation awarded to fund animal welfare services statewide. The work ranges from low-cost spay/neutering services for the pets of needy Rhode Islanders to seal rescues.

PAW awards grants to 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.

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, 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. 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.