Local Animal Welfare Groups get $20,000 from Rhode Island Foundation

Animal welfare groups in Newport and Middletown will share more than $52,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation for everything from providing low-cost vet care to needy pet owners to coyote management activities.

“The generous support of our donors and the dedication of our grantees is expanding humane education, raising awareness and increasing the quality of animal care in Rhode Island,” said Adrian Boney, the grants program officer who oversees the Foundation’s through its Program for Animal Welfare (PAW). “New approaches to animal welfare and humane education are emerging and our animal welfare grant program is supporting a wide variety of programs from a diverse array of organizations and community efforts across the state.”

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 statewide or in individual communities with regard to animal care, education about the humane treatment of animals and animal welfare in general.

“Animal welfare grants actually reach much further than is obvious. For instance, a grant to help emergency pet sheltering saves human lives because people will heed evacuation warnings if they have somewhere to take their pets, where they would not if they had to leave their pets in harm’s way,” said Dr. Scott Marshall, Rhode Island State Veterinarian.

The Robert Potter League for Animals of Newport received grants for two programs totaling $36,000 including $20,000 to promote coyote best management practices and no feeding ordinances on Aquidneck Island through community outreach programs, school presentations, brochures and support for municipal governments.

The Potter League also was awarded $16,000 to continue its Hand to Paw Program, which reaches into under-served communities to help lower-income owners care for their pets.

“Hand to Paw is an initiative to extend animal welfare resources and information to pet owners who have either not received such services or who have received services without any long-lasting impact. Help for animals and their owners is greatly needed. It is a little like having an animal social worker out in the community,” said M. Christie Smith, executive director.

The Newport Community School was awarded $4,500 for its Pets & Vets program, which is an award-winning collaboration with the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association that brings a popular animal-welfare curriculum to middle school youth.

“The program focuses on teaching the importance and value of the human/animal bond and correlates this to healthy human relationships for youth and adults,” said Tracy L. Shea, the school’s executive director.

The Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown received $12,000 for its Animal CARE program.

“This grant will enable us to provide, teach and model the very best possible care for the animal ambassadors who both support and rely on us,” said Rachel Holbert, the Sanctuary’s co-education director. “Further, this funding will enable us to enhance our educational programming by expanding the diversity of our bird experiences.”

“Our animal program has improved exponentially every year with the funds that we receive from the Animal Welfare Fund,” said Natasha Harrison, the Sanctuary’s executive director.

The grants were among nearly $440,000 that the Foundation awarded to 27 animal welfare programs across the state including a Warwick shelter that provides low-cost vet care for needy pet owners statewide and the Mystic Aquarium’s work rescuing injured seals.

“Animal welfare grants actually reach much further than is obvious. For instance, a grant to help emergency pet sheltering saves human lives because people will heed evacuation warnings if they have somewhere to take their pets, where they would not if they had to leave their pets in harm’s way,” said Dr. Scott Marshall, Rhode Island State Veterinarian.

PAW is funded with assistance from the Virginia B. Butler Fund, Abbie A. Brougham Memorial Fund, John B. and Ruth L. Kilton Fund, Helen Walker Raleigh Animal Fund, Dawn, Gregg and Leland Weingeroff Animal Fund, Mary Lou Crandall Fund, Vinny Animal Welfare Fund, Vernon and Mary Pierce Fund, Ginger, Sheba and Susie Carr Fund and Jeanne Marie Mehmed Fund.

The Rhode Island Foundation is the largest and most comprehensive funder of nonprofit organizations in Rhode Island. In 2013, the Foundation made grants of more than $31 million to organizations addressing the state’s most pressing issues and needs of diverse communities. 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 www.rifoundation.org.

PHOTO CAPTION: Representatives of animal welfare organizations applaud the news that they will share in nearly $440,000 in grants from the Rhode Island Foundation.