For RI pet owners on hard times, these grants for animal welfare are a life saver

PROVIDENCE – Trish Torres, who has been rescuing dogs and cats all of her adult life, often takes the animals for treatment at the Potter League for Animals' low-cost spay and neuter clinic in Warwick.

"It allows me to say 'yes' more often, to help more animals," she said.

Torres, a Rhode Island business owner who has been rescuing animals for 35 years, said, "I can remember back in the day, we didn't have resources like this."

The Potter League for Animals is receiving the largest award, $100,000, in the Rhode Island Foundation's recent round of grants to animal welfare programs. The foundation on Friday announced that it has awarded $550,000 to two dozen nonprofit agencies supporting a range of uses, including low-cost veterinary care for pets in low-income households, educational programs and seal rescues. 

The Potter League grant will support veterinary care at its animal care and adoption center in Middletown and help buy medical supplies for its clinic in East Providence, as well as subsidize the cost of surgeries at its spay and neuter clinic in Warwick.

"Demand is very high for us," said Brad Shear, chief executive officer of the Potter League. "The cost of veterinary care has gone up dramatically. We're one of the few low-cost options in the state."

Depending on the size of the animal, the cost for spaying or neutering ranges from about $180 to $350 at the clinic, which Shear says is about one-third of the price charged at private veterinary clinics. Still, that price can be too high for some pet owners, and the Potter League will use some of the grant money to lower the cost more, he said.

"The big piece for us is there are more dogs and cats than we can typically find homes for," Shear said.

Spaying and neutering also provide some health benefits for the pets, according to Shear. When they're in for the procedure, the dogs and cats also receive their rabies and distemper shots. The clinic expects to do 6,500 procedures this year alone.

"Often the people who come to see us are seeing a vet for the first time," Shear said.

Services funded by the grants help not just the animals but their owners as well, according to David N. Cicilline, the foundation's president and CEO.

"The delight that pets bring to our lives carries over into our own health and well-being. Keeping pets healthy and preparing animals for adoption are just more ways the Foundation helps Rhode Islanders lead healthier lives."

The grants come from several special funds established by donors to support the humane treatment and protection of animals. The foundation regularly disburses the grants through its Program for Animal Welfare (PAW).  

"We could not offer this help without the generous support of the donors who establish funds with us for this purpose," Cicilline said. "Their generosity – together with the dedication of our grantees – is improving the quality of animal care in Rhode Island."

Here's information on some of the other recipients and how the money will be used:

Historic New England– $8,720 to purchase educational material for project CHICK, which teaches students about bird lifecycles and animal husbandry. Students receive incubators and watch chicks hatch in their classrooms. After the chicks are transported to Casey Farm in Saunderstown, children can visit their chicks and learn the importance of ethical, organic farming methods for animal welfare and environmental sustainability. 

The Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown – $9,500 for its animal ambassador program, which enables the public to interact with wild and rehabilitated native animals. The funding will cover veterinary care, food and supplies for the birds. 

The Providence Animal Rescue League – $34,169 to support its thrive program, which offers low-cost vaccine clinics, microchipping, nail trims, flea and tick products, free spay and neuter services for cats and other resources.

Here's a full list of the recipients: Animal Rescue Rhode Island; Audubon Society of Rhode Island;Department of Children, Youth and Families; Foster Parrots, Ltd.; Friends of Animals In Need; Friends of Central Falls Animals; Historic New England; Mystic Aquarium

Norman Bird Sanctuary; North Providence Animal Welfare Society; Paws Watch; Pet Refuge; Providence Animal Rescue League; Rhode Island Parrot Rescue; Rhode Island Pet Network; Rhode Island Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; RIVMA Companion Animal Foundation;

Potter League for Animals; Rustic Acres Wildcat Rescue; Ten Lives Cat Rescue; Town of Westerly; Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA); West Place Animal Sanctuary; Wildlife Rehabilitators Association of Rhode Island.