When someone has an animal that they can no longer keep or take care of, they bring the pet to us. We check on the well-being of the pet (we have six veterinarians who volunteer their time on a rotating schedule and have established a comprehensive health program) and give the animal a safe place to stay while we find a new home for them. When the animal is ready, we advertise them as available for adoption, and if all goes well, we find them a. suitable home. We have room for 22 dogs and 60 cats, and may be able to take other animals as space allows. Last year we found homes for over 600 of them (388 cats, 214 dogs and 2 rabbits). We do require that all adoptions be spayed or neutered and have established a refund policy to attain this. We would dearly love to have our own facility to spay and neuter but our 900 sq. feet of space is just too small for an operating facility. [Top] We have over 100 volunteers who Walk and train the dogs Clean and brush the cats Socialize the cats Help with various mailings Transport the animals to various events (ie. nursing homes, pet shows, etc.) Help with educational outreach to children Help with fund raising and other special events Help with other assorted tasks that are necessary for running a clean, efficient shelter We raise funds through Donations Dog banks Chocolate bar sales/ Key chains Adoptacage program Yard sales/ Golf ball sales Open house at the shelter Special Events (See our home page) Grants from foundations (RI Foundation, Champlin, Kimball, Washington Trust, Bafflin, Ahimsa, etc.) Contributions of money from local businesses such as the Rotary Contributions of food from various pet retailers Adoption fees at the shelter Income from invested capital Veterinarian free services [Top] For any number of reasons, people bring us their pets, usually still loved but pets they can no longer keep or care for. We ask some general questions about its overall health and shot record, feeding, lifestyle, and what good or bad habits it may have. If all checks out, they sign a release form giving us ownership. Once at the shelter, the animal is checked by one of our volunteer veterinarians and, after an appropriate quarantine period (usually five days), we advertise that the pet is available for adoption. Ads are placed in the local papers and frequently the pet is mentioned in our weekly articles in the Providence Journal, the South County Independent, or the Narragansett Times. We also post the pets on this website, as well on www.petfinder.com/shelters/ri16 If you would like to adopt a pet, we urge you to visit the shelter and see what we have. While you are visiting, please feel free to talk to the staff about what you're looking for, and how you expect a pet to be. The staff will help direct you to pets that are appropriate for your family and lifestyle. [Top] Our shelter is at 506B Curtis Corner Road in Peace Dale, RI, about one mile west of Route 108. We are open to the public Tuesdays and Wednesdays 11am - 5 pm, Thursdays 11 am- 6 pm, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays 11am - 4 pm. [Top]