Some sources for thought

Nature Conservancy gets a grant of $2 million

This article is short, and only mentions Providence Animal Rescue League briefly, but it’s helpful. It is helpful because it explained the Champlin Foundations gave a grant to the Nature Conservancy in Rhode Island which distributed the money to different organizations in 1987. This Providence Journal article states that PARL received $5,575. Although this is minuscule in comparison to the full grant given by Champlin Foundations (about seven million) it is an example of the non-profit status of the Providence Animal Rescue League. It received this money from a private institution, not the state.

Animal Rescue League looks for adoptions

This article was basically an ad for a dog, though this was written by a reporter for the Providence Journal. It gives some good information about the dog, Kerry. The phrase “…overweight, 120-pound dog that had been treated like a child” seemed like a harsh phrase to include in this article though. This causes me to question why the reporter used such harsh terminology, or if she was using the excuse of Kerry’s owner’s family. Even so, I don’t think it’s fair because it’s a bad depiction of this innocent dog. The article overall gives information towards dogs as a whole at that time, depending on if many people had the same insensitivity as this writer seemed to have.

It also gave information on adopt-a-dog month, which I find useful because I might be able to see if adopt-a-pet month actually does increase pet adoptions. This information relates to this month as well, since adopt-a-dog month is in October, and I saw signs for it on my visits to PARL. The article gave good information about the sponsors of adopt-a-dog month, and explained it was sponsored by two pet food companies. I could research if more companies have taking part in adopt-a-dog month, and whether or not it increases the pet food’s sales. The year of this article was 1987 so that means at that time only two companies participated. I can also see if there is an adoption month for actual children, which might be insensitive, but could help if I decide to dissect the differences and similarities between dogs and children. (Again, that sounds insensitive but I swear it’s not.)

Rhode Island Foundation awards grants to agencies & Animal Rescue League begins in-shelter pet therapy facility

My third and fourth articles went hand in hand. They are both short, but relay information about the Rhode Island Foundation’s grants to non-profit agencies in Rhode Island. Providence Animal Rescue League received $18,578, which was the fifth largest grant given by the Rhode Island Foundation. It was given specifically to help the pet therapy program. The grant money was to be used to renovate an unused portion of the shelter, allowing it to transform into an in-shelter therapy area. The new area will allow for projects that brings workers and animals to PARL instead of sending away animals to other places. The grant money was to be used to grooming equipment and materials for the backyard. The backyard was to be transformed into a place to groom, bathe and exercise dogs.

This is good information for me because it’s additionally supporting the concept that PARL operates on outside donations, as non-profit organizations typically do. It’s interesting that PARL received the fifth largest grant as well, out of the nineteen total grants made by Rhode Island Foundation. I wonder why they chose to grant all of this money to PARL. This was reported in 1987 so it allows me to assume they’ve been in business for at least twenty-five years. The pet therapy program is also interesting because I wonder what that specifically entails. I might be able to further research that and check to see if PARL and/or other shelters still have this program.

"PETPALS Animal Advocates Say Job Isn't done Until Everyone Becomes a 'Friend'."

My last article was long and extremely informational. It was written in 1985 in the Providence Journal. It’s basically talking about all the different local organizations and people that are involved in the protection of animals. Mary Clark is a woman who reopened the charter for East Greenwich’s animal protection league. She lives on a farm allowing her to have space for housing homeless animals. She takes home animals whose boarding time is up at the veterinary hospital (which serves as the league’s shelter). Another person’s name was Dennis Tabella. He and his wife Patricia founded Defenders of Animals. It was based in Warwick and had 650 members. This organization fights for animal rights instead of just animal welfare. It’s placed nearly 1,900 pets, and pushed five bills into law. Another organization was Animal Rescue League of Southern Rhode Island, which was founded in 1939. It took in 1,455 animals in just one year. It had a 60% adoption rate. Providence Animal Rescue League was also mentioned. In just six years PARL took in31,840 stray animals. A spokesperson said that one out of ten were “adoptable.” At this time they provided an euthanasia service too. Overall, the article was just relaying information about groups that help animals in the Rhode Island area.

This article opens up many avenues for me. I can research all the other organizations, and see if they’re in business still. If they are that might mean animals are becoming more important in our society now, or if they aren’t that might mean America is less sensitive to animal care. I also need to understand the differences between pounds and shelters because I’m not sure the difference. Lastly, I need to ask PARL if they still provide euthanasia services, why or why not. Then I can research the trends of euthanasia in the USA.