Animal shelters, rescues also feeling pandemic’s effects
Animal shelters and rescues feeling the effects of the coronavirus pandemic are closing their doors to the public, canceling events and vaccination clinics and doing pet adoptions by appointment only.
“Animals shelters are all doing the same thing,” said Burrillville Animal Control Officer Ronald J. Woods. “It’s a tough decision, especially now that all the kids are home and want to come to the shelter and see the animals, but we had to do it. We had no choice.”
Like other shelters across the state, the Burrillville Animal Control Shelter made the decision to close this week. The animals currently sitting in the shelter will continue to be fed and cared for by essential staff, but the public will no longer be allowed inside.
Woods says if people want to adopt, they can call the shelter in advance to make an appointment.
“We can do a lot of things now online like send out adoption applications so that’s a good thing,” he says.
Woods says donations of food, blankets and other items will still be accepted and can be left outside of the shelter, located at 131 Clear River Drive in Oakland.
“These are scary times, but our community is resilient,” Woods said. “Everyone is doing their part and we will overcome this.”
The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RISPCA) announced Tuesday that for the next two weeks the organization will be doing adoptions, accepting incoming animals, and conducting other business by appointment only.
RISPCA President Joe Warzycha said the organization will not be allowing social or casual visits to the shelter and doors will be locked. In addition, all volunteer programs have been temporarily suspended and all community outreach events have been postponed until further notice.
All administrative staff are working remotely, and animal care staff will continue to work, ensuring all the needs of our shelter animals are met, he said.
“Our cruelty investigations will continue. That hasn’t changed,” Warzycha said.
Anyone in need of RISPCA services such as re-homing a pet or hardship boarding, is asked to call (401) 438-8150 to speak with a staff member.
The Lincoln Animal Center is also following new protocols due to the coronavirus outbreak.
“We’re closed, but you can still make an appointment to see an animal,” said Jason Stacki, Lincoln Animal Control Office. “As for donations, people can bring whatever they want to donate and we will meet them at the door. We’re doing everything we normally do while making sure to limit exposure to the public.”
Animal shelters across the country are asking people to consider becoming pet fosters to prepare for any impact the coronavirus may have on their ability to take care of the animals.
“This is a real concern for shelters everywhere,” Warzycha says. “We have a base of foster care families now, but we’re trying to expand that base in case our staff get sick and are unable to take care of the animals. Right now, we have 50 animals in the shelter and finding 50 foster care providers would be a challenge if we had to do that.”
Milford Humane Society in Milford, which serves Bellingham, Franklin, Uxbridge and other communities in the Blackstone Valley, had to cancel last week’s Chocolate Fest, a major fundraiser for the shelter, because of concerns over the COVID-19 outbreak.
The shelter remains open to the public this week to sell Easter Baskets in hopes of recouping some of what it would have made from last week’s fundraiser, but will likely close to the public next week for adoptions by appointment only.
For now, the shelter located at 289 West St., Milford, is open for basket purchases during regular adoption hours: Saturdays from 2 to 4 p.m.; Sundays 1 to 4 p.m.; and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday nights from 7 to 9 p.m..
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