RI Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Rhode Island SPCA) is a private, nonprofit 501(c)(3) animal welfare organization.
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About the Rhode Island SPCA: Founded in 1870, the Rhode Island SPCA is the oldest humane animal welfare organization in the state of Rhode Island and the third oldest in the United States. As a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, it does not receive any local or federal funding nor is it affiliated with any national humane organization. It relies on donations from individuals, businesses,
and foundations to provide critical programs and services for the animals and people in the community. Donations should be addressed to the Rhode Island SPCA. The RISPCA is not affiliated with the ASPCA.
01/25/2025
Thanks to Handsome Dan's Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs, Montana has had the wonderful opportunity to have sleepovers with HDR fosters. She's been doing fabulous! Even from just spending a few days with them at a time, she's been doing better at the shelter. Even though this is amazing for Montana, she still needs a forever home!! This sweet girl is full of so much love and she's begging for a chance!! She even comes with a Take My Lead grant for free training! Check out rispca.org to learn more! ❤🥰
01/25/2025
When you go stir crazy from being inside in January ❄❄
01/24/2025
FEEL GOOD FRIDAY! Rex came to us after his loving owner sadly passed away. He struggled in the shelter a little in the beginning, but he eventually opened up and quickly he became a staff favorite. Even all of the other cats loved him and he made some good friends! He's such a charming guy. We love to see him so happy!
"He is doing very well, he cuddled us immediately on the first night. (He is such a cuddle king!) He also followed us a lot and he slept with us for the first time last night! Thank you for taking care of him and all other animals as well!" ❤
Ps… if you choose the video option, you might just see this handsome dude do the honors of tearing apart everything you loathe!! 💔💔
01/23/2025
WE ARE SEEKING FOSTERS FOR SENIOR ANIMALS! All medical expenses including supplies and food are free of cost to you. All they need is a cozy place to crash for a little bit, or forever if you'd like!
Shadow, 14 year old male, shy. Shadow is in early renal disease and has a severe heart murmur. He is in need of a fospice (hospice) home!
Fangs, 12 year old male, very outgoing. Fangs is diabetic and needs to be given insulin 12 hours apart, with multiple feedings of diabetic food throughout the day. He is in need of a foster or foster-to-adopt home as we get him regulated.
Bailey, 13 year old female, super sweet! Bailey has a heart murmur and some other conditions, for which she receives medication for. Bailey is in need of a foster or foster-to-adopt home as she does not do well in the shelter setting.
Blue, 9 year old female, friendly. To put it plainly, Blue is a hot mess. She has some skin issues for which she receives medication for. Blue has been in and out of the shelter since November 2023, so she is desperately waiting to get out! She is in need of a foster or foster-to-adopt home.
Please email Olivia at [email protected] if you are interested in or have questions about Shadow and Fangs. Email Hugh at [email protected] if you are interested in or have questions about Bailey and Blue. If you cannot foster, PLEASEEEE SHARE! ❤🐾
01/23/2025
This is the magnificent and gorgeous Pavlova! She started out on the streets all alone, mothering her kittens. She was brought to the shelter and spent some time raising her babies in foster care, and now she is ready for a home of her own! She is so silly and outgoing. This girl has a great personality! She can get a little spicy sometimes, but don't we all 🤣 She doesn't love loud noises, and a cat-savvy home would be best for her. She would love to be the queen of the castle, and play and get cuddles all day long! If Pavlova sounds like the purrfect cat for you, submit an application at https://www.rispca.org/ 🐾
01/22/2025
Is becoming a volunteer one of your resolutions for 2025?? Are you curious what volunteering is all about here at the RISPCA? If you answered YES! then we hope you'll join us for a Volunteer Open House and Shelter tour where our Volunteer Coordinator, alongside our dedicated Animal Care Managers, will explain various volunteer opportunities within the organization and how to get started! Any questions? Please reach out to [email protected]
01/22/2025
Meet Juniper! Juniper is a sweet playful girl. She could spend hours running around and sniffing everything and anything, so a fenced in yard would be best for this large gal. You'll find that this spunky pup loves treats and is sure to tell you all about it in true hound fashion. With a high prey drive, cats in the home are a no go for this girl. Juniper has lived successfully with another dog in the past, so she may do well with another dog of similar size and energy as her in her new home as well. Teens + would be the best match for Juniper as she can be a little demanding and is a large gal. If you're looking for a true loyal companion who would be a fantastic hiking companion, Juniper is your girl! Submit an application at https://www.rispca.org/ 🐾
01/21/2025
"Tearing Up My Heart" is doing AMAZING so far! Don't miss out! For as little as $5, we will add something or someone you detest to a toy heart filled with treats for our shelter dogs to tear apart! We even have specialized options to pick your own dog and/or get a personalized video of them ripping it up! Sign up at https://web.charityengine.net/TearingUpMyHeart 💔😝
01/21/2025
Say hello to Clancy! ❤️
Clancy is a young eight month old male Crested guinea pig. We believe he may also have a little Silkie guinea pig in him too! He is very shy and will need a lot of socialization to ensure he's living his best life. He has been practicing, and he's been doing a really great job. He is an absolute sweetie, and underneath that shy exterior lies a heart of gold looking for that home that'll help build his confidence. Clancy would do the best with older children (10+) and those with guinea pig experience. He will need an older guinea pig buddy to be bonded with, or live next to, to help show him the ropes. Submit an application at https://www.rispca.org 🐾
01/20/2025
Cozy Kogi🥰 Snow day means inside snuggles!! ❤️❄️
01/20/2025
Meet our very own in house Winn-Dixie look alike! Cooper is a very happy guy. He loves people and he loves going for walks. At the perfect age of four, Cooper has a great energy level. He'd be just as great of a hiking companion as he would be a movie marathon pal. Cooper would do best in a home with no cats, and with school aged kids and up! Submit an application at https://www.rispca.org/ 🐾
01/19/2025
I know it's not a competition, but I think I am the BEST at ripping up these hearts! I'm having so much fun and very happy with all the treats I'm getting 😏
Sign up for Tearing Up My Heart at https://www.rispca.org/ to see me tear everything you hate to shreds!!! 💔😝
01/19/2025
SUNDAY SMILES... DOMINO EDITION ❤
"Hello this Domino’s mom! I adopted him in October of 2024 and have been so blessed ever since. He is such a good boy and lovessss to get neck scratches. He is doing well and has adjusted quickly to his new home. He also has a new friend, Snoop, that my roommate adopted from MSPCA around the same time I adopted Domino. I just want to thank all the staff for taking such good care of him and allowing my partner and I to create such a wonderful bond with him. He is my best friend and I am so happy."
01/18/2025
Marshmallow is a young Lionhead Rabbit with facial hair fit for a sea captain, and like many sea captains Marshmallow loves exploring his surroundings! He loves investigating every part of the room during floor time and will often binky during these excursions. His favorite toys in the world are those he can tear apart, and he is a very happy bunny when given the opportunity. Marshmallow can be sassy at times, and he has an independent streak, he will need a family experienced in rabbit care. He would be a great fit for anyone willing to give him the space to be himself and the patience to learn his routines! Submit an application at https://www.rispca.org/ 🐾
01/18/2025
Slinky is excited to announce that we are now offering our Homeschool Heroes program in the afternoons, once a month beginning February 14th from 1:00-2:30! Please share and we hope to see you there for our first program about Loving our Pets!
Adoptable Junior! (and his not adoptable twin Justin Timberlake)
01/17/2025
FEEL GOOD FRIDAY! These pictures alone are enough to make you smile 🥹
"Happy Gotcha Day to our Chanel! We adopted Chanel from the RISPCA on January 5th last year. We were searching for a single girl to pair with our senior piggie Blanche. About 2 months prior, Blanche’s sister Rose sadly passed away. We could tell Blanche was depressed and needed another friend. When we saw Chanel, we knew she would be the perfect fit. Chanel has a BIG personality and definitely brought Blanche out of her shell again and gave Blanche a little pep in her step! Chanel loves to beg for treats and will let us know if we are late with their veggies. She also loves to curl up on our lap for a little nap. We are so happy she is part of our family and we love her so much!
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Videos
I know it's not a competition, but I think I am the BEST at ripping up these hearts! I'm having so much fun and very happy with all the treats I'm getting 😏 #superspudsunday
Sign up for Tearing Up My Heart at https://www.rispca.org/ to see me tear everything you hate to shreds!!! 💔😝
Adoptable Montana showing everyone how it's done! Go to https://www.rispca.org/ to register for Tearing Up My Heart 💔😏
Ps. Follow us on TikTok!
Twas the night before Christmas... and Rex got to open his lovely stocking from Handsome Dan's Rescue for Pit Bull Type Dogs! ❤ Huge thank you to them and all those who made this possible. Rex is definitely in the Christmas spirit now!🎄
Today is National Cappuccino Day so here at the shelter we celebrated with Pumpkin Puppuccinos!!
Want to experience what it's like having a dog without the long term commitment? Do you want help us learn more about our dogs outside of a shelter setting, thus making them more adoptable and easier to place? Or do you want to give a struggling dog a place to decompress for a little and help prevent kennel stress? FOSTER!!! Shelter dogs stay in their kennels for upwards of 23 hours a day, even with all the walks, enrichment, and play time possible. Many of our dogs have never experienced a real home, a couch to lay on or a cozy bed to sleep in. FOSTERING SAVES LIVES. We will help you every step of the way and even if we can get a dog in a foster home for a few days, it will make the world of a difference for us and for them. Spirit has been with us since he was just 4 months old, and no puppy should have to grow up in a kennel! If you are willing to open your home and heart to Spirit or others like him, please email our Dog Care Manager, Hugh, at [email protected]
FOSTERING SAVES LIVES!
Want to experience what it's like having a dog without the long term commitment? Do you want help us learn more about our dogs outside of a shelter setting, thus making them more adoptable and easier to place? Or do you want to give a struggling dog a place to decompress for a little and help prevent kennel stress? FOSTER!!! Shelter dogs stay in their kennels for upwards of 23 hours a day, even with all the walks, enrichment, and play time possible. Many of our dogs have never experienced a real home, a couch to lay on or a cozy bed to sleep in. FOSTERING SAVES LIVES. We will help you every step of the way and even if we can get a dog in a foster home for a few days, it will make the world of a difference for us and for them. Spirit has been with us since he was just 4 months old, and no puppy should have to grow up in a kennel! If you are willing to open your home and heart to Spirit or others like him, please email our Dog Care Manager, Hugh, at [email protected] 🐶❤️
Happy #superspudsunday! Check out this video superstar dog volunteer Amanda made. We love our tater boy!! 🥔 💞
Slinky wants to know if other pet parents trick their pets into working for treats? Share your videos or photos of doing fun enrichment with your pets at home so Slinky knows he is not alone!! #slinkytheferret #willworkfortreats
Testing out the walking path for Paws in the Park with adoptable Blue! We are eagerly counting down the days! Register at https://givebutter.com/pitp24 🐾
I was meant to be a fishy in this life 🐟 If I could stay in the water all day long I would. #superspudsundays
APPLY FOR ME! https://www.rispca.org
It's Slinky, it's Slinky, it's fun, it's a wonderful toy...wait what? I'm not a toy!! And this thing isn't very fun either! #thereisonlyoneslinky #slinkytheferret #sillyslinky
The Rhode Island SPCA is the third oldest humane society in the United States. In 1870, Henry Bergh, founder of the American SPCA in New York and George T. Angell, founder of the Massachusetts SPCA, were asked to address a committee in Rhode Island to aid in forming a humane society which ultimately became the present day RISPCA. The committee appeared before the State Legislature and directors of the RISPCA were elected. Governor Elisha Dyer invited the body to meet in his office. W. Lloyd Bowers was appointed the first general agent of the newly formed organization.
In 1872, a Ladies’ Auxiliary to the SPCA was formed and 100 women joined. Any lady who had one dollar to spare annually was eligible to become a member. The Society was criticized by many citizens who felt that there were too many poor people to care for first. The Society’s response? “The poor we have always with us. ‘Tis useless to wait until there are no poor.”
On March 12, 1873, the women of the Ladies’ Auxiliary started a new project by going to schools and talking with children about the care and training of pets. This was the beginning of the Rhode Island Humane Education Society, which is still in existence today. Its mission is carried on by the Humane Education Department at the RISPCA.
In 1920, a woman named Sarah E. Gardiner of Newport, whom the Society helped from time to time in removing stray cats, passed away. Her estate, valued at approximately $33,000, was bequeathed to the Society. This made it possible to erect our first headquarters, located at 372 Fountain Street in Providence, Rhode Island.
In 1982, the Society was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to construct a new shelter at our present location at 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, Rhode Island. This was made possible by the generosity of concerned people who believe deeply in our cause to “speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.”
On July 1, 2002, E.J. Fi*****io, D.V.M. became the first veterinarian to head the society in its 140 year history.
Dr. Fi*****io served as the 10th President and General Agent of the Rhode Island SPCA for 18 years, retiring in March of 2019.
A tireless and dedicated crusader for animal welfare, Dr. Fi*****io was known and respected for his tireless advocacy on behalf of creatures great and small. He was one of the first veterinarians in the State of Rhode Island with a dedicated equine practice and he owned and operated New England Horse Care Center for 35 years prior to assuming leadership of the Rhode Island SPCA.
While at the Rhode Island SPCA, he successfully advocated for significant enhancements to Rhode Island’s animal welfare laws, expanded the Society’s volunteer base and instituted major improvements to the Society’s shelter and facilities, all while continuing to be directly connected with the diverse constituencies served by the Society.
Dr. Fi*****io was the founder of the Marvin Fund, named after the disabled black Labrador Retriever he adopted who became a celebrity in his own right. The Marvin Fund provides direct financial assistance for necessary veterinary care to low income pet owners and has assisted thousands of family pets since its inception in 2010.
Dr. Fi*****io was named the Veterinarian of the year by the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Society in 2019.
