Rhode Island Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Press Kit
Media Contact: Dr. E.J. Finocchio President, RISPCA (401) 438-8150
[email protected]
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
RISPCA Mission The RISPCA is charged with the sole purpose of protecting animal life in all situations that might endanger them. We are dedicated to crusading for the rights and welfare of all animals, great and small, through legal, educational, legislative and investigative means. We are strongly committed to ending pet overpopulation, the leading cause of death to sheltered animals.
The original site of the RISPCA. Photos here are in .jpeg format and may be reused for media or education purposes.
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
History:
3rd Oldest Humane Society in the United States (after the ASPCA, and MSPCA). RISPCA is not affiliated with the ASPCA, has no parent organization and is unique to Rhode Island.
Formed in 1870 with the impetus of the above organizations.
W. Lloyd Bowers was appointed the first general agent of the newly formed organization.
March 1873 the Women’s Auxiliary of the RISPCA began the RI Humane Education Society.
RISPCA moved to its current location, a shelter at 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI, constructed in 1982 entirely by donations from the public.
July 2002 E.J. Finocchio, D.V.M. became the first veterinarian to head the society in its 140 year history.
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
FAQ’s, Stats and Programs:
The RISPCA is a private nonprofit organization with 501(c) (3) status. We do not receive any state or federal funding. The bulk of our operating expenses come from donations from individuals and companies, and grants from charitable foundations. We also get funding from our animal adoption and relinquishment fees (which cover part of the cost of spay/neuter, medical expenses and food), and by funds raised by our special events. We gratefully accept and appreciate bequests, which help to ensure our future. As a nonprofit, charitable organization, all donations to the RISPCA are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
The RISPCA handles approximately 1300 animals per year, across a wide variety of domestic pet and farm animal species, with the bulk of our intake being dogs and cats.
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
The RISPCA has one of the highest adoption rates in the country, at close to 89%. We have achieved an adoption rate over 87% for the past ten years in a row. This number would be higher but for pets that come in with terminal illnesses or severe medical issues, or dogs that come in so aggressive they are unable to be rehabilitated for adoption.
The RISPCA believes very strongly in giving pets an opportunity to be adopted into loving homes. We don’t give healthy, adoptable pets a time limit in our facility, nor do we euthanize for lack of space. We also do our utmost to provide a pleasant environment, enrichment and socialization for all of our animals so that they can thrive here at the shelter until they can be placed. The shelter cages and kennels are kept immaculate, and the staff has been very successful in preventing disease.
The average stay for a dog in our shelter is 14.5 days.
The average stay for a cat is 25 days.
The RISPCA runs at an $800,000 budget, including $324,000 in animal care, $24,000 in kennel maintenance and food, and $32,000 in medical expenses and pharmaceuticals.
Marvin (pictured on the cover page) is the official mascot of the RISPCA. He passed away in January of 2010 but the work done in his name still continues to grow. Monies donated to the Marvin Fund help elderly and disabled people defray veterinary costs for their pets in times of need. The fund has also helped countless numbers of injured animals found on the road, abandoned in dumpsters or left at our doors to get a second chance. To date, the Marvin Fund has raised over $300,000, and assisted over 3,000 pets in our community, and has been recognized repeatedly by the Rhode Island Foundation for its humanitarian efforts. More information can be found about the Marvin Fund at www.marvinfund.org.
The RISPCA offers veterinary services, vaccinations and medicines for the pets of elderly or disabled people, and we anticipate growing our veterinary facilities in the coming year.
The RISPCA mailing list reaches 10,000 people in the state of Rhode Island.
The RISPCA website www.rispca.com receives 1200 views per week. RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
The RISPCA facebook page https://www.facebook.com/RISPCA has almost 7000 followers.
The Rhode Island SPCA is the only non-profit animal rescue organization in the state of Rhode Island that is legally able to investigate and prosecute animal cruelty cases. Our Humane Officer, Joe Warzycha, can be reached at
[email protected]
Our Humane Education department offers over 40 programs across the range of ages from preschool to adults, and in the past year reached over 5000 students. Our Director of Humane Education, Lorna Steele, can be reached at
[email protected]
Our Foster Program cares for dozens of neonatal bottle-feeding puppies and kittens every spring and summer, as well as pregnant or nursing cats and dogs, and dogs requiring extra time for medical rehabilitation or behavioral therapy. Our Foster Care Coordinator, Lisa Levasseur, can be reached at
[email protected].
The RISPCA does not accept wildlife, as a set of state and federal rehabilitation permits would need to be in effect at any facility desiring to care for wildlife, and that is not our focus. Our first priority must be the health and well-being of our adoptable animals.
The RISPCA has an active volunteer program of about 100 individuals, and was voted the 3rd Best Volunteer Group by Animal Print Magazine’s Top Dog Readers’ Choice Awards. We accept volunteers of any age. However, in order to work directly with animals, volunteers must be at least 18 years of age or if younger, be accompanied by a parent.
We hold a variety of special events each year to raise funds for the shelter and to offer members of the community opportunities to come together. Our largest events are the Marvelous Marvin Memorial Dog Walk held each August, which was voted the 3rd Best Pet Event in Animal Print Magazine’s Top Dog Readers’ Choice Awards, and the Hearts and Paws Pasta Dinner in late winter.
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
Video Clips: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CI0g5RlBTOoi Joe Warzycha discusses malicious animal cruelty case. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TWXF1J3fms0 RISPCA receives complaints about local pet store.
News Releases: http://www.lifewithdogs.tv/2011/07/emaciated-dog-found-in-box-at-rispca/ Indy’s story http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs046/1102273204912/archive/1109065590927.ht ml Follow-up on Indy http://www.abc6.com/story/25018844/dog-who-gave-owner-a-second-chance-at-lifesaved-by-rispca Tonka’s story http://www.turnto10.com/story/21298930/spca-says Disturbing new trend of abused dogs http://www.pawtuckettimes.com/content/ri-spca-private-donor-offer-rewardsabandoned-dog-case RISPCA offers reward in abandoned dog case
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
http://www.handicappedpets.com/pet-services/how-to-post-an-ad/23-petservices/marvin-lab-dog/54-marvin-rispca.html Some Marvin recipients and the dog that started it all http://warwickonline.com/stories/RISPCA-investigates-multiple-dog-deaths-in-GovFrancis-poisoning-possible-,73279 RISPCA investigates dog poisonings
Media Appearances: The adoptable animals at the RISPCA make regular appearances in RI Local Mag, are featured every Tuesday on ABC 6's Pick of the Litter, and are featured each month on Lite Rock 105's "Pet of the Month."
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
Key People: Board of Directors Chairman of the Board: Wayne M. Kezirian, Esq. Vice Chairman: Robert Ceprano Treasurer: Charles Ransom Secretary: Julie A. Jackson Additional Members of the Board: Leigh D. Clemmy Margaret Ferguson E.J. Finocchio, D.V.M. Joseph G. Kinder, Esq. Ann Ransom Barbara Taylor Renza Rosalind Rustigian Dimity Sharp
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
Dr. Ernest J. Finocchio is both the 10th President of the RISPCA, and one of our veterinarians. Dr. Finocchio attended Texas A&M University, and then Kansas State University, where he received his Bachelor of Science degree. Dr. Finocchio received his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Kansas State University in 1968. He then did his Equine Internship in Veterinary Medicine and Surgery at the same university. After establishing the New England Horse Care Center in 1969, Dr. Finocchio has practiced equine medicine for the last 45 years. He has also served as Adjunct Instructor of Clinical Anatomy at Tufts University School of Veterinary Medicine. In 1974 he became the first veterinarian for the RISPCA. Dr. Finocchio has served on numerous Advisory Boards, including for the Hooved Animal Humane Society, Equus Magazine, and Tufts University Referring Veterinarians. He was on the Board of Directors for the Rhode Island 4-H Club Foundation, and is currently on the Board of Directors for the RISPCA. In 1977 he was the President of the Rhode Island Veterinary Medical Association. Dr. Finocchio also served on the Veterinary Medical Board of Examiners. In 1981, Dr. Finocchio received the F.T. Moses Humane Award. He has published a prolific number of equine veterinary articles, and a children’s book in 2003 entitled Marvelous Marvin.
RISPCA, 186 Amaral Street, Riverside, RI 02915 (401) 438-8150 www.rispca.com
