EG Animal Protection League gets reprieve, still needs home

Kelcy Dolan
Posted 4/9/15

Ava, a 3-year-old boxer mix, was adopted from the East Greenwich Animal Protection League (EGAPL) as a puppy but after a family illness was returned to the league a few weeks ago.

Two-year-old …

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EG Animal Protection League gets reprieve, still needs home

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Ava, a 3-year-old boxer mix, was adopted from the East Greenwich Animal Protection League (EGAPL) as a puppy but after a family illness was returned to the league a few weeks ago.

Two-year-old sharpie mix Abigail Snuffleupagus was rescued from the South along with her five puppies, all named after the Sesame Street gang by the EGAPL.

Only two weeks ago these dogs, along with various others housed by the EGAPL, were in danger of being homeless when the East Greenwich Animal Hospital on Post Road in Warwick announced that it would be closing its doors on April 1.

The EGAPL, an all volunteer no-kill shelter that began 35 years ago, has always housed their animals at animal hospitals and moved their boarding to the East Greenwich Animal Hospital only last year.

Scrambling to find fostering or adoptions from their animals, the EGAPL finally came to an agreement with the owners of the hospital for a month-to-month lease that is currently good until May 1. Currently, Ava and Abigail are the only two dogs housed at the hospital.

“We are trying not to overload ourselves with animals in case we do need to pick up on a moment’s notice,” Tammy Flanagan, the president of the EGAPL, said.

Although EGAPL has an agreement for a month-to-month leasing with the hospital, the building is still up for sale and, if sold, EGAPL would have to vacate the premises within 30 days.

The majority of their dogs are being fostered and they do not have any cats as of right now, but “kitten season is just around the corner.”

After the community heard about the closing of the hospital and the possibility of the EGAPL being forced to close, offers for adoptions and fostering of animals poured in. Flanagan said that she continues to get messages on her phone, on Facebook or through email from people trying to help. On one day she said she had 64 voicemails on her phone.

“We have a larger foster base than ever before. It’s incredible.”

As appreciative as Flanagan is, she said that fostering just isn’t the most viable option for the EGAPL and they are “actively” looking for their own facilities to open up a shelter.

She said that when animals are fostered it is harder to hold regular adoption hours because foster families can’t always bring the dogs to the site or may not be able to stay for the whole time.

“As nice as fostering can be, our animals can miss out on the chance to be adopted, which is what we really want to see,” Flanagan said.

She would like to keep fostering only for pregnant or mother dogs and their puppies until they are old enough to be there for adoption hours.

Last Sunday for the EGAPL adoption event the line was “out the door and around the corner” according to Flanagan.

“I couldn’t believe how many people came out,” she said. “I used to think of our organization as a small little group. I didn’t realize how many people we reach on a day-to-day basis, and it is just overwhelming.”

The community has also come out in droves to volunteer their time. Twenty-three people showed up to last Saturday’s two-hour volunteer training session run by the EGAPL.

Because the EGAPL housed their dogs in an animal housing, the boarding fee included care for the animals.

Now, for the first time, EGAPL is solely responsible for the care of its animals and are in need of more volunteers, especially since they are hoping to open up their own facilities.

Flanagan said. “This is a really good test run to see what it will be like to run our own shelter and, so far, despite everything that’s happened, things are running smoothly.”

Flanagan said the EGAPL’s possibilities “are huge,” but it’s important they find their own building space.

“It would be nice to not be on our toes around the clock and have something secured,” she said.

She said the one thing she would miss about boarding out of animal hospitals is being able to see their success stories come back every time they had a vet appointment.

The EGAPL is raising funds to purchase and refurbish a new facility as a shelter space before they have to vacate the animal hospital but are hopeful due to the community support they have already seen.

Flanagan said, “We really have a growing family base. We don’t do handshakes, we hug because these people are helping us out so much. What else can you consider them other than family?”

The EGAPL are hosting adoption hours this weekend at the animal hospital, 4302 Post Road, Friday from 12 to 6 p.m., Saturday from 12 to 2 p.m. and Sunday 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sixteen new dogs will be coming up from the South for Saturday and Sunday’s adoption hours.

If you would like more information on fostering, adoption or the EGAPL visit their Facebook page and send them a message or contact Tammy Flanagan at 241-4541.

Also, the league is launching a new website in the next few days. For more information on volunteering email karensherry@cox.net

To donate to the EGAPL visit their Facebook page and use Paypal or visit their “Paws-abilities” capital campaign at www.youcaring.com/pet-expenses/egapl-paws-abilities-capital-campaign/328981#.VRdsi0Vdte8.facebook.

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  • DanielleD

    Thank you for your coverage of EGAPL! Just a couple little corrections: the e-mail address of Karen Skerry, the EGAPL Volunteer Coordinator, is karenskerry@gmail.com, and the Sunday Adoption Hours on Sunday 4/12/15 will end at 1:00pm instead of 2:00pm. The new EGAPL website is now up and you can visit egapl.org for more information.

    Friday, April 10, 2015 Report this

  • DanielleD

    Karen Skerry's e-mail address is karenskerry@cox.net (ignore the above) - see, it's a tough one! ;)

    Friday, April 10, 2015 Report this