EG Animal Protection League plans for permanent Cranston home

By Tessa Roy
Posted 12/28/16

By TESSA ROY The East Greenwich Animal Protection League, which has had homes in East Greenwich, Cranston and Warwick might finally have a permanent home. After four location changes - each move meaning transporting animals, equipment, computers,

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EG Animal Protection League plans for permanent Cranston home

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The East Greenwich Animal Protection League, which has had homes in East Greenwich, Cranston and Warwick might finally have a permanent home.

After four location changes – each move meaning transporting animals, equipment, computers, paperwork, and everything else at the shelter – and three months at their current Warwick location on Hallene Road, EGAPL hopes to move into the former Cranston Casting Company on 44 Worthington Avenue.

The building will be purchased by Dr. Andrew Martin, who ran an emergency veterinary service in the unit the league currently occupies. Martin would then sell the Cranston building to the league. The new facility will give the league 5,000 square feet of space, two office areas in the front of the building, indoor play areas for animals and, eventually, outdoor play areas for the dogs.

The league is grateful for the help its getting with purchasing, but it’s nothing new in terms of generosity of people helping the league service the animals that come to its shelter. President Tammy Flanagan said the league has always been very lucky to always get emergency help for care when an animal needs it.

“People have really big hearts,” she said, and they’re always adding to the list of people who help.

As treatment bills get expensive for some animals, those donations are crucial. EGAPL never wants to send an animal to a new home in poor health, Flanagan said, so it pays for necessary treatment before they’re given to an owner.

Board member Karen Kalunian said most of the animals they get are cats from East Greenwich, but many dogs come from kill shelters in the south. About 500 dogs that end up at EGAPL are adopted each year.

The League was founded in 1977 by Dorothy Trehy, Marion Fry and Mary Clark. It serves as the animal rescue for East Greenwich. In its history, it has had to “make it work” with whatever funding they received.

The league carefully checks out those adopting animals and ensures they are healthy before adoption.

“We go above and beyond,” said Kalunian, “that’s why we’re always broke.”

The league moved from Greenwich Bay Animal Hospital to East Greenwich Animal Hospital, which was in Warwick, to Cranston Animal Hospital to its current Warwick location and were kept alive by donations and fundraisers held by town organizations. Kalunian and Flanagan hope to keep it going beyond them and that the league’s over 30-year reputation will continue to inspire people to support it.

Cranston Casting and the league have applied for a special permit for a kennel in the industrial zone. The planning board is expected to render its recommendations on January 3. A hearing before the Zoning Board of Review is scheduled for Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m. in Council Chambers in City Hall.

NEW HOME:

Pictured above is the former Cranston Casting building, which is set to be the newest, and hopefully permanent, location for the East Greenwich Animal Protection League. At left, President Tammy Flanagan examines paperwork an (at right) one of the dogs up for adoption at the shelter. PUPPY LOVE:

EGAPL Board member Karen Kalunian can’t resist smiling as she cuddles one of the League’s puppies that is up for adoption.

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