All Pawtucket All The Time

 By Dawn P. Goff – October 15^th was a great day for all the homeless animals of Pawtucket.  Since Slater Park is Minnie’s favorite place, we decided we couldn’t miss Mayor Doyle and Animal Control Officer John Holmes cut the ribbon to the new state of the arts Animal Shelter located in Slater Park.

Both   Mayor Doyle and John were obviously excited and proud over the completion of the facilities.  After Father Charles Galligan, from St. Edwards Church blessed “the shelter, the animals that enter it, and the people,” the Mayor welcomed and thanked the many City dignitaries and citizens in attendance.   With great pride, he reminded everyone that the project was completed on time and on budget.

The Mayor introduced William Sladen from the William Tripp Funeral Home.  Mr. Sladen presented a check to shelter for $5,000 to help with the cost of spaying or neutering the animal.   Mr. Sladen and the William Tripp Funeral Home have long been benefactors to the shelter with fundraisers and donations.  When the shelter was overrun with around 80 cats from a cat hoarder’s house, Mr. Sladen stepped forward paying all adoption fees allowing for all cats to be adopted in two days.  It is businessmen and women like Mr. Sladen that help the shelter keep cost of operations down.    

In attendance was Herb Weiss, the City’s Economic & Cultural Affairs Officer.  Herb recently adopted a four year old sight impaired Chocolate Lab to join his ten year old Lab Murray. 

Soon it was time to cut the ribbon and open the doors allowing all of us to tour the new building.  With John as our guide, we entered the beautifully designed reception area.  To the right was a large glass enclosed play area for the cats.  Adjoining the play area were rows of cat kennels with plenty of room to play. 

Next to the cat room is the new grooming parlor complete with bath areas for large and small animals. Down the middle is the dog area with over 40 kennels.  The area has radiant heat floors, air conditioning, high-pressure washer, and a play area for people to get acquainted with their new forever friend. 

To the left of the kennels is the isolation room.   An area needed when a sick dogs or cat is brought into the shelter. 

On the far right, in back of the office area is one of John’s favorite room and Minnie’s less favorite, the examination and surgical area.  Now all animals will be spayed or neutered before they leave the shelter.   They are currently working with veterinarians in the local area to see who will assist at the shelter.  John said as long as he is at the shelter no healthy, friendly, adoptable animal would ever be euthanized. 

John estimates, due to the economy falling and the many foreclosures, there has been an increase of about 20% in calls from people looking for a home for their pets.  The new larger facilities will allow the city to help people and maybe reunite them in the future with their pets.

John would have loved to bring the animals over right away but they still have computers to set up.  Within the next week or so all the cats and dogs will get to check out their new “digs”.  I’m sure they will all give “three cheers of barks or meows” when they arrive.