FAQs
How many animals does the Potter League handle each year?
What is the Potter League's policy on euthanasia?
Where is your service area?
What are the chances of an animal in the shelter finding a home?
How long are animals kept at the Potter League?
How is the Potter League funded?
Do you accept wild animals?
How old do you have to be to become a volunteer?
How many animals does the Potter League handle each year?
Each year the Potter League cares for approximately 2000 dogs, cats and small animals.
What is the Potter League's policy on euthanasia?
The Potter is an open admission shelter, which accepts all animals from our service area. We never turn an animal away because of illness, age or temperament. Unfortunately not all animals we take in are suitable for placement. However, the Potter League has an extremely high placement/ return to owner rate. Approximately 85% of incoming animals are either adopted into new homes or safely returned to their owners. 15% are euthanized. A licensed veterinarian using an injection of sodium pentobarbital performs euthanasia.
The Potter League thoroughly tracks reasons for euthanasia in the shelter. Animals are euthanized for the following reasons:
- Severe injury or difficult to treat medical conditions
- Serious aggression or extreme behavior problems
- Owner requested (usually after a bite quarantine ends)
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Where is your service area?
For relinquished animals - the Potter League accepts owned animals from any resident of Newport County (Newport, Middletown, Portsmouth, Jamestown, Tiverton and Little Compton).
The Potter League accepts stray animals from those communities with which we have animal control housing contracts - Newport, Middletown and Portsmouth.
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What are the chances of an animal in the shelter finding a home?
As stated, the Potter League has a very high placement rate but cannot guarantee placement. All animals are examined by a veterinarian and individually evaluated for their suitableness for adoption. There are many considerations that influence this decision. For example:
- The animal's age ‑ very old animals or very young orphans (not weaned) have a hard time adjusting to the shelter environment and often suffer health setbacks.
- An ill or injured animal with limited chances for recovery is difficult to place.
- Adjustment difficulties - many animals do not adapt to the stress of the caged environment at the shelter either for the short or long term.
- Extreme behavior problems – Animals with destructive or housebreaking issues that are complicated or impossible to correct make them especially difficult to place.
- Aggression - The Potter League has a responsibility for the safety of the general public that precludes us from placing aggressive and dangerous animals.
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How long are animals kept at the Potter League?
The Potter League has no minimum or maximum holding period. As long as our adoptable animals remain physically and behaviorally healthy and can tolerate the stress of the shelter environment, we continue to make every effort to place them. Many of our volunteer programs focus on stress reduction for the animals and that has allowed us to keep animals for months on end before the appropriate home is found.
Stray dogs and cats entering Rhode Island shelters are held to give their owners time to find them. The Potter League’s stray holding period exceeds the legal requirements of Rhode Island law, our practice is to hold all stray dogs for 7 days and all stray cats for 5 days. Animals not claimed by their owners are then evaluated for adoption.
In certain instances, the Potter League also places animals into foster homes outside of the shelter to help the dog or cat become more adoptable. Those animals may be under our care for many months.
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How is the Potter League funded?
The Potter League is a private nonprofit organization with 501(c) (3) status. The League is funded by donations from individuals and charitable foundations; by our animal housing contracts; by income from an endowment and by funds from special events. Bequests help to ensure the ongoing financial stability of the League and, as with all gifts, are greatly appreciated. As a non‑profit, charitable organization, all donations to the Potter League are tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. Our financial records are independently audited each year.
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Do you accept wild animals?
We do not. Rhode Island state law requires that only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may take in wildlife. The Potter League can give referrals to a rehabilitator.
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How old do you have to be to become a volunteer?
The Potter League welcomes families to volunteer together. Children as young as four or five years old can participate in the volunteer experience with adult supervision. To volunteer independently, you must be 15 years of age or older.
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