About Us

Our Mission Statement

The Potter League for Animals is dedicated to making a difference in the lives of animals. We promote the humane treatment of all animals and provide shelter and care for lost or unwanted companion animals. Through community education and the fostering of relationships between people and animals, we enhance the animals’ future and enrich the human experience.

Our Commitment to the Animals

The Potter League is an 'open admission' shelter which is able to help as many pets as possible. We accept all owner surrendered animals brought to us from Newport County as well as all stray animals from those communities with which we have an animal control-housing contract.

In 2008/2009 we received 1,968 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals at our facility. 91% of these animals were adopted to new families, returned to their owners or released to another facility or rescue group. Our commitment to all animals means we are willing to pursue all reasonable efforts in order to provide for their well being.

The Potter League's Philosophy

In order to be a true "shelter" we must keep the doors open for any animal in our service area that needs our help. Our mission is simple -- to care for all.

There is no magic or quick solution to the problems of unwanted animals.
Thankfully, the Potter League is commited to aways look for new ways to increase adoptions, keep animals in their homes and decrease euthanasia. Our multi-faceted community outreach is aimed at education and prevention and our programs reflect this:

Animals are spayed and neutered prior to adoption, and we offer financial assistance to help others sterilize their dogs and cats.
Dog obedience programs and a behavior help line are provided for all animals and their guardians.
We work on state-wide legislation to benefit animals.
We are heavily invested into providing funds for medical care for our sick, elderly, or injured animals.
Foster programs continually expand to provide temporary care and health or behavior rehabilitation.
When space allows, we gladly work with other shelters to transfer their adoptable animals to the Potter League to insure more animals find homes.

Our doors are opened to all unwanted animals in Newport County - the ill, the aged, the dangerous, the badly behaved and the unappealing as well as the highly adoptable animals. We have great concern over what might happen to those deemed less desirable if we close our doors to these animals. Would they suffer as strays on the street after being abandoned? All unwanted animals deserve compassionate handling and a fair chance for a good life … and they will receive it here at the Potter League for Animals.

The Potter League's Major Accomplishments

The Potter League for Animals was founded in 1929 by Mary van Beuren, Virginia Potter and Emma Norman with the goal to lawfully take charge of any abandoned, sick, lame, overworked or cruelly treated animal. Currently 2,000 lost, abandoned, neglected and unwanted animals find comfort at the shelter each year.

The Potter League’s commitment to animals reaches far beyond basic sheltering, and our services represent a comprehensive program of animal care. In addition to basic wellness and vaccinations, the Potter League provides extensive medical attention for injured, ill, elderly, neglected and abused animals. All animals are sterilized prior to adoption. Our Behavior Department performs rehabilitation training to make shelter animals more adoptable. We are especially proud of our live release rate of 91%, which is one of the highest in the country.

The Potter League knows that to help animals, we must work with people. The innovative programs described below are examples of the extensive community outreach and educational efforts, which set us apart from many other animal welfare organizations.

The Potter League has a Pet Visitation Program where volunteers and staff bring animals to local nursing homes, group homes and Newport Hospital. In the past 28 years over 10,000 animal visits have cheered and inspired patients and residents in these treatment facilities.
For 27 years our extensive Humane Education Program has been a part of the culture of local schools with a multiple-lesson curriculum on animal care, responsibility and kindness.
Since 1985, the Potter League staff has penned a weekly Pet Advise column in The Newport Daily News.
Volunteering at the Potter League for Animals is a very popular activity with new adults and families joining our program monthly. Individuals with physical, mental and developmental disabilities are among our valued volunteers.
The Potter League holds monthly Pet Loss Support Group Sessions. Started in 1991, we were one of the first shelters in the country to offer this service for those coping with the loss of a companion animal.
PetSafe is an outreach program which offers temporary and emergency housing to animals belonging to victims of domestic violence, fires, hospitalization, etc.
Through our financial assistance program and Animal House Calls, we provide funds to low income families and seniors on fixed incomes for spay/neuter surgeries for their pets and for emergency veterinary care.
Dog obedience classes for the general public and a behavior HelpLine both work to solve common problems with the goal to provide encouragement and support to owners so animals remain in their homes rather than be surrendered to shelters.
Ani-Meals-on-Wheels program delivers pet food to shut-ins with pets.
The Potter League opened a state-of-the-art animal care facility with home-like housing for animals, a behavior & training center and a humane education center in 2008. This building was the first animal shelter in the country and the first building in Rhode Island to be LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold certified by the US Green Building Council.

The Potter League has the reputation as “one of the most trusted nonprofits of Newport County.” This is evidenced by a dedicated 500 core volunteers, thousands of generous supporters, and 20,000+ visitors to the shelter each year. The Potter League has been consistently voted “Favorite Charity” by the readers of Newport Life Magazine and received this distinction again in 2009 – for the eighth time in the past 11 years.

Statewide, The Potter League is a strong advocate for laws that protect animals, has orchestrated training programs for animal welfare workers, and works collaboratively with other animal welfare groups on major projects. Currently, the Potter League is an active member of the Ocean State Animal Coalition which is set to open a high volume, high quality, subsidized spay-neuter clinic for Rhode Island in 2010.

Nationally, the Potter League’s staff is repeatedly recruited as teaching faculty for national training conferences. Its executive director served as one of 12 members of the Humane Society of the United States’ National Companion Animal Advisory Group for ten years and is currently a member of the Board of Directors and officer of the Society of Animal Welfare Administrators.