FAQs

Each year the Potter League typically receives 1,800 – 2,200 dogs, cats and small mammals at our Animal Care & Adoption Center. The biggest trend we have seen in the past five years is that fewer dogs are surrendered locally as a result of the many programs supporting and public attitudes about spaying and neutering. To meet the demand of our community for puppies and dogs, we now transport dogs from areas where the animal populations are high and euthanasia of adoptable animals is rampant. Through our Fetching Friends transport program, we reduce euthanasia while creating happy adopters!

Our veterinary clinics see on average approximately 7,000 animals annually.

The Potter League discourages the use of the phrase “no kill” as the term is very misleading and confusing.

A “no kill” shelter is one where no adoptable animal is euthanized and animals are not euthanized for time and space. No Kill shelters do euthanize for health and behavior reasons or actively turn away unadoptable animals. The way each organization defines or each individual views the terminology is not easy to follow.

What we can tell you is that the Potter League for Animals is in a very fortunate position that we never have to euthanize an animal for lack of space and no adoptable animal is ever given a time limit. Based on this and our very high placement rate, many would call us a no kill shelter.

We prefer to be known as an open admission shelter, to help all animals, and to never be misleading. The Potter League also believes we have a responsibility to ensure that we do not place dangerous animals in the community and that no animal suffers from a medical condition that goes beyond our ability to provide treatment. We are lucky to be able to treat many conditions because of our fundraising efforts that would doom the life of an animal in many other shelters. We are also lucky to have an experienced behavior and training staff who work on behavior modification for adoption animals.

Euthanasia is performed when it is the only alternative to end an animal’s suffering: irreversible disease, injury or other infirmities or those that pose a safety threat, euthanasia is the most humane alternative. Indefinite confinement or warehousing animals, isolation or indiscriminate placement are not acceptable alternatives.

As a community, we all share responsibility for Newport County’s and Rhode Island’s euthanasia rates. The stray cat we feed but do not fix. The pet shop where we buy a puppy. The accidental litter at home. So many of the choices we make and that our friends and family make affect the community’s euthanasia rate. As an open admission shelter, we believe there must be a place that will not turn animals away.

We hope that you will find your role in actively helping us to reduce euthanasia. We are committed to finding every adoptable pet a family.

While we don’t euthanize adoptable animals, we object to the “no-kill” label because it divides shelters and people that need to work together to focus on what matters, which is saving as many pets’ lives as possible. 

Every adoptable pet finds a home no matter how long it takes. We have no pre-determined time limit for how long we will hold an animal while we try to place it in a good home. Some highly adoptable breeds or cute kittens and puppies will be adopted almost immediately after arriving at the shelter. Other animals, particularly older ones, have slightly longer stays before finding the right family. 

There are times, for reasons of health or behavior, that some animals must be humanely euthanized. We euthanize animals in the same manner that your vet would use if you were faced with the difficult decision to put your family pet to sleep.

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.

We do not. Rhode Island state law requires that only licensed wildlife rehabilitators may take in wildlife. If you have found what you think is an injured or orphaned wild animal, please contact the Wildlife Clinic of Rhode Island at (401) 294-6363 before taking action so they can assess the situation with you in real time. Not all circumstances require intervention or may require special instructions.

For relinquished animals – the Potter League accepts owned animals from Rhode Island and beyond, but gives preference to 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.

The Potter League Animal Care & Adoption Center assists dogs, cats and other pets such as guinea pigs or bunnies. We do not shelter wildlife. We are happy to make referrals to appropriate agencies and organizations.

The Potter League Spay & Neuter Clinic only sees dogs & cats. 

The Pets In Need Veterinary Clinic welcomes all companion animals.

Our mission is limited to working with animals that are brought to us for placement in new homes. We simply don’t have the resources to come out to rescue animals in distress. If you are concerned about a stray or other animal, please call your local animal control office. You may also report suspected abuse or neglect to the Rhode Island SPCA at 401-438-8150 ext 2.

It costs a great deal of money to shelter, feed and take care of the animals. Some of them require veterinary care before they can be adopted. Adopting a companion animal will be an ongoing expense. We estimate that with proper vet care, a nutritious diet, and general care, it costs up to $1,000 – $2,000 a year to keep a pet.

Our adoption fee includes an exam, microchip, spaying or neutering, vaccinations, deworming, flea and tick preventatives, and any necessary medications. Overall, we estimate our fees cover only about 25% of the combined cost of these medical expenses and the care of the animal while it’s waiting for its new family.

We take in over 1,500 animals annually. Between our veterinary clinics and shelter, we handle more than 7,000 animals each year.  Our daily numbers vary due to the season, but we can house around 100 animals at one time.

If you need to find a new home for your pet, personally rehoming may be the best option. This keeps them out of the shelter, and because you know your pet best, you can be involved in finding the most suitable home and family. If you’ve exhausted your options, visit the our programs section to learn how we can help you navigate the surrender process.

The problems of illness exist in any facility with multiple animals, including shelters, pet stores and breeders. In fact, every time you take your puppy or kitten to the veterinarian, obedience school or the park, it can be exposed to a number of diseases. We encourage all pet owners to be extremely careful when considering the health of their pet and to maintain current immunizations and medical records. The stress of being held in a shelter environment can unquestionably reduce an animal’s immunity to disease.

Animals are surrendered to the Potter League Animal Care Center from many sources, and we can never be certain of the health care they received before arriving at the shelter. This is why we try to determine an animal’s health at the first evaluation and continue to monitor its well-being while it stays with us. Our team of experienced veterinarians and technicians screen the animals and administer necessary medical care and vaccinations.

Health concerns are also the reason we offer high-quality Hill’s pet food to our animals. These foods tend to keep animals healthier and put less stress on their systems.

The Potter League for Animals is an independent not-for-profit organization. We are not a branch of any other animal welfare organization and we don’t receive any funding from government sources.

A portion of our funding is provided by the fees charged in the shelter and clinic, and some comes from special events and grants from corporations and foundations.

The majority of our expenses are covered by the contributions of individuals who share our passion for the animals. Visit the Donate section of this website to learn how you can make contributions to our cause.

Of course we welcome your assistance in other ways as well. Visit the Volunteer page for information on volunteering at the shelter and other things you can do to help the animals.

Most of the pets who enter our shelter are a blend of different breeds, and we have no way of knowing what that blend may be. When attempting to label a dog we are simply making an educated guess, which is often wrong—research tells us that dogs are labeled incorrectly 75% of the time. We believe that removing labels and focusing on the personality and other observable traits of a dog is much more transparent and helpful to adopters. Essentially, we focus on the WHO instead of the WHAT. We share everything we know about a pet with an adopter because that is how we create the very best match.

No we do not. DNA testing is costly and time consuming, and even if we know the makeup of a particular pet, breed traits are not always accurate with mixed breeds. We focus instead on who the pet is, including their personality, quirky behaviors, and all of the other great things that make them unique.

No. Adoptable animals are available only by coming to the shelter. Maintaining such a list and notifying people would take staff time away from working with adopters in the shelter. It could also cause missed matches for the animal. If we held an animal for you and you chose not to adopt, we might miss opportunities for a match with someone who had come to the shelter while the animal was unavailable.

The Adoptable Pets page of our website allows you to perform a search of our available pets .