We need the support and voices of Barrington residents to create change!

Some things you need to know.....

• The town of Barrington, RI has historically had the HIGHEST RATE OF EUTHANASIA OF ANY CITY OR TOWN IN RHODE ISLAND! In 2006 100% of dogs and more than 90% of cats impounded were euthanized. In neighboring communities euthanasia rates average 1-5% and the Rhode Island state-wide average comes in at around 20%. We recognize that this is a difficult fact to believe, but we have secured records to support our claim! Animal Control argues that because this percentage represents a small number of animals (somewhere between 30 - 90 annually) it is unfair to use. Our argument is that if neighboring cities and towns working with hundreds of animals can manage euthanasia rates as low as 1-5% this only makes our statistic seem worse!
• Prior to 9/1/07 there are NO CONSISTENT RECORDS of animal control activities in the town. Police logs do not match animal control reports to the state which do not match bills for services provided to stray animals. For the year 2006, the town of Barrington reported to the Department of Environmental Management that it impounded 30 animals - 28 of which were euthanized. However, the town was billed for services to a total of 75 animals, including the euthanasia of 68 animals. Which figure is correct? And, is the town paying for services that are never performed with no fiscal oversight to prevent this from happening? Or are they significantly under-reporting the number of euthanized?
• Owners seeking information on lost pets, or residents seeking help with found strays face a frustrating system of phone calls that go un-returned, of union contracts that do not allow help to be offered and of dead ends when trying to gather information on where a pet may have been taken. Critically injured and suffering animals have waited up to an hour for help to be dispatched while union contract protocols have over-ruled a compassionate response.
• Over the years, and for good reason, residents have grown to not trust the current system of animal control and thus an underground system of providing help to animals has emerged. While these well-intentioned residents are the only help available to animals at this point, this results in a fragmented system that does not provide an accurate record of animal issues in town and does not serve to most efficiently reuinte lost pets with owners.

To sin by silence when they should protest makes cowards out of men

Abraham Lincoln

In the near future we will posting information here on ways you can take action and get involved - please check back often for updates.