photo: Providence Animal Rescue League Video: B101/Facebook

About PARL:

Our Mission

Mission Statement

Our mission is to provide for the rescue and relief of suffering and homeless animals, and to perform charitable or benevolent acts for the welfare of animals.

Non-Profit Status

The Providence Animal Rescue League (PARL) is a private, non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1913. We are governed by a Board of Trustees,composed of volunteers from the community. PARL does notreceive federal or state funding and relies solely on donations from generous individuals, businesses, and foundations to support its programs and services. Tax ID: 05-0262712

PARL Philosophy

Since 1913, PARL has been a haven for hundreds of thousands of animals in need in the Greater Providence area and beyond. As an open admission shelter, we practice managed intake and aim to help every community member when they are faced with the difficult decision to surrender their pet. We also take in stray animals in situations where our shelter is the appropriate and only option for that animal. Although PARL is not contractually obligated to assist our state’s animal control facilities, we routinely do so because we believe that a strong partnership between animal welfare organizations is vital to our mission.

PARL meets the nationally recognized requirements to be considered a 'no-kill' organization. We do not euthanize any animal due to age, space, or length of stay. Euthanasia is only considered for animals posing significant safety risk to the public due to aggressive behavior or those suffering due to a medical condition beyond the help of treatment. We publish our statistics annually to maintain transparency and accountability (see below).

Conversation-Based Adoptions

PARL is an open adoption animal shelter, which means we seek to create a welcoming and barrier-free adoption process that is entirely conversation-based. We believe every person who wants a companion animal deserves one, and through conversation, we seek to find the best match for both adopter and animal. Through this process, we build trusting relationships with adopters, encouraging them to communicate openly and honestly with us if they should need our advice or assistance.

Providing Individualized Quality Care

We strive to consider each animal's individual needs, addressing their physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing every step of the way from intake to outcome.Specially trained staff and volunteers spend time handling, grooming, socializing, training, and interacting with each animal. Our dedication to enrichment, training, and physical activity helps reduce animal stress and encourages healthy development. Contributions to our LEAP Fund and partnerships with local trainers are vital to the success of these efforts.

Our medical service team is dedicated to the health of each shelter guest. All animals receive routine vaccinations, physical exams, and any other required treatments ranging from spay/neuter surgery to flea and tick preventative to major surgery while in our care. This commitment to care requires a large, up-front investment on our part, but it is a vital part of our mission and is, thankfully, often boosted by support from ourBetsy's Fund.

Community Programs

PARL has a variety of programming to support pets in our community and the people who love them. Several of these programs have seen significant increase in demand since the start of the pandemic and are helping to keep pets and families united through these difficult times.

Pet Food Pantry

Provides complimentary pet food, cat litter, and assorted pet care supplies to anyone in need due to financial hardship. (Application and renewal process has been waived due to pandemic.) For more information, please call 401-421-1399.

Low Cost Vaccine/Microchipping Clinics

Provides affordable vaccinations and microchipping services for cats and dogs in the community.

Low Cost Spay/Neuter Clinic

Provides affordable spay/neuter services for community cats, dogs, and rabbits.

Man cheering on shoulders during dance event

Rod Stewart with special guest Cheap Trick