Why a New Shelter

Bristol's Shelter No Kill Philosophy

On May 23, 2007, Bristol, Rhode Island became the first municipal shelter in the state of Rhode Island to be declared a "No-Kill" facility by town council decree.  This town council referendum re-confirmed Bristol's twenty-five year effort which has established a facility that focuses first and foremost on the health and well being of the animals taken into their care.  All needs of the animals inpounded at the Bristol Animal Shelter are evaluated and addressed on a personal and individual basis.  Animals suddering from sickness or injuries receive the best in medical care.  Every effort is made to successfully address their health issues.  The potential costs of these treatments are never taken into consideration, with focus always being foremost on the animal's best interest.  Age, illness, and/or behavioral issues are never taken into consideration when an animal is evaluated.  It is our belief that all animals deserve a chance, and given time and patience, each animal has a home waiting.  If you are interested in more information about Bristol's No-Kill philosophy and practices please call or e-mail us.

The issue of homeless pets and the traditional response of widespead euthanasia as a solution is one of our society's tragic failures.  Friends of the Bristol Animal Shelter are proud to be part of a growing movement to seek a better solution.  

The current shelter:

• Is structurally unsound due to shifting foundation built on a landfill 33 years ago and causing support columns to require band-aid maintenance.
• Is too small to accommodate our animals and volunteers. Bristol takes in an average of 271 dogs and 175 cats each year.
• Has dog runs and cat rooms that leak and kennel doors that don’t close properly.
• Has no quarantine room for sick animals.
• Has methane gas leaks which prohibit caring for small mammals and birds.
• Suffers from sewage drains which back up under storm conditions; poor drainage causes frequent flooding problems.
• Borders the town dump, lacks parking, and provides no room for expansion. Rodents find their way to the kennels.
• Faces an industrial truck scale 10 ft. from entrance, creating unsafe access conditions for the public and staff.

The new shelter:

• Will be a user-friendly building conducive to animal comfort and will double the space for animals and volunteers in a natural setting.
• Will cost taxpayers only $18/year or less per household, based on an average home value of $300,000 for this $2 million bond. This will not impact the school budget.
• Will be located on donated land (valued at $375,000) far from residential properties off San Francisco Street; this gift will be lost if the bond is not passed.
• Will have a quarantine room for cost-effective disease control.
• Provides community advantages including a humane education center for school and community programs, public restrooms, a dog park, and nature paths.
• Plans to be energy efficient for heating and cooling, utilizing recycled materials, solar features, a green roof, and awater recycling system.
• Will be designated a FEMA site, the only one of its kind in the state, to shelter displaced animals in the event of a disaster.