08/10/2026
Reposting again in hopes to find this girl a foster. Please share.
For those that are unaware of this dog's story, please click onto this page, scroll back to read.
FOUR DAYS! That's all the time that remains on the clock.
Let me explain something about animal control that many may not be aware of. Municipal shelters on average have somewhere around (20) cages, give or take for dogs.
We are responsible for taking in dogs found loose on the street, dogs needing to be seized out of homes due to abuse, neglect or abandonment.
When there are stray dogs, we don't have the option to say we won't be helping that dog due to behavioral issues, health issues etc. We also don't have the option to say we're going to leave that dog on the street due to lack of cage space.
Every day, every hour, every minute we never know what we're going to face. Each cage that you fill, leaves you more anxious as to what is around the corner.
Once a dog comes in, you have to expect that right from the start if that dog is not reclaimed, you're looking at weeks to a month wait to get the vetting appointments necessary to get that animal eligible for adoption. If a dog comes in with behavioral issues, there's no telling how long it will take for them to come around, you just hope that they do.
Here in Central Falls, the city has no animal shelter, instead of the average (20) cages shelters have, we rent (5) cages through the Pawtucket Animal Shelter. It's rare that that shelter stays under having (20) dogs at any time. There have been multiple occasions where the shelter has been full due to hoardings.
I imagine cities/towns that have lower call volume has the ability every now and again to take in an owned surrender if they choose to do so, but it's not the role animal control carries.
Southern shelters run differently than we do in the northeast. They DO take in owned surrenders, they DO leave strays wandering loose when they're full, they DO euthanize for space regularly. Usually the first to be euthanized are the dogs that have been at the shelter the longest, owned surrenders and bully breeds.
In four days if this dog does not find a foster through the Rhode Home Rescue, her family will have to make a serious decision.
In four days, I also have the ability to make a decision regarding the fate of this dog. If I were to take her in at the shelter and use one of the (5) cages, if I were to get full, which is completely possible, where in full swing of the summer still, then I would be forced to make the same decision that a southern ACO is forced to make regularly.
Open your eyes to what was allowed to happen in this state, Rhode Islanders! Welcome to southern rescue in the Northeast!
If you can help Cayenne Pepper, she's (3) years old. Gets along with kids. She has no vetting at the moment, so she would require being the only pet in the home. Must live in Rhode Island. Apply to foster through Rhode Home Rescue.
~ACO Charlene #61
