Volunteer Services for Animals

06/02/2026

Testimony in Opposition to S3182 -- Forestry and Forest Parity Act – Hearing Date June 2, 2026

Dear Chairman DiPalma and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee:
We write to give you our reasons for opposing S3182, but first we must state that Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) is a humane organization that has come to realize that it must address environmental concerns as well as animal concerns because they are inextricably connected.
We do not believe that forestry operations can be compared to farming and agricultural operations that are the beneficiaries of tax credits set in law and that the aforementioned forestry operations industry would like to have applied to them. Although yours is not the Senate Committee charged with environmental concerns, you are being asked to give favor to an industry that unlike farming does not seek to grow and flourish but to shrink. Approving tax exemptions for an industry that makes money by clear cutting and logging gives that industry financial motivation and increased ability to strive for work above the best interests of our lands and our environment.
Our opposition is also based on the belief that this legislation would have an adverse impact on wildlife displaced by forestry operations that would additionally take down our old trees. We ask for your consideration of our concerns and we thank you for permitting VSA to submit this testimony via email.

05/30/2026

https://abcbirds.org/birds/nashville-warbler/?utm_campaign=botw&utm_medium=email&utm_source=botw&contactdata=LtTiZFiAKlg8FSLdrV9heSCFWIUXMEdXP2K9anW%2fKTdzGO5qcsGxBcp2mHxm6d07SbBZ2lLa9iLiZ3cYG%2fxXkg%3d%3d&ms=em_nl_botw_052926&omcampaign=em_nl_botw_052926&omhide=true&emci=6615edab-6d54-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&emdi=44d1fb9b-6b5b-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=328648

The Nashville Warbler is a lively songbird with elegant, understated plumage and a special fondness for sunny forests, brushy undergrowth, and juicy caterpillars.

05/24/2026

https://abcbirds.org/birds/red-naped-sapsucker/?utm_campaign=botw&utm_medium=email&utm_source=botw&contactdata=mS7DvUmClaZm9yEaaCmI%2fiuBlV1IVHpyXFJiH9fZK+M4kALjJ0wfWn5hcbIxZnf5tUA0Yx+1+eCP9Fnn32Nbaw%3d%3d&ms=em_nl_botw_052226&omcampaign=em_nl_botw_052226&omhide=true&emci=743c9804-c553-f111-8ef3-000d3a14b6d6&emdi=5deadf6a-eb55-f111-8fcb-000d3a18905c&ceid=286090

The Red-naped Sapsucker is one of four species in the genus Sphyrapicus, the sapsuckers, which are a distinctive group of North American woodpeckers with a peculiar and unique foraging strategy.

05/18/2026

Dear Chairman LaMountain and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island Senate Judiciary Committee:

Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) writes to ask for your consideration of S3217 because of the protection it gives to the plaintiff and the companion animal caught in an abusive situation.

This legislation will give the courts the authority to provide a restraining order and to award the pet to the complainant. In this increasingly violent world, it helps to prevent a pet from being used as a weapon.

We thank the sponsor for S3217 and hope that the Senate Judiciary Committee views it favorably, and we thank you for accepting VSA's testimony via email.

Very respectfully yours,
Joanne Rongo
Chair writing for the Board of Directors & Volunteers

Call now to connect with business.

05/18/2026

Dear Chairman DiPalma and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee:

You will be considering a bill S2827 for tax relief which includes helping fur bearing farms. Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) writes to you because we oppose the caging and killing of wild or bred furbearing animals for their skins.

We do not want the State to encourage this cruelty by giving the bearers of this activity a tax break but Page 14 (B) Agricultural operations does that.

Should any bill that would help fur bearing farms come before you, please know that our organization condemns the breeding or keeping of fur bearing wild animals in cages until they are killed.

We ask for your consideration and thank you for permitting VSA to submit this testimony via email.

Very respectfully yours,
Joanne Rongo
Chair - Writing for the Board of Directors and Volunteers

05/17/2026

Dear Chairman DiPalma and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island Senate Finance Committee:

You will be considering a bill for tax relief which includes helping fur-bearing farms. Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) writes to you because we oppose the caging and killing of wild or bred fur bearing animals for their skins.

We do not want the State to encourage this cruelty by giving the bearers of this activity a tax break but Page 14 (B) Agricultural operations does that.

Should any bill that would help fur bearing farms come before you, please know that our organization condemns the breeding or keeping of fur bearing wild animals in cages until they are killed.

We ask for your consideration and thank you for permitting VSA to submit this testimony via email.

Very respectfully yours,
Joanne Rongo
Chair - Writing for the Board of Directors and Volunteers

05/17/2026

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xJ_Y2p6fuMU

He's back! The same Northern Yellow Warbler returned to the Block Island banding station for the seventh time! First banded by Kim Gaffett in May 2019, it re...

05/10/2026

Dear Chairman Abney and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Finance Committee:

Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) writes to you on this late date to express our support for sponsors Serpa, Fellela, Potter, and O'Brien's H 8217 which would end simulcast wagering on greyhound racing in Rhode Island.

It is unquestionable that simulcast wagering helps makes possible the behind-the-scenes animal cruelty that is part of racing whether it be dogs or horses. What is questionable is the value that comes from this blood sport worth the pain that it inflicts by those placing bets and yes, it is a blood sport that uses rabbits for live lure/bait training.

A long time ago, in 2010, VSA was one of the groups that worked to end greyhound racing in Rhode Island, which by the way was a losing proposition at that time, but we had no idea that it would continue via a back door way and if Rhode Islander's knew about this simulcasting wagering and were reminded anew of the cruelty involved in the training of greyhounds coupled with their short racing lives they would say again what they said so long ago, find another way to have fun or make money or support the Rhode Island Lottery.

Please reconsider your decision to hold H 8217 for further study and give the Rhode Island House of Representatives a say in how they feel about the back door way that Rhode Island continues to support the inhumane treatment of greyhounds and the rabbits.

We hope that you will accept this late testimony and that you will include it in the hearing records for H 8217.

Very respectfully yours,
Joanne Rongo
VSA Chair writing for the Board of Directors

Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) founded 1979
PO Box 6263
Providence, RI 02940-6263
(401) 273-0358
www.VolunteerServicesforAnimals.org

Please adopt from a shelter or a humane organization.
Spay/neuter is the humane response to overpopulation.
Factory farmed animals are among the most abused animals on Earth.
Thank you for helping VSA work to protect planet Earth.

The purpose of the Corporation shall be to improve the facilities, treatment and environment for the benefit of animals impounded at governmentally sponsored animal shelters throughout the State of...

05/10/2026

Federal Legislation to end greyhound dog racing nationwide is pending in the U. S. Congress as an amendment to the FARM BILL. For the sake of the dogs and for the rabbits that are used as live bait to train the dogs, please phone our two Senators and two Congressmen to let them know that you want them to support the FARM BILL that will end greyhound dog racing in the United States of America.
Congressman Amo 401-729-5600
Congressman Magaziner 401-244-1201
Senator Reed 401-943-3100
Senator Whitehouse 401-453-5294
Thank you.

05/10/2026

Dear Chairman Abney and Honorable Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives Finance Committee:

Volunteer Services for Animals (VSA) writes to you on this late date to express our support for sponsors Serpa, Fellela, Potter, and O'Brien's H 8217 which would end simulcast wagering on greyhound racing in Rhode Island.

It is unquestionable that simulcast wagering helps makes possible the behind-the-scenes animal cruelty that is part of racing whether it be dogs or horses. What is questionable is the value that comes from this blood sport worth the pain that it inflicts by those placing bets and yes, it is a blood sport that uses rabbits for live lure/bait training.

A long time ago, in 2010, VSA was one of the groups that worked to end greyhound racing in Rhode Island, which by the way was a losing proposition at that time, but we had no idea that it would continue via a back door way and if Rhode Islander's knew about this simulcasting wagering and were reminded anew of the cruelty involved in the training of greyhounds coupled with their short racing lives they would say again what they said so long ago, find another way to have fun or make money or support the Rhode Island Lottery.

Please reconsider your decision to hold H 8217 for further study and give the Rhode Island House of Representatives a say in how they feel about the back door way that Rhode Island continues to support the inhumane treatment of greyhounds and the rabbits.

We hope that you will accept this late testimony and that you will include it in the hearing records for H 8217.

Very respectfully yours,
Joanne Rongo
VSA Chair writing for the Board of Directors