East Providence has completed a $476,746 renovation of its animal shelter at 62 Commercial Way, replacing the building's heating and cooling system, flooring, kennels and plumbing, according to a city announcement. The facility, a subdivision of the East Providence Police Department, holds up to 18 cats and 22 dogs and is open daily from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The project was paid for with a mix of city general funds, capital funds and money from the federal American Rescue Plan Act, the pandemic-era relief program Congress approved in 2021, according to the announcement. City officials described the total as "over $400,000," though the figure the city provided comes to $476,746.
The list of work is extensive. Crews installed a new rubberized floor throughout the shelter's interior, a new HVAC system and air circulation fans, and epoxy flooring for the exterior kennels. They added two artificial-turf play pens for dogs with trees for shade, built a new perimeter fence, replaced the plumbing in the kennel areas, and swapped out every door in the building. The shelter also got new cabinetry with phenolic resin countertops, a dishwasher, a washer and dryer, a storage shed, a concrete storage room with new freezers, an ADA-compliant restroom, and new landscaping.
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The shelter's mission covers more than East Providence: it also serves as the shelter facility for Barrington's animal control operation, taking in stray, abandoned and ownerless animals from both communities. Anyone adopting an animal from the shelter must have it spayed or neutered, as required by state law, and provide proof to Animal Control within 30 days unless the animal is a kitten or puppy given an extended timeline.
The shelter is run under the East Providence Police Department by a supervisor, an officer and a pound keeper, and includes separate quarantine areas for dogs and cats meant to limit the spread of diseases such as rabies. The city did not specify when construction began or how long the project took. Residents interested in adopting or reporting a stray animal can visit the facility at 62 Commercial Way during its daily hours or call the shelter directly.