Our Mission

As the heart of a compassionate community, we enrich lives and promote the humane treatment of animals.

How we pursue our mission

• We shelter unaccompanied companion animals and place them in safe and healthy homes.
• We educate the community to embrace humane principals and provide the best care for their pets.
• We provide community support programs which help all pet owners provide better lives for their pets.
• We expand access to essential veterinary care for companion animals.

Our Commitment to the Animals

Founded in 1929 as the “Newport County League for Animals,” the Potter League for Animals was established by visionary women—Virginia Potter, Mary van Beuren, and Emma Norman—who dedicated themselves to rescuing abandoned, sick, and abused animals. The League’s first shelter opened in 1931 on Harrington Street in Newport. In 1958, a bequest from Virginia Potter led to the renaming of the organization in honor of her late husband, Robert Potter. The League’s commitment to progress continued with the opening of a state-of-the-art facility in 2008, replacing outdated concrete and wire kennels with homelike housing.

Today, the Potter League for Animals stands as Rhode Island’s premier animal care and resource center. We offer comprehensive services including shelter, veterinary care, behavior training, spay & neuter programs, and humane education. Our open admission shelter in Middletown, RI, is dedicated to helping as many pets as possible, accepting both owner-surrendered and stray animals from partnered communities. Each year, we welcome approximately 2,000 dogs, cats, rabbits, and other small animals.

Our support extends beyond sheltering. The Potter League Spay Neuter Clinic in Warwick, RI, has performed over 75,000 subsidized surgeries since 2010, serving Rhode Island and neighboring areas. Our Pets In Need Veterinary Clinic in Riverside, RI, provides low-cost veterinary care to over 3,500 income-qualifying Rhode Islanders annually.

We are committed to collaboration with local organizations and national animal welfare groups. Our role as an animal emergency location during disasters and our active involvement in legislative advocacy underscore our dedication to animal welfare. The Potter League for Animals proudly serves as Rhode Island’s central animal resource, providing critical support and compassionate care to those who need it most.

As a nonprofit organization, we rely on the generosity of donors to continue our lifesaving work. Our mission is to offer temporary homes, warm beds, loving care, and medical attention to thousands of animals each year, guiding them towards loving, permanent homes. Potter League for Animals (PLFA) is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit (IRS Tax ID# 05-0301553).