>> TONIGHT ON RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

>> MODERN-DAY FORMER ASTAIRE BISHOP AND HER HUSBAND LEFT BIG CITY LIFE IN BOSTON IN HOPES OF RUNNING A FARM STAND AND FEEDING THEIR CHILDREN ORGANICALLY.

THEN A LOCAL CHEF ASKED IF THEY COULD SUPPLY 1200 EGGS A WEEK.

>> LET'S DO IT.

CANNOT HOW WE STARTED FARMING.

>> YOU WENT HOGWILD.

>> LITERALLY.

HER FARM WILL HELP RECLAIM ITS PASTURELAND THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

>> THE BOYS OF SUMMER ARE BACK.

NOT IN PAWTUCKET.

THE PAWSOX HAVE MOVED TO WESTER -- WORCHESTER.

>> TELL ME WHAT YOU HEAR WHEN YOU HEAR THE TERM WOOSOX.

>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW THAT IS.

>> THAT'S A LONG TIME TO PACK UP AND GO.

FEELS EMPTY.

>> GOOD.

WELCOME TO RHODE ISLAND PBS WEEKLY.

I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

>> ON PAMELA WATTS.

WE BEGIN WITH THE BARNRAISING IN BRISTOL.

YOU MAY NOT BE FAMILIAR WITH THIS FARM.

THAT'S ALL ABOUT TO CHANGE THANKS TO A NEW PARTNERSHIP.

CELEBRATING ITS 75TH ANNIVERSARY THIS YEAR.

THERE'S ALSO A COOPERATIVE EFFORT FROM GNARLY VINES FARM.

THE FUTURE MAY INCLUDE A CHARTER SCHOOL DOWN ON THE FARM.

>> OUR GOAL IN ALL OF THE LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM IS TO MAKE THEM LIVING AND BRING LIFE TO THEM.

>> ONCE WE HAVE THAT, WE ARE ABLE TO HAVE CHEESE FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME.

>> WE ARE EXCITED TO BE ABLE TO BRING LIFE HERE.

>> FOR THE PRESIDENT AND CEO JIM DONAHUE, THAT EXCITEMENT STEMS FROM WHAT HE SEES AS MANY PATHS OF REBIRTH.

>> I SEE THE GARDEN, I SEE THE BARN.

I SEE PEOPLE IN COSTUME WALKING AROUND.

WE'VE GOT ANIMALS HERE.

THIS IS ACTUALLY WORKING.

>> THE ALLIANCE WAS CREATED WHEN THE LIVING MUSEUMS FORGED A HISTORIC PARTNERSHIP.

STEVE LIKE US AS HIS ORGANIZATION WAS AT A CROSSROADS .

WHAT IS THIS PARTNERSHIP MEANT?

>> SUSTAINABILITY AND VIABILITY.

THE BIGGEST CHALLENGE FOR NONPROFITS IS FUNDING.

PEOPLE WHO ARE MEMBERS OF THE VILLAGE ARE COMING TO VISIT.

PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN THE STURBRIDGE NEIGHBORHOOD ARE EXCITED BECAUSE IF THERE'S A STRONG LIVING HISTORY MUSEUM COMMUNITY IN ALL OF NEW ENGLAND, IT ONLY HELPS STURBRIDGE VILLAGE.

AND THE MISSION IS VERY SIMILAR.

WE SAW OPPORTUNITY TO PARTNER IN A WAY THAT WOULD REALLY MAXIMIZE THE RESOURCES OF THE FARM AND LEVERAGE THE RESOURCES OF OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE.

THAT ALLOWS THE FARM MUSEUM PUT MOST OF ITS RESOURCES INTO PROGRAMMING.

>> THIS SALTMARSH FARM IN BRISTOL WAS DESTINED FOR DEMOLITION IN THE 90'S WHEN THE STATE BOUGHT IT FROM THE HEIRS OF SAMUEL COLT.

>> I LIVE FIVE MINUTES FROM HERE, BUT WHEN I COME TO THE FARM, EVERYTHING FALLS AWAY.

>> DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOU TOOK A STEP BACK IN TIME?

>> WITHOUT QUESTION.

IT'S QUIET.

THE PACE IS VERY SLOW.

>> THE PACE WILL BE PICKING UP AS THE GROWING SEASON GETS UNDERWAY.

SEVERAL BARNS, WOODSHOP, WOOL SHED, A CHEESE HOUSE AND A BLACKSMITH SHOP AS WELL AS THE ORIGINAL HOMESTEAD.

>> YOU BROUGHT ME A DISHWASHER.

YOU'RE THE DISHWASHER.

THAT WAS THE JOB WAS TO MAKE SURE THAT THE DISHES ARE DONE.

>> THEY RE-CREATE LIFE ON A TENANT FARM WHERE PRODUCE AND PROFITS WERE SHARED WITH THE LANDOWNER.

THE TIMELINE IS AFTER THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION AND BEFORE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION EVEN THOUGH STURBRIDGE VILLAGE DEPICTS LIFE IN THE 1830'S, THERE IS MUCH IT CAN SHARE BY BRINGING EXPERT INTERPRETERS TO BRISTOL.

>> WHAT ARE SOME OF THE THINGS THAT LIVING MUSEUMS HAVE TO DO?

>> HAND SKILLS.

OR PEOPLE ARE AT HOME AND SO PEOPLE ARE GARDENING MORE.

PEOPLE ARE INTERESTED IN MAKING FURNITURE, BLACKSMITHING.

ONE WAY WE CAN BE RELEVANT IS WE CAN DEMONSTRATE FOR PEOPLE WHO LIVED IN THE 1790'S THAT GARDENING AND FARMING AND WORKING WITH ANIMALS AND WORKING WITH YOUR HANDS TO CREATE BEAUTIFUL THINGS WAS A WAY OF LIFE.

MAYBE THAT'S A WAY THAT PEOPLE WANT TO INCORPORATE INTO THEIR LIFE TODAY.

>> MORE THAN DEMONSTRATION, DONAHUE NOTES THEY NEED TO OFFER INSPIRATION.

IN ORDER TO SURVIVE, LIVING MUSEUMS HAVE TO ADOPT A NEW WAY OF THINKING TO THRIVE IN THE 21ST CENTURY.

>> ONE IS TO CONTINUE TO FIND NEW STORIES ABOUT LIFE IN THE 17 90'S AND BRING THOSE STORIES INTO OUR MUSEUMS FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF TIME SO YOU WANT TO HAVE ALMOST LIKE A TELEVISION SERIES.

PEOPLE LOVE THEIR SERIES BECAUSE EVERY SEASON THERE IS SOMETHING NEW.

LIVING HISTORY MUSEUMS COULD LEARN FROM THAT MODEL AND BEGIN TO CREATE NEW EPISODES.

>> THERE ARE AFTER OUR CONCERTS IN STORE NOT FOUND AT A HISTORIC SITE.

>> HE HAD THE EYE OF A VULTURE.

>> HUNTED HALLOWEEN EVENINGS WITH PHANTOMS AND BONFIRES.

DRYING SELLOUT CROWDS AND ATTRACTING YOUNGER VENDORS -- VISITORS.

FOR NOW, THE FOCUS IS ON ANIMALS ESPECIALLY BRINGING MORE >> DO YOU LOVE IT HERE?

>> I DO.

I WOULD NEVER LEAVE THIS PLACE.

>> SHE IS LOANING HER LIVESTOCK TO THE MUSEUM.

SHE LEFT BIG CITY LIFE IN BOSTON AND BOUGHT THIS FARM CALLED GNARLY VINES.

A FARM TO TABLE RESTAURANT STARTED PURCHASING THEIR CHICKEN EGGS.

>> THE CHEF STARTED TALKING TO THEM ABOUT OUR FARM.

I HAVE EXTRA EGGS.

WE HAD 12 DOZEN A WEEK EXTRA.

I WANT 120 DOZEN A WEEK.

SHOULD WE DO THIS?

SURE LET'S DO IT.

THAT'S HOW WE STARTED FARMING.

>> YOU WENT HOGWILD.

>> YES WE DID.

>> LITERALLY.

HER HOGS ARE GOING TO HELP COGGSHALL FARM RECLAIM ITS PASTURE THE OLD-FASHIONED WAY.

>> WE USE THE ANIMALS LET'S SAY HERE.

THE GOATS GO INTO THE WOODED AREAS AND THEY WILL CLEAR THE TOPS AND SOME OF THE BOTTOM OF WHAT'S GROWING THERE.

THEN WE PUT THE PIGS IN THE PIGS WILL ROUTE ALL THE BAD STUFF THAT WE WANT GONE.

WE ALLOW THEM TO BRING EVERYTHING DOWN TO DIRT.

THEN WHAT THEY LEAVE BEHIND IS THERE MANURE AND URINE IS FULL OF NATURAL FERTILIZER.

ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS PICK OUT BIG ROCKS AND THINGS OUT OF THE WAY.

SOMETIMES WE DON'T EVEN NEED TO SPREAD THE SEED BECAUSE THERE'S ALREADY THE SEED BANK AND THE SOIL.

THE DISTURBANCE THE ANIMALS BECAUSE ALLOWS THE GRASS TO COME BACK TO LIFE.

>> PITCHING IN WITH COGGSHALL SEEMED ANOTHER NATURAL COLLABORATION.

IT HAS THE SPACE BUT NEEDS THE HERD.

BISHOP BRINGS HER FOOD TRUCK TO COGGSHALL FARM WHERE SHE SERVES UP FARM TO TABLE DELICACIES FROM HER NATIVE BRAZIL.

EVENTUALLY STURBRIDGE VILLAGE WILL BRING SOME OPTION -- OXEN AND CATTLE.

SOMETHING ELSE MAY MIGRATE.

NOT JUST PRESERVATION, BUT EDUCATION.

THERE'S A CHARTER SCHOOL FOR ELEMENTARY AND MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS.

THE STURBRIDGE VILLAGE ACADEMY.

>> IT'S LOCATED RIGHT ON THE CAMPUS OF OLD STURBRIDGE VILLAGE.

IT'S AN EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING SCHOOL.

IT'S A LONGER SCHOOL DAY, IT'S A LONGER SCHOOL YEAR AND IT GIVES US TIME TO BRING THE KIDS INTO THE MUSEUM AND GIVE THEM EXPERIENCES TIED TO THE CURRICULUM OF THE SCHOOL.

>> IT'S A REGULAR CURRICULUM.

>> ACTUALLY IN THE MUSEUM THEY DO JUST AS MUCH OF SCIENCE AND MATH AS THEY DO HISTORY.

OUR FIRST STEP IS TO CREATE REALLY STRONG PARTNERSHIPS WITH EXISTING AND OPERATING SCHOOLS HERE IN RHODE ISLAND AND BE ABLE TO PROGRAM FOR THEM HERE AT THE FARM MUSEUM BUT BRING IT INTO THE SCHOOLS.

I COULD SEE AN ACADEMY HAPPENING HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> FROM THE FARM TO THE FARM TEAM.

AFTER 50 YEARS, THE PAWSOX ARE NO LONGER PLAYING IN RHODE ISLAND.

THE TEAM HAS MOVED TO WORCESTER.

A MOVE THAT HAD MANY IN THE OCEAN STATE CRYING FOUL.

>> OPENING DAY 2020 ONE.

THAT'S JAMES TAYLOR AND HIS SON DOING THE HONORS.

THIS MAY BE AAA BALL BUT IT'S A MAJOR-LEAGUE MOMENT.

AMERICA'S PASTIME SURVIVED THE PANDEMIC.

THE BOYS OF SUMMER ARE FINALLY BACK.

BUT ALAS, NOT IN PAWTUCKET.

THE PAWSOX ARE GONE FOR GOOD.

MCCOY STADIUM ALL BUT ABANDONED.

>> YOU USED TO BE ABLE TO GO AROUND AND SEE ALL THE PLAYERS THAT EVER PLAYED HERE.

>> FOR LIFELONG FANS, A DEPRESSING SIGHT.

CONVERTED INTO A DRIVE-THRU TESTING AND VACCINATION SITE.

>> IT FEELS LIKE A METAPHOR.

>> IT'S LIKE A WEED GROWING THROUGH THE SIDEWALK.

>> AND APOCALYPTIC SCENE BRIGHTENED ONLY BY MEMORABILIA AND MEASURING -- MEMORIES.

WADE BOGGS PLAYED HERE.

AND ROCKET ROGER CLEMENS TO NAME A FEW.

RECENTLY THERE'S BEEN MANY, CURT SCHILLING.

MCCOY WAS THE SCENE OF BASEBALL'S LONGEST GAME.

THE PAWSOX FINALLY CLINCHED IT IN THE BOTTOM OF THE 33RD INNING.

ALL THAT HISTORY AND NOW ALL THOSE EMPTY SEATS.

>> ITS LITTLE QUIRKS AND IT WASN'T PERFECT.

IT WAS A PERFECT LITTLE FAMILY PARK.

IT'S HARD.

50 YEARS IS A LONG TIME.

IT FEELS EMPTY.

>> IN WORCESTER, HENCE THE WOOSOX, IT'S A DIFFERENT STORY.

>> EVERYTHING WAS GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION.

THIS IS LIKE A LITTLE PUSH THAT GETS US THERE SOONER.

PEOPLE ARE EXCITED.

THEY WANT TO OPEN UP AS THIS IS HERE AND ENJOY WHAT WE HAVE TO OFFER.

>> THERE'S A NEW BALLPARK FULL OF NEWLY MINTED FANS.

MANY OF THEM PROUDLY FLYING THE FLAG OF THEIR NEW TEAM.

>> RHODE ISLANDERS ARE A LITTLE MIFFED TO LOSE THIS TEAM.

>> UNDERSTANDABLE.

THERE'S THE SAME KIND OF HOMETOWN FEELING.

EVE GOT KIDS RUNNING AROUND ENJOYING THE PARK.

HOPEFULLY THAT WILL BE DUPLICATED HERE.

SORRY.

>> DUPLICATED HERE, BUT NO LONGER THERE.

FOR A LOT OF RHODE ISLANDERS, THE IDEA OF THE WOOSOX IS A JOKE.

OF THE TRAIL.

BUT IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT, THIS IS ALSO A CLASSIC BASEBALL STORY.

IF YOU BUILD IT, THEY WILL COME.

FOR WORCESTER FANS IT IS A DREAM COME TRUE.

>> DID YOU EVER THINK THIS DAY WOULD COME?

>> NO.

IF YOU SAW WHAT WAS HERE BEFORE AND WHAT'S HERE NOW, IT DOESN'T SEEM LIKE IT'S IN WORCESTER.

IT'S ALMOST BETTER THAN FENWAY PARK AND I LOVE FENWAY PARK.

>> IT'S GOING TO BRING SOME GOOD MONEY INTO THE CITY.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY LEFT PAWTUCKET.

>> RHODE ISLAND'S LOSS IS WORCESTER'S GAME FOR SURE.

>> THEY CAN ALWAYS COME AND% VISIT US.

>> NOT LIKELY, SAY SOME IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

>> THEY'VE ALWAYS BEEN THE PAWSOX MY WHOLE LIFE AND THEY ALWAYS WILL BE.

>> THE VOICE OF THE SOCKS HOPES THOSE HARD FEELINGS WILL SOFTEN.

HE SAYS HE GREW UP JUST A MILD FROM MCCOY STADIUM.

>> I'M A LIFELONG RHODE ISLANDER.

PEOPLE LIVE HERE WHEN THEY ARE 65, THEN THEY MOVED TO FLORIDA FOR FIVE YEARS, THEN THEY COME BACK HOME AND CROAK.

>> THE TEAM MOVED, BUT YOU DIDN'T.

>> I AM STILL IN RHODE ISLAND FOR A VARIETY OF REASONS.

IT'S JUST ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT'S NOT THAT BAD.

IT'S 58 MINUTES IF I STOP AND GET A COFFEE.

>> AN HOUR DRIVE AND WHICH LONGTIME FANS CAN STEW ABOUT WHO TO BLAME FOR RHODE ISLAND LOSING THE TEAM.

>> IT'S A LOSS AND THERE IS NO SECRET THAT I WAS A BIG SUPPORTER OF KEEPING THE PAWTUCKET SOX HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

>> KEEPING THE PAWSOX IN RHODE ISLAND WAS ONE OF THE EASIEST SLAM DUNKS IN THE HISTORY OF SPORTS.

>> HE BLAMES POLITICAL MALPRACTICE AT THE STATEHOUSE.

>> PROVIDENCE BASICALLY TREATED THE TEAM OWNERS LIKE GARBAGE.

IT'S A LESSON FOR OUR POLITICIANS TO HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER AND MAKE SURE THAT A DEAL IS GOING TO GO THROUGH.

IT'S NOT ENOUGH EVEN FOR THOSE WHO SAY THEY SUPPORTED THE PAWSOX TO SAY WE WERE ON THE RIGHT SIDE.

IN POLITICS SUPPORTING AN INITIATIVE ISN'T ENOUGH.

YOU HAVE TO DELIVER IT.

>> RHODE ISLAND DID PROPOSE ITS OWN FIELD OF DREAMS.

>> MCCOY ITSELF HAS LASTED 75 YEARS.

>> STATE TAXPAYERS WERE ONLY GOING TO PAY 23 MILLION OF THE $84 MILLION COST WHICH WAS ABOUT THE SAME THEY JUST SPENT ON THE LITTLE PROVIDENCE PEDESTRIAN BRIDGE SO FOR 23 MILLION, WE WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AN $83 MILLION STADIUM PLUS ADJOINING PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT.

>> THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN THE INFIELD.

THE FAILURE OF THAT PROPOSAL PRETTY MUCH SOUNDED THE DEATHKNELL FOR NEARLY 50 YEARS OF BASEBALL TRADITION HERE IN RHODE ISLAND.

NOW FOR PAWSOX FANS INSTEAD OF THE THRILL OF EXTERIOR, THERE IS THE AGONY OF DEFEAT.

>> IT WAS A TRAGEDY TO HAVE LOST THIS TEAM.

IF YOU NAME ONE REASON, IT WAS POLITICAL COWARDICE.

>> WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO HAVE LOST THE PAWSOX?

>> THEY ARE A BIG PART OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

NORMALLY THIS TIME OF YEAR THERE WOULD BE A LOT OF HUSTLE AND BUSTLE.

IT'S QUIET NOW.

>> IT'S A BUMMER.

>> IT SURE IS.

>> THERE'S NOT A WHOLE LOT TO DO IN RHODE ISLAND.

THAT'S AFFORDABLE AND EASY TO GET INTO.

WE TOOK IT FOR GRANTED.

IT WAS ALWAYS HERE AND NOW THAT IT'S NOT IT FEELS LIKE A BIG LOSS.

>> THE WOOSOX NEW LOGO IS A SMILEY FACE PIN POSING IN A TED WILLIAMS STANCE.

SMILEY FACE LOGO WAS INVENTED IN WORCESTER IN THE 60'S.

ON OPENING DAY, AND ALL WORD MOMENT.

-- AWKWARD MOMENT.

THEY HUGGED, WAVED GOODBYE, THEN THEY LET THE NEW GUY TAKES CENTER STAGE.

>> HOWDY FEEL ABOUT WORCESTER STEALING RHODE ISLAND'S TEAM?

>> MY CONSCIENCE IS CLEAR.

I THINK WE CAN BOTH ENJOY THE RED SOX.

>> IF YOU WANT TO PUT A BALLPARK IN A DESTINATION CITY, WORCESTER WOULD BE ONE OF THE LAST PLACES I WOULD PICK.

PROVIDENCE IS A LOVELY CITY AND WORCESTER IS -- IT'S NOT A DESTINATION CITY.

PROVIDENCE IS BETTER THAN WORCESTER.

I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY WENT THERE.

>> IT'S BEEN MORE THAN A YEAR SINCE THE PANDEMIC OFFENDED ALL OUR LIVES INCLUDING MAN'S BEST FRIEND.

FOR OUR FOUR-LEGGED COMPANIONS, SOME SILVER LININGS HAVE EMERGED.

MANY PEOPLE RESCUE ANIMALS AND PROVIDENCE NEEDING A SAFE PLACE TO STAY.

ULTIMATELY IT WAS THE ANIMALS THAT CAME TO THE RESCUE DURING A TUMULTUOUS TIME.

>> IT WAS A REALLY UNCERTAIN AND SCARY TIME.

WE JUST SCRAMBLED TO EMPTY THE SHELTERS SO WE COULD SEND OUR STAFF HOME TO BE SAFE.

>> IT WAS MARCH OF 2020.

REBECCA BAYLISS HAD BEEN WORKING AT THE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE FOR JUST A FEW WEEKS WHEN RHODE ISLANDERS WERE TOLD TO STAY HOME.

>> WE HAD 80 OR SO ANIMALS IN OUR CARE AND WE NEEDED TO FIND TEMPORARY FOSTER PLACEMENT FOR THEM.

WE HAD 20 OR SO ACTIVE FOSTERS AT THAT TIME.

>> THE TEAM WORKED TO QUICKLY GET THE ANIMALS OUT OF CANDLES AND INTO TEMPORARY HOMES.

THE STAFF WAS WORRIED ABOUT BRINGING THE VIRUS INTO THE SHELTER.

HOW DID YOU GET THE WORD OUT, WE ARE LOOKING FOR FOSTER FAMILIES AND WE NEED TO CLEAR THE SHELTER?

>> WE HAD STAFF MEMBERS TAKING HOME ANIMALS.

BOARD MEMBERS TOOK HOME ANIMALS.

REALLY A MAJORITY OF THEM WERE NEW FOSTERS TOWER ORGANIZATION.

>> THE PROVIDENCE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE HAD 45 FOSTER HOMES LAST YEAR.

TRIPLE THE NUMBER FROM THE YEAR BEFORE.

>> IT WAS A REALLY INTERESTING TIME BECAUSE PEOPLE WERE HOME SO MUCH.

MAYBE PEOPLE HAD BEEN THINKING ABOUT ADOPTING OR FOSTERING, THEY WERE RECOGNIZING THAT THIS WOULD BE A GOOD TIME TO DO THAT.

>> CORY GREER IS ONE OF THE MANY WHO OPENED HER HOME TO CATS IN NEED AND SHE'S BEEN DOING IT FOR YEARS.

>> ALMOST ALL THE FOSTERS HAD IN SOME SORT OF MEDICAL CASE.

SOMETIMES MORE SEVERE.

I WOULD SAY HANDS DOWN THIS YEAR HAS BEEN THE MOST MEDICAL CASES I HAVE FOSTERED.

>> CASES LIKE THIS DIABETIC CAT WHO NEEDS INSULIN EVERY 12 HOURS.

SHE HAS TWO BEDROOMS IN HER HOME SET ASIDE FOR FOSTER ANIMALS.

THE OTHER CATS DOWN THE HALL ALSO HAVE MEDICAL NEEDS.

>> A LOT OF MONITORING, MAKING SURE HE'S EATING THE RIGHT FOODS AND GOING TO THE BATHROOM.

>> SHE IS NOT THE ONLY ONE FOSTERING MORE ANIMALS WITH HEALTH ISSUES.

THE STAFF HAS SEEN MORE OLDER ANIMALS BEING SURRENDERED SINCE THE PANDEMIC STARTED.

>> IT'S HARD TO SAY WHETHER OR NOT IT CAN BE ATTRIBUTED TO GENERAL LACK OF CONSISTENT VETERINARY CARE IF SOME OF THOSE ANNUAL CHECKUPS AND VISITS WERE CERTAIN MEDICAL CONDITIONS WOULD HAVE BEEN MANAGED OR CAUGHT SOONER, DURING THE PANDEMIC IT WAS REALLY HARD TO GET SOME OF THAT VET CARE.

>> THOSE WHO SURRENDERED THEIR PETS AREN'T THE ONLY ONES DEALING WITH THE FINANCIAL HARDSHIP BROUGHT ON BY THE PANDEMIC.

>> THIS WILL ALL BE DISTRIBUTED AT OUR NEXT DRIVE-THRU EVENT AND THEN WE WILL NEED TO RESTOCK.

>> THE SHELTER BEGAN HOSTING MONTHLY DRIVE-THRU PANTRIES.

CARS WRAPPED AROUND THE BLOCK.

MANY PEOPLE HAD SAD STORIES TO TELL ABOUT WHAT BROUGHT THEM THERE.

>> THEY ARE CARING FOR FAMILY MEMBERS WHO ARE SICK.

THEY HAVE KIDS WHO ARE LEANING ON THE FAMILY PETS FOR EMOTIONAL SUPPORT WHILE THEY ARE DOING% HOMESCHOOLING.

THEY'RE HAVING TO CHOOSE SUDDENLY BETWEEN PAYING THEIR BILLS AND BUYING PET FOOD.

OR CUTTING DOWN ON THEIR GROCERY BILLS.

>> LAST YEAR THEY DISTRIBUTED ABOUT 40,000 PET MEALS TO FAMILIES IN NEED OF MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED 40% FROM 2019 AND THEY HAVE ALREADY GIVEN OUT MORE MEALS THIS YEAR THAN ALL OF LAST YEAR.

>> JUST TALKING TO PEOPLE AND HEARING THEIR STORIES, THEY MIGHT BE CONSIDERING GIVING UP THEIR PET BECAUSE THEY WERE FACING FOOD INSECURITY THEMSELVES.

THAT WAY WE CAN CONNECT THEM WITHOUT PET FOOD PANTRY.

>> SHE SAYS PLACING THEM IN A FOSTER HOME AS A GREAT ALTERNATIVE.

SHE HELPED THIS 80 POUND EASY GOING PIT BULL NAMED CABBAGE FIND A FOSTER HOME.

HE ARRIVED NEEDING SIGNIFICANT VETERINARY CARE.

>> WE HAD JUST LOST OUR DOG AND I IMMEDIATELY WENT ON PETFINDER AND STARTED LOOKING AT OTHER DOGS AND I CAME ACROSS CABBAGE WHO PRESENTED AS AN OLD MAN WITH KIDNEY DISEASE.

>> LAUREN WATTERSON CONVINCED HER HUSBAND CHRIS TO FOSTER CABBAGE.

HE LOOKED VERY COMFORTABLE AS HE ARRIVES IN THE DRIVEWAY.

>> I KEPT THINKING THAT I DIDN'T WANT THIS SICK OLD MAN TO BE STAYING IN A SHELTER.

>> THE WATTERSON'S DECIDED TO ADOPT HIM AFTER TWO DAYS.

>> DID YOU GO INTO FOSTERING HIM THINKING WE ARE GOING TO ADOPT HIM?

>> YES.

NO.

>> I KIND OF ASSUMED IT WAS GOING THAT WAY.

I WASN'T FULLY IN LIKE SHE WAS.

A LITTLE BIT OF MANIPULATION GOING ON.

IT DIDN'T TAKE LONG FOR BOTH OF THEM TO FALL IN LOVE WITH THIS BROWN EYED BOY.

HIS SITUATION IS WHAT THOSE IN ANIMAL WELFARE AFFECTIONATELY REFERRED TO AS A FOSTER FAIL.

>> THAT REALLY HAS BEEN A SILVERLINING OF THIS TIME.

>> THE ANIMALS HERE HAVE NO IDEA HOW MUCH THE WORLD CHANGED IN JUST A YEAR.

SOME OF THE LESSONS LEARNED ARE FOR THE BETTER.

>> OUR FOSTER PROGRAM BEFORE COVID WAS VERY MUCH BASED ON PREGNANT CATS.

BOTTLE-FED KITTENS.

THE PANDEMIC REALLY OPENED UP SO MANY MORE POSSIBILITIES.

NOW WE HAVE RABBITS IN FOSTER CARE AND ADULT CATS WHO ARE TAKING LONGER TO FIND THEIR HOME.

WE WANT TO SEND THEM INTO A FOSTER HOME.

WE WANT TO TRY TO PRIORITIZE FOSTER PLACEMENT FOR THEM AND THAT HAS BEEN A HUGE SHIFT FOR US AND THE ANIMALS.

>> CORY GREER HAS FOSTERED HUNDREDS OF ANIMALS.

SHE WANTS OTHERS TO KNOW IT DOESN'T TAKE AS MUCH SPACE OR TIME AS YOU MIGHT THINK.

>> LITERALLY ANYONE WHO HAS SOME LOVE TO GIVE COULD FOSTER AN ANIMAL.

NEED A QUIET SPACE TO HAVE THEIR BABIES.

THEY DO ALL OF THE WORK AND YOU PROVIDE A SPARE BATHROOM AND SOME SNUGGLES AND SOME FOOD.

>> WHAT ROLE DID PETS PLAY IN HELPING PEOPLE GET THROUGH THIS PAST YEAR?

THERE IS THE SAYING WHO RESCUED WHO.

THAT HAS BECOME SO TRUE.

YOU REALLY DO LEAN ON THEM AND THEY LEAN ON YOU.

>> THE PROVIDENCE ANIMAL RESCUE LEAGUE HAS SEEN AN INCREASE IN ANIMALS LIKE RABBITS AND GUINEA PIGS BEING SURRENDERED AT THE SHELTER.

EMPLOYEES ARE NOW LOOKING FOR PEOPLE TO FOSTER THOSE SMALL ANIMALS.

I'M MICHELE SAN MIGUEL.

>> I'M PAMELA WATTS.

THANK YOU FOR JOINING US.

WE WILL BE BACK WITH ANOTHER EDITION OF PBS RHODE ISLAND WEEKLY.