Abby is one of an EGAPL dog in need of adoption.

 After a very chaotic week, the East Greenwich Animal Protection League has landed a temporary home – and it’s the same one they had been using for the past year, the now-former East Greenwich Animal Hospital building at 4302 Post Road in Cowesett.

The EG Animal Hospital closed abruptly April 1 after 33 years in business and the closure forced the EGAPL to find a new home. Now, they have worked out a deal where the EGAPL is leasing the building on a month-to-month basis while it continues its search for a permanent home.

EGAPL president Tammy Flanagan was harried but relieved Saturday as new volunteers streamed into the Post Road building to learn about the different jobs that need filling.

Tammy Flanagan, left, and other volunteers get settled in their new (old) home.

“We still need to get out of here,” Flanagan said. The nonprofit is looking for a cheaper piece of real estate.

Leasing the building is a good test for the organization, she said, since under former arrangements, the veterinary clinics where EGAPL bordered their animals would provide a lot of the care. Now it will be up to the EGAPL, hence the Saturday new-volunteer session.

“It will be a good time to start getting people ready for our future home,” said Flanagan. “We need a few good people to do the mornings and the nights. Anyone else who wants to come in and socialize with the animals, clean cages, sweep a floor, do some laundry, or take the dogs outside – those people are going to be just as valuable to us.”

“When I was little, my family rescued two cats in the snow,” said Troy Gonzalez of New Jersey, a student at Johnson and Wales who was among the 18 or so people who turned out to volunteer. “That’s why I wanted to volunteer at the animal shelter, to help the animals.”

Jackie Pezzullo of Cranston had come because she felt bad about any animal who didn’t have a good home.

“They break my heart and I love them. It breaks my heart to see them without a home,” Pezzullo said. “My animals are treated like royalty… it’s my weakness.”

It will take a few more days to get organized, but Flanagan said they hope to reopen for adoptions later this week. And the nice thing about having their own place – “We will act more like a traditional shelter with specific open hours during the week.”

Flanagan said people should check the EGAPL Facebook page here, which will be updated with new hours soon. And she said the organization’s “Paws-Ability” campaign was up and running again, raising money for their permanent home.

Sign up for the EG News newsletter  here. You can like us on Facebook  here, or follow us on Twitter (@egreenwichnews)  here.

And, if you like what you’re reading, consider supporting East Greenwich News by clicking here.