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Rescuers wear owl mask so chicks don’t imprint on human caretakers
Lexi Figore, chief of staff at Congress of the Birds, feeds a baby owl while wearing an owl mask. Rescuers wear the mask while feeding the owlets so they don’t imprint on their human caretakers. Imprinting on humans would make it impossible for the raptors to return to the wild. Video by Sheida Sole
Provided by Congress of the Birds
Telehealth has become a mainstream mode of health care – safely and conveniently connecting people with medical professionals, with no clinic visit required unless the health care provider determines the patient needs to be seen in person. While telehealth is widely available to physicians and their human patients, including babies and nonverbal adults, an outdated Rhode Island law prevents veterinarians from treating animals using telemedicine technology unless the veterinarian has physically examined the pet.
This antiquated approach means that pet owners are forced to wait for hard-to-get appointments so that veterinarians can examine an animal in person as a prerequisite to providing any care via telehealth, including in situations when such an exam may not be necessary or pet owners face barriers to getting pets into clinics.
Fortunately, legislation has been introduced to expand access to safe, convenient veterinary telemedicine, helping to bridge gaps in care caused by the ongoing veterinary shortage. Sponsored by Sen. Melissa Murray and Rep. Jon Brien, House Bill 5555 would empower state-licensed veterinarians to use telemedicine technology, giving them another tool to provide high-quality, accessible care, especially for pet owners who face financial, geographical or physical obstacles to seeing a veterinarian in person.
A nationwide veterinary shortage has made it harder than ever for pets to get care, and many pet owners in Rhode Island and beyond are struggling to access veterinary services. National data indicates that approximately one-third of pets do not regularly see a veterinarian for a variety of reasons: finances; transportation problems; because they have large, fearful, or travel-phobic animals; or because they live in a community that has few or no veterinarians. Lane closures and construction delays on Rhode Island’s bridges and roadways have made it increasingly difficult to get pets to the veterinarian. Telemedicine would help pets receive some of the care they need without having to leave home.
Many animal conditions can be safely treated through telemedicine, giving veterinarians and pet owners more choices when it comes to accessing important common medications for parasite prevention, treating itchy skin, ear issues, travel or separation anxiety as well as other behavioral problems, nutritional issues, veterinary hospice care, and more. Virtual appointments can sometimes even be more telling than in-person appointments because veterinarians can see the animal’s movement, behavior and environment while the animal is calm and comfortable in its own home rather than stressed in a clinic.
Lack of access to veterinary care is among the top reasons families are forced to make the heartbreaking decision to relinquish a pet to a shelter. In recent years, the Potter League has invested millions of dollars to improve access to veterinary care in our state, but even that huge investment is not enough to keep all Rhode Island pets safe, healthy and in their homes, where they belong. Expanding access to veterinary telemedicine would be an indispensable tool and could mean the difference between affordable access to care or no care at all.
At the Potter League for Animals and the ASPCA, we believe that highly educated, licensed veterinarians should be entrusted to assess when pets need to have an in-person examination, as well as those situations when telemedicine is a safe and satisfactory treatment decision.
Please join us in urging the General Assembly to pass Proposed Sub A for House Bill 5555 to empower veterinarians with another tool to provide high-quality, accessible care and ensure more pets can access the care they need.
Brad Shear is CEO of Potter League for Animals. Jennifer Hobgood is senior director of Access to Care Policy, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.
Local News
A Rhode Island husband and wife in their 50s were identified as the two people killed in a Swansea car crash Friday night.
Carlolyn Carcasi, 54, and James Carcasi, 53, of Bristol, Rhode Island, were killed in the Feb. 27 crash, the office of Bristol County District Attorney Thomas Quinn said in a press release Monday.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Route 136 and Route 6 in Swansea, Quinn’s office said.
Police in Cranston, Rhode Island identified the driver who allegedly hit the couple as Demitri Sousa, 28. Sousa allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island nearly four hours before the crash, Cranston police said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said previously.
The couple was driving southbound on Route 136 when the Sousa crashed into the side of a Subaru Ascent. Both cars had “catastrophic damage,” and the Subaru was engulfed in flames, Swansea fire and police officials said.
Both occupants of the Subaru were declared dead at the scene, Swansea officials said.
Sousa was transported to a local hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries. He is expected to live and will be held in Cranston police custody until he is medically cleared, police said Sunday.
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CRANSTON, R.I. (WJAR) — Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday.
The event was held at the Cranston Public Library at 9 a.m.
Reed and other leaders of WFRI hosted a panel discussion with women leaders in environmental and agricultural advocacy, education, community resilience, housing, finance, workforce development, and more, officials said.
Women’s Fund of Rhode Island and U.S. Sen. Jack Reed celebrated Women’s History Month in Cranston with a panel discussion on Monday. (WJAR)
“Women have played a critical role in this process, most often without any recognition,” Reed said. “Today’s panel brings together an extraordinary group of women who are addressing the challenged of sustainability from various angles and I want to thank you all for your great efforts.”
The panelists highlighted their experiences, shared insights and tips on lifting up women’s voices, provided strategies for sparking change and more.
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According to officials, some of the panelists included Executive Director of the Rhode Island Food Policy Council Nessa Richman, Executive Director of Strategic Initiatives at Rhode Island College Kim Bright, Newport Housing Authority Executive Director Rhonda Mitchell and more.
Local News
A Seekonk man is accused of murder after he allegedly shot and killed a man in Rhode Island before causing a car crash in Swansea that killed two people last week, police said.
Demitri Sousa, 28, is charged with murder, using a firearm while committing a crime of violence, and carrying a pistol without a license, the Cranston Police Department said.
The shooting occurred Thursday night in Cranston, police said in a press release.
That night, Sousa allegedly arrived at the Cranston home of Javon Lawson, 35. Sousa began banging on the side door of the home, police said.
When Lawson approached the door, he was hit by gunfire from outside, police said.
First responders transported Lawson to the Rhode Island Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, Cranston police said.
“Based on the preliminary investigation, the motive is believed to be a dispute between the suspect and the victim over a mutual female acquaintance. Detectives are continuing this investigation to gain more insight, as well as to collect and analyze evidence,” Colonel Michael Winquist, Chief of Cranston police, said in an emailed statement to Boston.com.
Neighbors gave police video footage that “showed a male subject wearing dark clothing and a mask walking toward the residence moments before the shooting and fleeing immediately afterward,” Winquist said.
The suspect was also seen running to a white Infiniti sedan which then drove off, the Cranston police chief said.
Shortly after the shooting, a license plate reader captured the vehicle driving southbound on Route 10, and then later in Fall River and Westport, Massachusetts. The sedan’s license plate was registered in Sousa’s name, Winquist said.
At around 12:18 a.m. Friday, Swansea police spotted Sousa’s Infiniti barreling down Route 6, Swansea officials said.
Just moments later, Sousa allegedly “crashed into the side of another vehicle, a blue 2022 Subaru Ascent that had been traveling southbound on Route 136,” Swansea Police Chief Mark Foley and Fire Chief Eric Hajder said in a joint press release.
Both vehicles had “catastrophic damage,” and the struck car was engulfed in flames, the Swansea officials said.
The driver and passenger of the hit car — a man and a woman — were declared dead at the scene, they said.
“Swansea Police had been alerted to be on the lookout for the suspect vehicle. However, Swansea Police were not involved in the pursuit and were not pursuing the vehicle at the time of the crash,” the Swansea chiefs wrote. Swansea official have not announced charges related to the fatal crash.
Sousa had been driving the Infiniti and appeared to be suffering from serious injuries, Winquist said. Inside the car, police found a pistol and “additional .22 caliber ammunition was recovered” from Sousa at Rhode Island Hospital, Winquist said.
Police arrested Sousa and transported him to Rhode Island Hospital. Sousa is expected to survive, Winquist said. Sousa will be held in Cranston police custody until he is conscious and medically cleared, Winquist said.
“On behalf of the Cranston Police Department, I want to extend my deepest condolences to the family and loved ones of Javon Lawson and the two individuals who were killed in the crash in Swansea,” Winquist said.
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