On this past sunny and cool Sunday, 16 goats from RI Goatscapes got to work on cleaning out the brush and weeds at the new Cranston location for EGAPL.

According to Jackie Magnan from R.I. GoatScapes & Land Clearing by the Herd of Hope, the goats were going to have a good day eating poison ivy and an invasive vine called bittersweet.

"In the eight hours they are here, the goats will clear [approximately] 10,000 square feet of brush.

They will eat until they are full, then rest for about 20 minutes while they ruminate. After the break, they are right back to work," Magnan said.

The goats start eating at the top of the brush, and work their way down.

The new shelter itself is about three months away from being open in Cranston, said Tammy Flanagan, president and dog adoption chairperson.

"Everything that we do will be contingent upon raising enough funds to finish the existing projects," Flanagan said.

Once all projects are completed, they will still need to get their license approval updated by DEM.

Currently, they are planning to do a soft opening around the end of August.

"We are doing a fundraising program called Touch a Truck that is in the works at the moment," Flanagan said.

There are a couple of ongoing fundraisers the league maintains: www.gofundme.com/build-our-animal-shelter

and the Brick campaign, polarengraving.com/eastgreenwichanimalprotectionleague.

Until the official opening in Cranston, they are still open in their temporary spaces at 205 Hallene Road Suite #213 Warwick. 

For more information about East Greenwich Animal Protection League, visit their web site; www.egapl.org

To learn more about the goats, visit the website; http://laurelhillmicrofarm.simdif.com.