R.W. Bruno steps up to donate free heating, air conditioning system to Cumberland Animal Shelter

By PATRICIA A. RUSSELL, Valley Breeze Staff Writer

CUMBERLAND - Not only is the Cumberland Animal Shelter getting a new heating system after the old one started spewing soot and emitting carbon monoxide last month, it's getting an entire new energy efficient heating, ventilation and air conditioning system thanks to the generosity of a local business owner and animal lover.

The district fire department had to shut off the shelter's existing heating system that had met its life expectancy, said Paul Rose, Cumberland's animal control officer.

Luckily no one was hurt and the animals were safe when the boiler broke, though the carbon monoxide levels in the building would have killed all the animals if the incident had happened during the night when no one was there to detect it, said Rose.

He and his staff underwent blood test screenings for carbon monoxide poisoning.

Rose then put in a call to R.W. Bruno, a Lincoln company that is under contract by the town of Cumberland to service the shelter's maintenance system.

Glenn Bruno, company owner and a Cumberland native who'd never before been inside the shelter, checked out the shelter's situation and assisted the technician.

He came up with two proposals to fix the shelter's problem: one to replace its boiler at a cost of $6,000 and leave the remaining two systems status quo, or the other to redesign the shelter's heating, ventilation and air conditioning system into one unit at a hefty price tag of $18,000.

After talking with his wife, Donna, Bruno changed his mind. He'd decided to donate the better of the two systems, which will be installed May 17.

"My wife and I are big animal lovers," explained Bruno of his decision to make such a donation, the first one of its kind for the company.

While he was impressed with how "immaculate" the shelter was, he found the small building in dire need of more ventilation.

Set back about 160 feet on Martin Street in Berkeley, the 2,500- to 3,000-square-foot building sitting on two-thirds of an acre lot has been home to the shelter for nine years. The building was previously used as a pumping station.

"It's kind of amazing how many different animals there are at the shelter," said Bruno. There are rabbits, birds, snakes, spiders and turtles, in addition to cats and dogs. Naturally, with such a diverse group of animals, "There are a lot of scents in the shelter," he said, adding that the shelter needs better ventilation.

"I felt bad for the animals living in that environment," he said. The current system "pretty much just re-circulates the same air."

With the new climate-control system that meets the newest energy code, there will be more ventilation - fresh air from outside - in the building making for a "much healthier environment" for the shelter's animals and the folks who work there, said Bruno.

Once Bruno decided to donate the new system, the Cumberland resident who has supported other causes, including that of the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, asked for volunteer help.

He's getting 100 percent participation from the company's 25 full-time employees, who will help out wherever and however they can.

The women at the company will provide some food support, said Debbie Monteiro, accounting and human resources manager at the company. Monteiro will also be ordering T-shirts and baseball caps for volunteer workers.

Bruno is designing the picture on the T-shirt that will most likely include a picture of a cat and dog, perhaps an owl, along with the names of all the volunteers, as well as a message that will read, "The Animals Thank You!"

Several vendors will be assisting Bruno in his efforts, including Imperatore Steel Erectors in Cranston, Automatic Heating in Providence, Unique Metal Works in East Providence, Furnace and Duct Supply Co. in Providence, F.W. Webb Co. in Warwick and Viking Industries in Barrington.¬ 

The out-of-pocket expense to the Lincoln company is about $9,000, said Bruno.

"It's my wife's and my passion to help animals," said Bruno, who said his only request is to hold the owl that he'd seen at the shelter.

When Rose learned of the request, he put Beauty, a full-grown owl whose wings had been broken after getting hit by a truck, on a tether, and let Bruno hold it.

Rose has a federal permit to keep the owl for educational purposes.

Rose said he feels especially lucky these days.

"Thanks to Glenn (Bruno) we're going to be all set," he said. "This is by far the biggest donation we've ever received.