Top stories this week: Puppy adoption woes; jailhouse gal pals; new Providence restaurants

Here's a look at some of The Providence Journal's most-read stories for the week of July 23, supported by your subscriptions.

• When marine animals run into trouble on Rhode Island shores, staff and volunteers at Connecticut's Mystic Aquarium spring into action. The Journal follows the saga of one gray seal that was stranded on Block Island with its tail tangled in fishing line.

• Pawtucket is an outlier in Rhode Island when it comes to serving those in need. The state's only municipally-owned shelter and 24/7 cooling center provides much more than a meal and a bed to those who pass through its doors, and they're hoping to expand. In Providence, columnist Mark Patinkin visits the encampment off Charles Street, where those living in tents talk about their struggles, their hopes and the makeshift "family" that sustains them.

• The Patriots opened training camp this week, with QB Mac Jones vowing to make a "fresh start" after a frustrating 2022 campaign. For more on training camp, the latest on the Rhode Island FC soccer team and the unveiling of the spring All-State high school teams and other high school and college sports news, go to providencejournal.com/sports.

• Want to get out on the water to beat the heat? Here are five ideas for boat tours.

• Did you keep up with the week's events? Take our news quiz.

Here are the week's top reads on providencejournal.com:

RI's animal rescues are overwhelmed with dogs. They're hoping to find adopters.

Tammy Gallo, executive director of Heart of RI Animal Rescue League, says that never in her 25 years of doing this job has she seen puppies going weeks without being adopted – until this year. She has 16 puppies at the shelter right now, including golden retriever mixes with floppy ears and oversized paws.

And most years, in June and July she’s seen an increase of people looking to add a pet to their family. But this year, she’s seen an increase in pets being surrendered to the shelter. There are all kinds of reasons – moves, changing work schedules, an inability to afford a pet as the cost of inflation rises.

“This is definitely the worst it’s ever been,” Gallo said.

Pets: RI's animal rescues are overwhelmed with dogs. They're hoping to find adopters.

Disgraced RI socialite strikes up jailhouse friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, tabloid says

East Greenwich socialite Monique Brady, who swindled millions from friends and family, has made a new buddy behind bars: convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell – at least according to the American news site Daily Mail.

The site reported that the two had “struck up a firm friendship” at a federal correctional facility In Tallahassee. Florida.

Maxwell, 61, also a disgraced former socialite, is serving 20 years for her part in helping Jeffrey Epstein sexually exploit and abuse minor girls.

In 2020, U.S. District Chief Judge John J. McConnell sentenced Brady, 48, to eight years behind bars for crimes related to her Ponzi-like real estate investment scheme that bilked 23 victims out of $4.8 million.

Courts: Disgraced RI socialite strikes up jailhouse friendship with Ghislaine Maxwell, tabloid says

Former CVS VP says company made him the fall guy in harassment scandal in new lawsuit

A former senior vice president at CVS Health who helped oversee the pharmacy chain’s pandemic response is suing his ex-employer, accusing the company of illegally reneging on his severance agreement and scapegoating him as a publicity move amid a sexual harassment scandal.

Emmanuel Kolady sued CVS Pharmacy Inc., CVS Health Corp. and other CVS entities in U.S. District Court, alleging that the company breached its severance agreement with him, violated wage laws and arbitrarily and capriciously denied his benefits claims.

According to Kolady, CVS breached the agreement under false pretenses to scapegoat him for sexual harassment allegations against a manager who did not report directly to him – claims he said he had no involvement in and was not aware of until being told by human resources.

Courts: Former CVS VP says company made him the fall guy in harassment scandal in new lawsuit

Matos has 94% of nominating signatures tossed in Jamestown. How did other campaigns compare?

Collecting signatures for candidate nomination papers can be sloppy business, but one campaign worker for Lt. Gov. Sabina Matos, who is running for the Democratic nomination in the 1st Congressional District, made a particular mess leading to a criminal investigation.

While a Providence Journal review of papers filed in Jamestown, where the Matos campaign's errors first came to light, showed that other campaigns had signatures rejected, 94.1% of the Matos signatures were rejected, a rate more than four times higher than the other candidates.

Politics: Matos has 94% of nominating signatures tossed in Jamestown. How did other campaigns compare?

Providence welcomes three new restaurants. These are the dishes you've got to try.

Providence is home to three new restaurants that add to the city's rich dining menu.

Gift Horse, from a James Beard nominated chef, brings a raw bar and seafood specialties to downtown. There, There, in the West End, is a modern diner with comfort food and a comfortable vibe. And Seoul Providence, in Davol Square, is an Asian fusion restaurant by day and a place to dance by night.

Food editor Gail Ciampa tells you which cocktails and dishes you won't want to miss.

Dining: Providence welcomes three new restaurants. These are the dishes you've got to try.

To read the full stories, go to providencejournal.com. Find out how to subscribe here.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Providence Journal top stories: Puppy crisis; Providence restaurants