A sneak peek at Faithful Friends' new animal shelter near New Castle
Faithful Friends Animal Society will open the doors to its new headquarters near New Castle in a couple of days, with new adoption specials available to match pets with their forever homes.
Faithful Friends is a nonprofit, no-kill animal welfare organization and shelter that has been based in Delaware since 2000. The organization has saved and improved the lives of thousands of animals over two decades.
In addition to acting as an adoption center, it also runs various community service programs such as Pet Life Line and donation centers for free pet supplies and medical services.
The new location is located at 165 Airport Road near New Castle, tucked behind the school bus lot for the Colonial School District and the Wawa at Airport Road and Churchmans Road.
The facility offers the staff and animals more than 17,000 square feet, with an additional 27 acres of outdoor space for community events, training programs and enrichment exercises, a luxury that the organization hasn't had since its inception in 2000.
Delaware Online/The News Journal got an exclusive look at the new facility (and its furry residents) just days before the grand opening.
New beginnings for Faithful Friends
Faithful Friends has rented warehouse space on Germay Drive in Wilmington since opening. The industrial park location offered little flexibility for the many services the organization provides, and staff members were forced to walk animals along the surrounding busy roads.
"A purpose-built shelter has been a part of our vision since the beginning," said Shannon O'Neill, director of development for Faithful Friends Animal Society. "This allows dogs to have indoor and outdoor access, so it's really great to support the animals and their comfort."
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The new headquarters was funded by donations that have been pooled together over the last five years. The final cost for the shelter ended up being just under $11 million, and construction on the site broke ground in October 2021.
Improving the quality of life and care for the animals was the organization's top priority in moving headquarters, which is made evident with the inclusion of dog "condos" and "catios" for the animals to enjoy the fresh air and sunlight.
There are separate sections of the facility for animals in need of a quieter space or time to heal, a kitchen and laundry room for volunteers to tend to the shelter, and isolation rooms for animals to heal from any sicknesses or procedures.
"The idea is to get them healthier faster and help with our life-saving number over the course of the year," O'Neill said.
A space is located in the front of the facility for former feral cats to spend time outdoors, overlooking a vegetable garden planted by and for the staff members.
The 27 acres of outdoor space are set up with a memorial garden, training and enrichment area, and three trailheads with plans to build out a "meet and greet gazebo" for potential adopters to meet the animals. There also are chicken coops for the occasional farm animal that requires care or housing.
Part of the new beginning for the group is a new medical RV that the group uses to assist communities with veterinary care or supply donations. Its new Pets for Life initiative involves going door to door in underserved communities to make sure pet owners have the resources and support they need to keep their pets happy and healthy. This includes free pet food, medical treatments and behavioral training services to adoptive families whose pets need help adjusting.
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Another important aspect of the new facility is retaining the 300 volunteers and nearly two dozen full-time staff members. The Airport Road building is equipped with new break rooms and sitting spaces for the staff to utilize and enjoy some quality time with the animals.
Helping the community and adoption specials
Faithful Friends prides itself on being a long-term care facility, even if that means keeping animals for the length of their life. Some of the dogs, cats, bunnies (and even fish) have been given up by owners, found stray or rescued from abusive situations.
"At our core, we are an advocacy organization," O'Neill said. "We want to try to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters. It's not fair to rip a pet away just because [owners] can't afford the food, veterinary care or housing."
Annual shelter figures
1,600 dogs and cats are rescued and adopted
1,000 pets are fostered
300 cats and dogs live in long-term sanctuary care
2,200 low-cost spay/neuter surgeries are performed
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A resource hotline also is available for pet owners to call with questions or requests to improve the quality of their pet's life. According to the organization, over 11,000 people are counseled on pet issues via the hotline every year. The hotline can be accessed by calling 302-427-8008.
Annual community outreach figures
3,600 people receive free pet food for over 7,000 pets
4,500 pets receive low-cost veterinary care
6,000 people are served in the group's Pet Therapy program
In celebration of the new headquarters, Faithful Friends will host an adoption special in August. The adoption fee for cats and dogs will temporarily be reduced to $23 and include free cat scratchers and treats for cats and three months of flea treatment and heartworm prevention (and free treats) for dogs.
The shelter is operating on an appointment-only basis until Thursday, Aug. 3. Appointments can be scheduled on the group's website. After Aug. 3, the shelter will be open Tuesdays through Fridays from noon until 7 p.m. and on Saturdays from noon to 5 p.m.
Providing a safe and welcoming space for the animals and community members has been long overdue in the eyes of the tireless staff members, and the work is far from over. But for the animals that have been granted more space and a calmer atmosphere, the move truly represents a new beginning.
"It's not a forever home, but we want to make this the next best thing," O'Neill said.
Contact Molly McVety at mmcvety@delawareonline.com. Follow her on Twitter @mollymcvety.
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This article originally appeared on Delaware News Journal: First look at Faithful Friends animal shelter opening near New Castle
