After more than 25 years at its location on Brewer Road in Monongalia County, Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia, the region’s first no-kill animal shelter, is ready for a new place to rest their paws.
The organization originally announced its plans for the new space designed by Paradigm Architecture in February on its social media pages. The new building will allow the nonprofit to double the number of animals it can take in.
On Aug. 18, Shelter Coordinator Katie Short made the official announcement at the annual Dog Day at the Pool fundraiser at Marilla Park, launching a fundraising campaign to raise the $2 million needed to build the new facility.
The new space will be built on the grounds next to the current building at 252 Brewer Road in Morgantown and will measure 6,700 square feet. The current building will likely be demolished following completion.
In the plans for the new facility are five rooms for dogs as well as a senior dog area and a dog playroom and training center.
There will be plenty of space for cats, too, with two adult cat rooms and three kitten rooms in the plans.
Additional areas in the plan include nursery rooms, an isolation room for sick animals, and a grooming room to keep the animals looking and feeling their best.
There will be no shortage of “people” areas, as well, including a formal lobby, an intake room, storage rooms, a food storage and preparation room and spaces for shelter staff and volunteers.
The organization has already gotten a good start on the $2 million goal thanks to a generous $25,000 donation from Hillcrest Veterinary Clinic.
If you would like to help Animal Friends meet its goal, there are several ways to do so. Donations are accepted on the Animal Friends website, at animalfriendswv.org, through Venmo @AFNCWV, or by cash or check mailed to Animal Friends of North Central WV, P.O. Box 1090, Dellslow, WV 26531.
Donations can also be delivered directly to the shelter or the Animal Friends Thrift Shoppe location at the Mountaineer Mall on Green Bag Road in Morgantown.
Kroger shoppers can also link their Kroger Plus cards to Animal Friends through the Kroger Community Rewards Program. Kroger will donate 5% of every dollar spent to the organization of your choice.
