What is Friends of the Shelter?
Friends of the Shelter is an all-volunteer, 501c3 non-profit organization established to fund the medical care of the sick and injured dogs at the Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center.

The Franklin County Dog Shelter and Adoption Center is funded by the county budget and from funds generated through fees, such as dog licenses. However, these sources of funding are not sufficient to provide medical care for the Shelter dogs that need more than basic services.

The Friends of the Shelter was formed in 2003 to save these sick or injured—but otherwise adoptable—dogs so they can be adopted into loving, forever families.

Nearly all of the donations to Friends of the Shelter go directly to pay for the medical, surgical, recuperative and infirmary care for Shelter dogs that are sick, injured, abused or neglected. This care costs, on average, $150,000 annually and is funded primarily through donations from dog lovers like you. Friends of the Shelter does not receive any funding from taxes, national organizations or government entities.

Friends of the Shelter is an all-volunteer group of local individuals who donate their time to the day-to-day operations of the organization. Additionally, the volunteers plan and coordinate fundraising events, marketing and public relations projects and provide accounting and legal guidance. As an all-volunteer group, the organization is able to keep overhead very low, allowing over 95% of donations to help our needy Shelter dogs.