Spirits are Renewed at Faithful Friends

Jane and Rocky, who is the largest
cat I have ever seen

I was early for my appointment with Jane Pierantozzi, Executive Director of Faithful Friends in Wilmington. But I wasn't bored. Flossy was there to keep me company. She sat next to me, inspected my bag, sniffed my coat, and wanted me to scratch her chin. So I did. Flossy is black with tan speckles and gorgeous eyes. You guessed it, she's a cat. And she's up for adoption at Faithful Friends No-Kill Animal Shelter. 

Jane walked in a minute later. A tall, graceful woman with a warm smile, Jane is undeniably dedicated to her mission. She and her staff are responsible for Flossy and nearly 200 other animals at the shelter. They rescue abandoned or feral cats and dogs for adoption. Faithful Friends is different than the SPCA and other shelters; they will work with animals that may be aggressive or anti-social. They do not "put down" animals that are difficult; instead, they take the time to understand their dysfunction and help them to correct it. In some cases, the animals require isolation or medication, others may simply require more exposure to humans over a long period of time.

 

Mimi, a Chihuahua mix in the hospital ward

Jane and a number of friends started Faithful Friends as an all-volunteer home-based shelter. In response to the high euthanization rate of animals at the SPCA, Faithful Friends rescued and placed strays, and raised money for their medical treatment. Faithful Friends became a nonprofit organization in 2001, and in 2003, they were able to raise enough funds to open their shelter on Germay Drive in Wilmington.

Nancy, a volunteer, shows me one of her "babies"

During our tour, it was obvious that the animals at Faithful Friends aren't inmates; they are welcome guests. Their kennels are clean and they are well-cared for. The Faithful Friends shelter is divided into small home environments, with plenty of places to climb, curl up, or get cozy. The staff names every animal, and they get to know each animal and their behavior and needs. It helps them to match the animals with potential families. It surprised me how well Jane herself knew each one. She pointed out a rough-looking cat, and knelt down to stroke her. "She's very old, recovering from surgery. We didn't think she would live, but she's doing well." Some residents are finicky about their surroundings. Others may have organ failure or require special diets. Their needs - whether emotional or physical - are addressed with equal importance. 

The Faithful Friends medical ward is filled with animals who have survived some sort of trauma or chronic health issue. One pitt mix was recovering from dogfighting injuries - he was used as bait. He was frisky despite his pain. A chihuahua, who begged for Jane's attention, has a heart problem and sneezes almost constantly. Nancy, a volunteer, showed me tiny kittens who she would be taking home to bottle feed every two hours. 

Arnie (left),  Jane and Jude share a
special moment in the leukemia enclosure

Jude is a stout cat with very little hesitation. He and his best friend Arnie both have feline leukemia and live with four other cats in a dedicated enclosure. They can't mingle with the other cats, and they won't live very long. Jude demanded the lion's share of Jane's attention, while Arnie curled up behind her on the orange chair. "They're the most affectionate of all of the cats," Jane said, "I come here for my therapy when I need a break." I couldn't help feeling a little bit jealous. 



Many animals come through the shelter, Jane said, but Henry was an example of the Faithful Friends program working at its best. Henry was one of 30 feral cats rescued after one of his group, a kitten, had been burned alive. "He was rescued in bad shape," she said, "but he went from being scared of people to being loveable." Henry was adopted by a loving family: a best case scenario.

Faithful Friends treasures their volunteers - almost 400 people - who help to maintain the facility, socialize troubled animals, or match animals with senior facilities or schools. Jane says, "We really value our volunteers." The shelter runs programs like LEAP, where animals read with children. "We believe that animals can help people at any age or stage." 

Jane says that my ten bucks will be put to good use: it will be added to Faithful Friends' Healing Touch Fund. Animals with special needs, including Jude and Arnie, need expensive food and medicine. Others need operations. Although Faithful Friends employs a veterinarian, they can't perform every severe medical procedure. The Healing Touch Fund stands empty right now, but when it comes in, the money pays for operations that residents desperately need. Due to the cost, severely injured animals must wait to have their procedures until Jane can raise the money. Many are waiting right now.

When I asked Jane how her experience at Faithful Friends has enriched her life, she said, "It's the most fulfilling thing I could ever imagine." She has discovered a greater faith in God, especially when it comes to finding funding for medical procedures. "We rely on a higher power. We're doing the work of love."

The best way to donate to Faithful Friends is to send them a check at 12 Germay Drive, Wilmington DE 19804. You can also donate online at http://www.faithfulfriends.us/. Faithful Friends hosts frequent fundraisers as well. The next one, a pancake breakfast, will be held on Sunday, February 27. More information is available on their web site.

My ten bucks matters, and so does yours.