By Kathleen Beaver, President & CEO

Happy birthday to Animal Friends! This year we are proudly celebrating our 80th birthday. First, a quick history lesson – Animal Friends was founded in 1943 at the height of World War II. Several kindhearted individuals came together to help the animals who were being left behind when their owners were called to serve in the war. In the simplest of terms, they were a matchmaking service with no shelter but plenty of energy and commitment to find these pets homes. And, this spark ignited a whole new way to support, care for and rescue homeless pets.

Now, 80 years later, Animal Friends has blossomed into a full-service community resource center focused on celebrating the important role that pets play in our lives while solving big challenges in our community like pet homelessness, lack of access to veterinary care and basic resources, combating animal abuse and neglect and supporting a greater understanding of pet behavior and health needs. Better than any words I can say, these photos tell our mission story and demonstrate the impact Animal Friends has had in the Pittsburgh region for eight decades.

So, grab a glass and join me in a toast to the lifesaving work that together we have made possible …

To our founders for igniting a storm of compassionate change and bucking the status quo,

To our community who stands firmly behind our vision of a compassionate future for every animal friend,

To each of the animals who have passed through our doors and on to a better future.

Here’s to our humble beginnings and our visionary future, 

Here’s to our next 80 years!

Cheers!

Kathleen Beaver
President & CEO