2000
Group of citizens led by Jane Pierantozzi exposes the 90% kill rate in publicly funded shelters; starts the volunteer Pet Life Line to provide alternative animal welfare resources to the public.
In 2000 a group of local animal lovers began to reveal the problem of pet homelessness in Delaware and expose the animal shelters’ reliance on mass euthanasia to free up space for more incoming pets. At that time, 80–90% of the animals entering Delaware shelters did not make it out alive! It would take nearly two decades to change this.
Founder and Executive Director
Jane Pierantozzi
Jane Pierantozzi
Faithful Friends was founded with Jane Pierantozzi at the helm to fight for better outcomes for animals that end up in shelters. Today, Faithful Friends is committed to a No Kill philosophy. We strive to end killing for all animals who are not irremediably suffering, rigorously defined. Our approach can save ALL healthy, treatable, and trainable animals which in most communities across the country equates to a 90% or higher save rate. Faithful Friends Animal Society is an advocate for animal welfare, a shelter for homeless pets, a resource for pet owners and colony caretakers, and a beacon of hope for our community.
Read about our No-Kill Policy
Our mission is to end the neglect, abandonment and killing of pets in Delaware and enrich the lives of people by promoting and providing compassionate animal-related welfare and social services.
Our Timeline
2001 – 2003
Faithful Friends incorporates and opens a No-Kill shelter in Delaware.
2006
Faithful Friends leads the creation of Delaware’s first spay/neuter legislation signed into law, and becomes a national model for animal welfare; public spay/ neuter fund is created to help pet owners on public assistance; and shelters are required to spay/neuter pets prior to adoption.
2008
Faithful Friends opens the first free food and supply bank in Delaware, and encourages other local shelters to do the same.
2010
Faithful Friends leads the creation of Delaware’s Animal Shelter Standards Law, a national model for animal welfare. Shelters are now required to: provide basic medical care to animals; extend a 72-hour stray hold to include cats, and publicly post animal outcomes.
2011
Faithful Friends requests that Delaware’s animal welfare services be consolidated and moved under a supportive state agency. The state legislature appoints a task force to review.
2013
The Office of Animal Welfare is created and operated under the Department of Health and Human Services.
2014
Faithful Friends expands their community veterinary services to two days a week to include basic sick care, wellness care, and special procedures, which provides pet owners with affordable alternatives to giving pets up to a shelter or euthanasia.
2017
Faithful Friends renovates the building next door and expands community veterinary services to six days a week, serving over 5,000 pets a year.
2018
Quiet phase of Capital Campaign kicks off for new Adoption and Community Resource Center to be constructed at 165 Airport Road in New Castle.
2019 – 2021
Quiet phase of Capital Campaign continues.
2021
Faithful Friends led the creation of a registration fee increase to manufacturers on the sale of pet food in Delaware, adding to the state’s spay/neuter fund.
Our Team
Administrative Staff
Jeannie DiSabatino, ext. 104
Facilities & Human Resources Director
Shelter and Operations Staff
Veterinary Medicine Team
Dr. Meghan DesGroseilliers
Associate Veterinarian
Ashley Weicker, ext. 113
Lead Veterinary Technician
Dr. Patricia Mapps
Honored Founders
Ellice McDonald, Jr.
Bill Farrow
Board of Directors
Robert Wasserbach, Esq., CPA – President, NCC Auditor
Sharon Struthers – Vice President, Philanthropist
Erin Salamone – Treasurer, Audit Manager, Exelon
Rebecca Frederick – Secretary, Philanthropist
Heather Farley, MD, MHCDS, FACEP – Chief Wellbeing Officer & Professor of Emergency Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina
Tomas Gordon – CEO, ClearOne Advantage
Nancy Horisk-Sherr – Freelance Writer-Photographer
Saffiya Jarvis – SVP, Regulatory Complaints Executive
Jessica Jones Esq. – Partner, Saul Ewing, LLP
Jeanne Mell – Principal, JMell Communications
Alicia Rodriguez, Esq. – Adjunct Professor, Brooklyn Law School
Jennifer Young – VP Planned Giving and Development Analytics, University of Tel Aviv
Board of Advisors
Sean Bavol-Montgomery, CFO, Integrity Staffing Solutions
Bonney Brown, Humane Network
Jill Cantera, President, Bellevue Contractors, LLC
Gene Delle Donne, VP of Delle Donne & Associates
Kathy Gallagher, Owner, Michael Gallagher Jewelers
Donna Kinzel, Executive, Ursuline Academy
Paul McConnell, CEO/Founder, McConnell Development
Gary Phillips, Policy Consultant
Craig Prettyman, Chief of Technology, University of Delaware
Ann C. Rose, Philanthropist
Laurisa Schutt, Philanthropist
Carol A. Tavani, MD, MS, DLFAPA, Executive Director, Christiana Psychiatric Services
Angela Tsionas, President, Tsionas Management
Nathan Winograd, Esq., No Kill Advocacy Center
Connie Wittig, Diamond State Management
The Annual Numbers
$3.5M
What it takes to do what we do
1,323
Animals found new homes
1,412
Animals spayed/neutered
195
Animals in sanctuary care or long-term care
2,166
Pets served at FF Veterinary Clinic
11,500
Pet caretakers counseled
200
Pet Life Line hours dedicated by volunteers
Fiscal Year 2023 (7/1/22-6/30/23)
Quarterly Statistics:
