About

We’re all About Saving Our Animal Friends
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

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.

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

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.

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

Jane Pierantozzi
Executive Director
Jeannie DiSabatino
Jeannie DiSabatino, ext. 104
Facilities & Human Resources Director
Pam Heissenbuttel
Chief Financial Officer
Shannon O’Neill
Development & PR Director
Lisa Lange
Systems Manager
Kayla Mullen
Kayla Mullen, ext. 134
Marketing & PR Manager
Amanda Rainford
Amanda Rainford, ext. 133
Donor Development Manager
Alison Romano
Alison Romano, ext. 102
Volunteer & Community Affairs Manager
Joyce Hoffman
Joyce Hoffman, ext. 140
Major Gifts Officer

Shelter and Operations Staff

Geannine Checchio
Dog Department & Front Desk Manager
Lynn Albright
Lynn Albright, ext. 117
Cat Department Manager
Ben Touchton
Ben Touchton, ext. 119
Dog Trainer
Nicole Cunningham
Dog Placement Coordinator
Rebekah Muller
Dog Adoption Coordinator
Deanna Repella
Deanna Repella, ext. 136
Cat Foster Coordinator
Emily Fraim
Cat Adoption Coordinator
Leigh Spencer
Shelter Services Customer Service Associate
Kalila Pace
Kalila Pace, ext. 100
Front Desk Coordinator

Veterinary Medicine Team

Dr. Rob Lawrie
Veterinary Medical Director
Dr. Karen Sweeney
Shelter Medicine Veterinarian
Dr. Meghan DesGroseilliers
Dr. Meghan DesGroseilliers
Associate Veterinarian
Kim Dieter
Director of Medical Operations
Marina Moran
Medical Operations Manager
Ashley Weicker
Ashley Weicker, ext. 113
Lead Veterinary Technician

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 – Chief Wellness Officer, ChristianaCare
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)
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