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.
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
Faithful Friends incorporates and opens a No-Kill shelter in Delaware.
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.
Faithful Friends opens the first free food and supply bank in Delaware, and encourages other local shelters to do the same.
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.
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.
The Office of Animal Welfare is created and operated under the Department of Health and Human Services.
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.
Faithful Friends renovates the building next door and expands community veterinary services to six days a week, serving over 5,000 pets a year.
Quiet phase of Capital Campaign kicks off for new Adoption and Community Resource Center to be constructed at 165 Airport Road in New Castle.
Quiet phase of Capital Campaign continues.
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
Shelter and Operations Staff
Veterinary Medicine Team
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