How our story began with Lucky.

It all started with a gentle, 11-year-old golden retriever/black lab mix named “Lucky.” He came into the lives of a small group of friends in north central West Virginia who had been fostering and caring for rescue animals for many years. Lucky was so mistreated that his hip was dislocated from a violent kick. He had been left to die by those he thought he could trust. A caring neighbor saved him, providing blankets, food and water until the rescue group arrived, and a member took Lucky home and arranged for orthopedic surgery to repair his hip. He made a full recovery and was an inspiration to this group of animal-loving friends who were quickly running out of room within their own homes for additional animals in need.

Animal Friends of North Central West Virginia (AFNCWV) was born out of a desire by the group to do the right thing for these animals of misfortune. Together, they strived to create a high-quality, non-profit shelter to provide refuge, care and aid for unwanted, abandoned, and abused animals. The group wanted to provide a shelter where there would be no unwarranted euthanasia. AFNCWV doesn’t believe that pets should be killed simply because they have no homes.

As of the last tally in summer 2016, the group has helped to save the lives of more than 7,000 animals since registering as a non-profit with the West Virginia Secretary of State in 1999.