For more than 70 years, Animal Friends Humane Society (AFHS) has been a lifeline for animals and pet owners throughout Butler County. As the county's oldest and largest nonprofit animal shelter, its mission goes far beyond adoptions, providing critical services that support both animals and the people who care for them.
For Board member and longtime volunteer Jennifer Goris, that mission became personal more than a decade ago. She first became involved through Carole's Canine Companions, a program that took shelter dogs to visit residents in retirement communities.
“I didn’t expect to lose my heart to the dogs back in the kennels,” she says. “Imagine being in a confined space every day, surrounded by unfamiliar faces and loud frightening noises. It’s stressful, and a little love can go a long way.”
Animal Friends Humane Society (AFHS) offers a wide range of services that improve animal welfare in Butler County. In addition to adoptions, the shelter cares for lost, abandoned, neglected and surrendered animals and provides medical treatment and behavioral support. They also help reunite lost pets with their owners and work with foster families and rescue partners to find permanent homes.
The organization also offers microchipping services, supports trap-neuter-return efforts for community cats and operates a pet food pantry that helps families facing financial hardship keep their pets rather than surrendering them.
“AFHS also serves as a community resource by offering guidance on responsible pet ownership, hosting adoption and outreach events and educating the public about animal welfare,” Jennifer adds.
Like many shelters nationwide, Animal Friends faces challenges. Rising veterinary costs, increasing animal intake numbers, limited space and shortages of fosters and adopters have strained resources. Staff and volunteers are also seeing more animals arrive with complex medical and behavioral needs requiring extensive care before they can be adopted.
Meeting those challenges requires a community-wide effort.
"We rely heavily on foster families, volunteers, donors and community partners," says Jennifer. "The support of the community is critical to everything we do."
Volunteer opportunities include socializing dogs and cats, transporting animals to fostering, assisting in the veterinary clinic, helping with fundraising efforts and supporting administrative and marketing initiatives. Whatever a volunteer's interests, Animal Friends has a place for them.
One of the biggest misconceptions about shelter animals, Jennifer notes, is that they are somehow damaged or less desirable than pets obtained elsewhere.
“Most of the animals in our care are loving, healthy pets that simply need a second chance,” she explains.
A powerful example of the shelter’s impact came during a large hoarding case in July 2023, when Animal Friends took in 92 neglected dogs in a single day.
"Watching so many people unite for the well-being of those animals was truly inspiring," she recalls.
Community partnerships play an important role in supporting Animal Friends Humane Society's mission. Along with its annual 5K & Dog Jog, AFHS partners with Municipal Brew Works in Hamilton for “Ales for Tails” and Harley-Davidson of West Chester for “Hogs for Dogs.” The organization was also recently selected as the charity recipient for the Oxford Masonic Lodge's annual Car Show.
For Animal Friends Humane Society, this collective compassion continues to define its work every day. But they cannot do this work alone. Visit AnimalFriendsHS.org today to adopt, foster, volunteer or donate—and help change a life, one paw at a time.
Special thanks to Anjali Fong Photography. Don’t miss her Dog Days of Summer promotion, now through September 30. AnjaliFong.com