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Give Animals Like Charlie a Second Chance

Through donations, Charlie received the eye surgery he desperately needed and found his forever home! Your support has made a meaningful difference in his life!

Mail checks to:  

Friends of SAWAS

105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd. #256 Waynesboro, VA 22980

Or click below for online donations

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We're on a mission!

Animals in Need

Our Pet In Need for March is Ferdinand

This sweet 16 year old was surrendered in a rough state. He was matted, underweight, and drooling non-stop.
Because staff weren’t sure about Ferdinand’s overall prognosis, the first order of business was to have a quality of life assessment. We covered that, and it was determined that for a geriatric cat, Ferdinand’s only big health concern was his mouth full of infected and rotting teeth. With your help, we covered that, too.
Then it was found that he had signs of eosinophilic granuloma, a fairly common condition in cats that generally clears with steroids once the irritant (often flea bites, or an allergen) is no longer present. He’s in a foster home currently, and his condition is being continually monitored to ensure that he’s healing.
We’re so grateful to our donors for helping cover Ferdinand’s care so far. Can you help us ensure that he continues to get the care he needs?

Friends of SAWAS

105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd. #256

Waynesboro, VA 22980

I Want To Help

We Make Dreams Come True!

We provide hope when there is none–when a potential adopter can’t afford a tumor removal surgery, that dog maybe overlooked; when a cat needs its infected teeth removed to be pain-free, it will be passed over for adoption. You gave unfortunate animals, like Huxley, a second chance to live out their golden years in a loving home.  

Friends of SAWAS

105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd. #256

Waynesboro, VA 22980

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Success Stories

Read real stories of shelter animals who found healing, hope, and forever homes thanks to your support.

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Adoptables

Meet the amazing dogs and cats at Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter currently looking for their forever families—maybe it’s yours!

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Our Story

 In 2019, a group of animal lovers banded together for the sole purpose of ensuring that shelter animals at the, then Lyndhurst, shelter received medical funding rather than be euthanized when the municipal medical budget ran out.   

Since then, we have built a strong partnership with the shelter to improve the save rate, decrease community surrenders by providing pet food and medical help, and be that last hope for a shelter animal that may have no other hope in the world.  

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Success By The Number Since 2019

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Want To Be Part Of The Mission?

Do you want hands on time with animals?  At the shelter in Verona, you have the chance to have a meaningful impact! Imagine cuddling with playful kittens, taking energetic puppies to fun play areas, or ensuring that our furry friends have comfortable living spaces, clean bedding, and full tummies. Please contact the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter directly at 540-943-5142 or click the shelter link above to find out what opportunities await you.

Or, are you more of a keyboard warrior? 

With just a laptop and a bit of savvy with search engines, you can dive into the world of grant research and applications. Imagine the rewards: watch as the funding opportunities start rolling in! Don’t miss out on the chance to turn your skills into financial support which will help many more animals receive the medical treatments to make them adoptable. Click the link below to contact us.  

I'm a Keyboard Warrior

Our Hard-Working Team!

David Greiner

President, Board of Directors

Sarah Brodie

Vice President, Board of Directors

Pearl Estrada

Secretary, Board of Directors

Sheri Laubach

Treasurer, Board of Directors

Paula Cathey

Board Member

Alyce DiPalma

Board Member

Shannon Evans

Medical Coordinator

Casey Eldridge

Digital Communications Lead

Kaitlin Mazer

Development Coordinator

Frequently Asked Questions

What do we do?

We believe that every animal deserves the best care, which is why we offer supplemental medical funding to the needy animals at the Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter. The municipal funding can sometimes fall short, and we are committed to ensuring that these animals receive the medical attention they need to find a loving home.  

If you are inquiring about adopting a new pet or surrendering a pet, please contact the shelter at 540-943-5142

You can financially donate online through our secure portal or send a check to:  105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd #256, Waynesboro, VA 22980.  To donate usable items for the shelter or to help stock the community food pantry located in the shelter, call 540-943-5142 for hours and accepted items.  

For hands-on with the animals, please contact the shelter directly 540-943-5142.  

To fundraise with our group, leave a message at 540-324-8685

If neither of those options work, then follow and share us on Facebook, TikTok, and other social media posts to get our mission out there!  

FOSAWAS prioritizes your contributions appropriately.   There are no salaries, no purchased freebies/swag handed out, no frivolous spending—over 90% of every dollar donated goes directly to vital medical treatments of animals.  In 2025, we allocated over $50,000 to support shelter and community animals in Staunton, Augusta County, and Waynesboro, many of whom were at risk of medical euthanasia.  We challenge you to find another charity where your dollar will make as great an impact on an animal’s life!  

 

The Community Pet Food Pantry at Staunton Augusta Waynesboro Animal Shelter located at 1011 Lee Hwy Verona, VA often has available food.  Call ahead to check:  540-943-5142

If you need medical funding for your pet, we may be able to help.  Please fill out this form or call 540-324-8685 for information.  

Our Veterinary Partners:

Click here to see our partnership in action

Our Community Partner:

Baby's Journey to Healing

Baby’s story is one of resilience and second chances. When her family faced financial hardship and could no longer care for her, they made the heartbreaking but loving choice to bring her to the shelter, hoping she’d get the help she needed. Baby arrived uncomfortable, struggling with skin issues and a painful cherry eye caused by an inflamed third eyelid.

Thanks to timely veterinary care and a much-needed surgery, Baby is now feeling better than she has in a long time. Free from pain and on the mend, this sweet senior girl has truly been given a new lease on life—and a bright new chapter she absolutely deserves.  Look at her photo of her leaving for her new home!   🐾✨

 

Meet Cranberry!

At just one month old, this tiny kitten has already endured more pain than any baby should. Found by a Good Samaritan in Waynesboro, Cranberry was frail, underweight, and suffering from a severely ruptured eye. She arrived at the new Verona shelter just before Thanksgiving and was named Cranberry as a reminder of the hope everyone had for her.

To relieve her pain and prevent a life-threatening infection, Cranberry urgently needed surgery to remove the damaged eye. This procedure was not optional—it was the only way to give her comfort and a chance at a healthy life.

Emergency medical care for a kitten this young is costly, but thanks to generous donations, Cranberry—and other vulnerable animals like her—receive the lifesaving treatment they desperately need. Gifts like yours help provide critical surgeries, medications, and ongoing care for kittens, cats, puppies, and dogs who have nowhere else to turn.

Because of this second chance, we’re thrilled to share that Cranberry healed, grew stronger, and found her forever home in February. Your support truly changes lives—one tiny kitten at a time.

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