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

We're on a mission!

Animals in Need

Our Pet In Need for January and February is Yeller

Yeller is a shelter animal as a result of being seized due to neglect/abuse.  For an old guy, this is a sad story.  We are currently providing him the medical care he needs – tumor removal and skin care issues.  He’s living in a foster home, fortunately, because being in the shelter for this poor old man would be detrimental.  Would you like to help Yeller get medical care and hopefully find a place he can grow old in peace and not worry about abuse again?  

Friends of SAWAS

105-A Lew Dewitt Blvd. #256

Waynesboro, VA 22980

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

Success Stories

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

Adoptables

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

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.  

Success By The Number Since 2019

Animals Helped
0 +
Funding Spent
$ 0 K+
Save Rate
0 %

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.  

Our 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

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 93% of every dollar donated goes directly to vital medical treatments of animals.  In 2024, we allocated $55,894 to support over 80 animals, 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

Our Veterinary Partner:

Our Community Partner:




Elkin is Finally Pain Free!

Little Elkin Avenue was found as a stray with a severely damaged leg that had healed incorrectly from a neglected injury as seen in the photo. 

Once we heard about this, we immediately scheduled her at Animal Hospital of Waynesboro, where the deformed leg was amputated. Elkin Avenue now lives pain-free and has learned to navigate all the areas of her new home on 3 legs!
What a turnaround!




Kostya Found a Forever Home!

Kostya was surrendered to the Lyndhurst shelter due to severe skin and a bladder infections. It’s heartbreaking that her previous owners may have abandoned her because they couldn’t afford her care or didn’t want her anymore. Despite her pain, the shelter staff were touched by her affectionate nature. The dog manager reached out to Friends Of for help, and thanks to our generous supporters, Kostya received prompt treatment from Dr. Reeder at the Animal Hospital of Waynesboro. We’re thrilled to share that she has made a full recovery and now has a brighter future ahead!




No More Mouth Issues for Buffet!

Poor Buffet appeared as a stray and was taken to the shelter by Animal Control.  He had many skin issues, but more severely, he had extremely painful tooth and gum problems.  

Friends Of was able to cover his dental procedure, making him a much more adoptable cat, and he is now living with his forever family!  




Cistern - From Staunton Stray to Beloved Family Pet!

Cistern was picked up in Staunton, Virginia, with a severe hernia, a potentially euthanizable medical situation.  Luckily, we were contacted in time to provide Cistern with the surgery he needed.  He was adopted soon after and is now living his best life off the streets!  

Name
Name