PITTSBURGH – Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37) presented a local animal shelter, Animal Friends, $300,000 in grant funding for property repairs.
Animal Friends supports the region with rescue, placement services, training classes, cruelty investigations, humane education, a pet food bank, pet-assisted therapy and volunteer opportunities. The campus includes a shelter and education facility, an affordable public veterinary clinic and more than 75 acres of wooded trails. A truss steel bridge – the only access point to the organization’s property – connects the campus to Camp Horne Road in Ohio Township. Structural engineers have recently recommended multiple repairs to keep the bridge safe and in compliant working condition.
“For 80 years, Animal Friends has raised the bar for humane programming and lifesaving services for pets and pet owners in the Pittsburgh region,” Robinson said. “I am honored to assist the organization in securing the necessary funding for repairs and preventative measures, ensuring the safety of the bridge and their ongoing operations.”
“Animal Friends provides so many lifesaving services to pets and pet owners alike,” says Kathleen Beaver, president and chief executive officer of Animal Friends. “However, none of that is possible if we don’t have safe access to our campus. This generous grant, made possible by Sen. Robinson and the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, ensures our work will continue and tens of thousands of lives throughout our region will be saved.”
The grant was funded through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development. Animal Friends of Pittsburgh will continue normal operations during the repair project, which is estimated to be completed by early 2024.
CONTACT: Jeffrey King