Our Mission

Friends of Multnomah County Shelter Animals is committed to providing complementary support to the positive work performed by Multnomah County Animal Services. This work includes assuring animals’ safe haven, veterinary attention, compassionate care, reuniting lost pets to their families, and finding loving homes for homeless pets.

History

In 1997, a team from Multnomah County Animal Services (then Animal Control) formed a nonprofit entity to help provide the shelter with essential funding to supplement the county’s basic animal services. This new nonprofit, Friends of Multnomah County Animal Control, was led by MCAC employee/director Frank Dixon, who received legal authority from the county to serve as the first director of both the county’s animal services and the Friends’ nonprofit. Within a year, a new director (Rod Strand) assumed leadership of Friends, adding board members and developing the nonprofit's mission as it helped fund Multnomah County Animal Services with significant contributions.

In 1999 (and after an organizational name change), Friends of the Shelter Foundation funded an expansion at the shelter which included a modern surgical unit and a visitors area. Friends also funded the shelter’s microchip program and a designated area for the spay/neuter facility. The foundation paid a year’s rent on a building at Washington Center Mall that allowed for spay and neuter overflow, and covered medical treatments.

Friends of the Shelter Foundation funded:

• A $10,000 matching donation for the 2019 Kitten Triage Program

• A mobile trailer, originally used for spay and neuter surgeries, which more recently housed the Kitten Triage Program

• “Adopt Me” vests for dogs to wear at adoption outreach programs

• Two new vans wrapped with eye catching graphics

  • One, used to transport adoptable animals to outreach events and offsite adoption venues

  • The other, used for the live trapping and safe transport of feral cats to and from spay/neuter surgery, and to provide community cat education throughout the county

• Fencing material for the shelter’s dog yards

• New humane-sized kennels for the cattery

• Rolling cat enclosures for adoptable animal overflow

• New sterilizing dishwasher

• Trailer base for the “Pitties in Pink” parade float

• Park-like yard with agility equipment for dog walks and enrichment

• Dog grooming tools such as a grooming table, clippers, combs and brushes

• Belly bands for dogs in foster homes

Sherri Goldstein, past President of Friends of the Shelter Foundation and a longtime member of the board (2003-2018), has said that one volunteer can make a world of difference for the shelter and for Friends. One such volunteer was Jan Cook. Jan spent countless hours and years of service at MCAS donating personal funds for adoptions. She paved the way for mentor programs, educating and recruiting volunteers as well as the general public, and showing how each one of us can make a world of difference one pet at a time. Jan also set an extraordinary example in setting aside money from her estate to continue supporting Multnomah County’s shelter animals after her death.

In October 2018, Friends of the Shelter Foundation renamed its nonprofit to Friends of Multnomah County Shelter Animals. New board members will carry on Sherri Goldstein’s vision for raising awareness about responsible pet ownership and supporting foster animals and their families. Additionally, Friends will continue to dedicate itself to the mission of raising funds to provide the best care for all homeless, neglected, and abandoned animals that come into the shelter. It is our deepest desire that each animal is afforded the humane respect needed in order to be placed into loving homes with owners who will provide the best pet care possible.