About Us

Our First Year | The Plans | The Money | Board of Directors |

Faithful Friends Animal Sanctuary is an animal rescue group formed for the sole purpose of starting a no-kill animal sanctuary in Rowan County. Our vision is of a sanctuary for abused and abandoned dogs and cats, with the goal of adopting most of them out. Those that do not find homes will live out their lives at the sanctuary. We are a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt public charity.

We are members of the American Humane Association, the Rowan County Chamber of Commerce, and the NC Center for Nonprofits.

Our Mission: To rescue abandoned dogs and cats; to provide health care for them, including spay-neuter; and to provide a home where they will find safety, warmth, care and love during their stay, whether it’s for a few weeks or a lifetime.

Faithful Friends was founded in January, 2007, by a group of animal rescuers in the Rowan County area.

President Anne Ingram has spearheaded the effort that we hope will become a community-wide endeavor to save the lives of homeless animals. A native of Thomasville, NC, Anne was educated at St. Mary’s Junior College, Wake Forest University, and East Carolina University. She has a BS in physical therapy and a certificate in publishing from the University of California-Berkeley. During her 31 years as a physical therapist, she has owned a private physical therapy practice in California, and has work as a free- lance book editor. Anne spent over 20 years in the San Francisco area before moving to Rowan County in 1999. She has also lived in New Zealand and Germany. Anne has been active in animal rescue on a continuous basis for about 12 years.

Besides fostering and placing over 500 homeless animals, Anne has played a major role in the development of a low-cost spay/neuter program in Rowan County. She has written a pet advice column for the Salisbury Post called Dear Tabby, written Humane Society newsletters and grant proposals, done brochures on basic cat and dog care for the Rowan County Shelter, composed a brochure of recommended changes for the Shelter based on what nearby counties are doing, and developed a program that supplies over 2,000 elementary school children in Rowan County with monthly humane education newspapers. Anne has attended workshops regarding animal rescue, running a sanctuary, disaster planning and nonprofit fundraising.

Vice President Brenda Wood chairs the Fundraising Committee. Brenda Wood moved to Salisbury from Toronto Canada in 1994.  Her family owns and operates a local business.  She has been involved in many community organizations and is passionate about animal welfare. Treasurer Gina Dinse is an administrator at the VA Hospital and an experienced animal rescuer. Secretary Mary Ann Pool has strong contacts in the business community and serves as Chair of the Building Committee. She is an experienced animal rescuer.

Other members of the Board are Bob Bailey, local community leader and business owner, and Chair of the Land Committee; Jeanne Dennis, graphic designer and experienced rescuer; Lynda Errante, community leader and former board member of the Historic Salisbury Foundation and Waterworks Visual Art Center; Sandra Jackson, former Humane Society board member and experienced rescuer; and Harry Welch, who currently runs his own kennel of 30 rescued dogs. Dennis and Jackson serve as co-chairs of the Rescue Committee and the Publicity Committee.