Friends of NACC

Mission

To support the Norfolk Animal Care Center in sheltering and caring for Norfolk’s stray and homeless animals, to promote and facilitate adoptions, to assist with special needs medical care, to promote and support spay/neuter in the community and to educate the public about responsible pet ownership.

Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center (FNACC) In 2005, a small group of caring citizens banded together with the goal of providing additional medical care for animals in Norfolk’s City Shelter. Thus the Medical Fund for animals was born, spurred by a $750 donation. This small group lit a spark, encouraging more citizens to get involved and to identify additional ways they could help the city’s homeless pets. Financial support expanded, participation grew, and in 2008 the organization’s name was changed to Friends of the Norfolk Animal Care Center (Friends). This evolution signaled broader growth as sponsored programs increased to include not only medical support, but also funding of adoption programs, sponsoring spay/neuter programs, and promoting adoption and rescue. From the initial six-member Board, Friends has grown to a 14-member Board with a network of volunteers and growing financial resources. The original $750 donation has advanced into an annual operating budget of nearly $100,000, with all proceeds benefiting the Norfolk Animal Care Center and community. 

While the City of Norfolk provides for the basics—housing, feeding and initial vaccinations, microchipping, and spaying/neutering, much more help is needed to prepare and place these pets in good homes. That's where Friends of NACC, as a nonprofit 501(c) 3, comes in. 

Many animals arrive needing extra care. Our additional support enables staff to give the extra care and attention these animals need. Funds raised are used to market and advertise the shelter's programs, sponsor special adoption events, underwrite a foster program for the most vulnerable, fund medical procedures, support improvements to the shelter, facilities and housing, educate the public about responsible pet ownership, and promote spay/neuter in the community. Together, the staff of Norfolk Animal Care Center and Friends board and volunteers strive together to bring a happy outcome for all of Norfolk's shelter animals.

Our programs include:

Medical Assistance for NACC Shelter animals: Friends provides funds for special medical procedures needed by NACC shelter animals such as heartworm treatments, corrective surgery and dental needs.​

Subsidized Adoptions for NACC Shelter animals: Friends help fund and promote ongoing, reduced-fee adoption events. These events raise awareness for NACC and result in hundreds of adoptions each year.

Golden Paws: The goal of Golden Paws Senior Adoption Program is a quicker placement for older pets. It encourages adopters to find a mature, house-trained and well-behaved companion who might otherwise be overlooked. Golden Paws assists both senior shelter animals (7 years +) with placement into a new home and also gives senior adopters (over the age of 65) an opportunity to adopt a new companion at reduced or even no cost.

Best Buds: Animals frequently come into the shelter in bonded pairs or form unique attachments to one another while in NACC’s care. In an effort to help these animals find homes together, Friends came up with Best Buds, a sponsored program that reduces the adoption fee to a 2-for-1 deal, getting both animals in a bonded pair for the price of one.

Free Pet Food Pantry: Friends started the Friends Pet Pantry in July 2011; the goal is to prevent the surrender of companion animals to the shelter. Learn more about this program in the "Free Pet Food Pantry" tab on the left side bar.

Spay/Neuter Clinics: Friends of NACC partners with other local organizations to offer low or no-cost spay/neuter clinics in targeted neighborhoods of Norfolk.​

Infrastructure Improvements for NACC: Friends provides fund for infrastructure projects and improvements at NACC, such as a remodeled reception area, additional “meet and greet” rooms, and the prototype of state-of-the­-art cat enclosures.

Special Supplies and Equipment: Friends also provides special supplies and equipment to the shelter, such as elevated dog beds, microchip scanners, interactive toys, and cameras.

Pets for Patriots, Inc: Norfolk Animal Care Center partners with the national Pets for Patriots, Inc., a Nonprofit formed in 2010 who works to uplift the lives of military veterans and their families while saving the most overlooked shelter dogs and cats. Learn more about this program at www.petsforpatriots.org

Fundraising: We have several events, including Dogtoberfest, and activities that make it easy to get involved and to make a difference. For more information about ways you can get involved, give back and just have fun, go to www.friendsofnacc.com

The Grey Muzzle Organization: Old dogs have something to wag about this summer, as The Grey Muzzle Organization announces the recipients of its annual grants, and dogs at Norfolk Animal Care & Adoption Center (NACC) are among the winners. Friends of Norfolk Animal Care Center (FNACC) in Norfolk is one of 62 animal welfare groups chosen from 240 applicants to receive a grant to help local senior dogs. The groups received a total of nearly $419,000 in grants to help save or improve the lives of at-risk older dogs in communities nationwide.