11 May 2025 Pet of the Month: Faulkner County Animal Shelter
By Lori Dunn
The dream of Faulkner County having its own animal shelter is now a reality.
A recent ribbon cutting introduced the new facility to the public, and those involved hope the shelter can make a difference for stray dogs and cats in the county. “The city of Conway has had an animal shelter, but the county has never had one until now,” said Lori Quinn, president of the nonprofit Faulkner County Animal Coalition Board of Directors. The shelter is at 597 U.S. Highway 65 in Greenbrier and is managed by the coalition board.
The shelter is something that has been needed for a long time. “There have been groups, including Friends of the Faulkner County Shelter, working for years to make this happen,” Quinn said. “Our group was formed about 18 months ago. It’s mainly local businesspeople who want to step up and make this happen. The need is greater than what one shelter can do, but we hope it helps.”
Faulkner County owns the building and has contracted with the Faulkner County Animal Coalition to manage the shelter, Quinn said. The construction was funded with $1.5 million in American Rescue Plan Funds.
The primary mission is to support the Faulkner County Sheriff’s Office. Examples of animals that are accepted include animals from neglect cases investigated by the sheriff’s office, or animals that are found abandoned or injured. Some animals will stay at the shelter temporarily until the owner is found, but most will eventually be up for adoption.
Citizens will not be allowed to surrender animals at the facility. “What we will do is be a resource for the community and connect individuals with different rescue groups,” Quinn said. “We may not be able to take your dog, but we can provide an updated list of local rescues.”
An existing building at the location was remodeled for the shelter. The remodeled area is 6,750 square feet. The total square footage of the building is 10,000 square feet, so there is room to expand, Quinn said. Currently, the shelter can hold a minimum of 50 animals. It will have a veterinarian on staff one day a week. The vet will spay and neuter animals and provide other medical services. Nick Davis is the shelter director, and there are four staff members.
Many donors have already contributed to the shelter, but more donations are needed, Quinn said. There are opportunities to name areas in honor of, or in memory of, an animal lover to raise money. “Anyone who wants to name a space after a family member or an animal lover in their life can purchase a space for $1,500 or up. However, any level of donation is appreciated,” Quinn said.
There are other ways to support the shelter, including corporate matching. Many employers offer workplace giving and matching programs that double donations made by their employees. All money goes to shelter operations, and donations of towels, blankets, pet carriers or leashes are also appreciated. Additionally, there are wish lists on Amazon and Chewy. Volunteer training and education will also be available to the public.
The shelter’s hours are from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Saturdays. It is closed on Sunday.
For more information, call 501.904.8268, message [email protected] or visit the shelter’s Facebook page.
