FAYETTE COUNTY, WV (LOOTPRESS) – UPDATE 9/5/2025 12:55 PM: The Fayette County Humane Society announced Friday that it will no longer operate under contract with the Fayette County Commission, ending its management of the county’s animal shelter.
In a statement, the organization said the decision was made with “heavy hearts” but that it “cannot and will not allow our mission or reputation to be destroyed at the hands of corruption, lies, and neglect.”
“This was not an easy choice. We didn’t want it to come to this,” the statement read. “We only wanted to be heard, to show our community the reality of what we’ve been up against these past three years. But instead of honesty, we were met with lies. Instead of partnership, we were met with betrayal. Instead of support, we were left standing alone.”
The Humane Society said it will continue its mission outside of the county contract, vowing to keep rescuing and rehoming animals. “The Fayette County Humane Society is not just a building or a contract—it’s a promise. And that promise will never be broken,” the group said.
The organization also launched fundraising efforts to “rebuild” and find a new home, sharing links to GoFundMe, PayPal, and Venmo accounts for donations.
In its message, the Humane Society warned that the county shelter contract has now collapsed twice in three years. “To whoever comes next—if anyone does—please guard your heart. This shelter has broken down two organizations in three years. That alone should speak volumes,” the group wrote.
The announcement follows a series of public disputes between the Humane Society and the Fayette County Commission. Earlier this week, commissioners denied allegations of neglect, detailed the financial and operational support they provide, and said an audit of the Humane Society’s finances and operations was underway.
Despite Friday’s announcement, the Fayette County Commission’s special meeting to address shelter concerns is still scheduled for Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the commission chambers at the Fayette County Courthouse.
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UPDATE 9/3/2025 7:10 PM: The Fayette County Commission has issued a statement disputing recent claims by the Fayette County Humane Society that the county has failed to support the animal shelter.
In a press release Wednesday evening, the Commission said it “provides substantial support to the FCHS” but “does not condone poor conditions for the animals, poor decision making or poor stewardship of its facilities.”
The response came hours after the Humane Society released a lengthy public statement saying it was overwhelmed and unsupported in its operation of the county’s animal shelter.
According to the Commission, it contracted with the Humane Society in late 2022 after ending an agreement with another organization.
Under that arrangement, the county provides the shelter facilities, maintenance, utilities, payroll totaling $215,000 annually, payroll administration, and two vans for transport.
In return, the Humane Society is expected to staff and manage the shelter, handle its own accounting, raise funds, recruit volunteers, maintain regular operating hours, and keep accurate records.
The Commission said it has received complaints in recent months about shelter management, including volunteers being turned away, reports of unsanitary conditions, difficulty contacting staff, and what it described as “extraordinary healthcare costs for individual animals at the expense of dozens of others.”
To address these issues, commissioners said they voted to hire two county employees to serve as liaisons between the Commission and the Humane Society. The employees will monitor conditions at the shelter, help ensure adoption opportunities are advertised, and confirm the terms of the contract are being followed.
At its Sept. 3 meeting, the Commission also ordered an audit of the Humane Society’s finances, policies, and practices.
“The Commission believes this audit will identify any concerns with the financial management of the shelter as well as identify best practices for FCHS staff when handling cash and other types of tangible donations,” the release stated. Officials suggested the Humane Society’s recent criticism may have been prompted by the announcement of the audit.
The Commission also pushed back on specific allegations.
Regarding claims the shelter went without water for three weeks last winter, commissioners said the pipes froze because “the shelter director ignored specific instructions from the County’s maintenance department about how to keep the pipes from freezing.” They said the issue was not reported promptly, delaying repairs and forcing staff to rely on donations for water that could have otherwise been directed toward food and supplies.
The Commission said all three commissioners have visited the shelter, countering Humane Society claims that only one had ever been inside.
To further address concerns, the Commission has scheduled a special public meeting for Sept. 18 at 6:30 p.m. at the Fayette County Courthouse. Commissioners invited Humane Society staff, board members, and the public to attend.
“The Commission strives to make the County shelter a facility to be proud of,” the release concluded.
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ORIGINAL STORY: The Fayette County Humane Society released a lengthy statement this week calling on both county leaders and local residents to take action to support the county’s animal shelter.
“Fayette County residents and beyond — we need you,” the statement began.
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“We are not writing this to tear anyone down or to sling insults. We are writing this because silence has gotten us nowhere. We are writing this because we are exhausted, heartbroken, and frustrated to our core. We are writing this because we care too much about these animals and this community to sit back quietly while the very people who are supposed to stand with us continue to ignore us.”
In the statement, the organization alleged that the Fayette County Commission has failed to provide adequate backing for the shelter since the group assumed responsibility in 2022, after the New River Humane Society ended its contract.
The Humane Society said it has saved “thousands of lives” and created programs such as microchip services, vaccine clinics, and food assistance, but described its efforts as unsustainable without county support.
The group noted that only one commissioner, John Brenneman, has visited the shelter.
“Since Fayette County Humane Society took over the shelter, only one commissioner — John Brenneman — has stepped foot inside these walls. Only one has attended meetings, answered calls, or shown his face. The others have done nothing. How can you decide for something you refuse to even look at?” the statement read.
The Humane Society also pointed to challenges faced by its employees, who are not considered county staff.
“That means no health insurance. No retirement. No sick time. No vacation. No maternity leave. Nothing. They come in sick, they come in injured, they come in broken, because if they don’t — the animals suffer,” the statement said.
Among the examples highlighted was a three-week period last winter when the shelter had no running water due to frozen pipes. The Humane Society said staff were allegedly told to refill jugs at Fayette County Park. “They only cared when the media found out,” the statement said.
The group stressed that it does not wish to be in conflict with the county.
“We don’t want to fight with our commissioners. We don’t want to be at war. We want to work with them,” the statement read. “We want them standing beside us when we face challenges, not turning their backs.”
The statement concluded with a call for residents to pressure the commission. “Fayette County residents — we need you too. We need you to demand better. Call your commissioners. Email them. Show up at meetings. Ask them why this shelter — your shelter — is treated like it doesn’t matter.”
The Fayette County Commission has not yet responded publicly to the Humane Society’s concerns.
