The Friends of Conway Animal Shelter, is a small group comprised of local citizens that was formed on behalf of the Conway Animal Welfare Unit. Check our more about us on freindsoftheconwayshelter.com

The mission of The Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter, Inc. is to raise funds to benefit the animals at the Conway Animal Shelter that the City of Conway has not appropriated funding.
Our Goals:
Increase adoption rates through public awareness by encouraging and educating the public about pet responsibility, and the importance of spaying and neutering.
Promote continual upgrades of animal care facilities and provide funds for animals in need of emergency care and treatment.
Continue to partner with 501-C-3 non-profit rescue groups to assist in getting animals adopted on the east coast and locally.
Successes:
Purchased 2 industrial cooling fans, two covered awnings to protect the animals from the elements, several ceiling fans, an anesthesia machine for medical room, flea and tick preventative medicine, and provided funds to remodel the med room to make it more efficient for spaying and neutering of animals. In 2016 we purchased additional ceiling fans to help cool the dog pen area.
We also provide medical service for animals that have special needs, such as emergency surgeries that might be needed that will insure that the animal is adoptable. We are a non-profit 501-C-3. All donations are tax deductible. Donations may be made at the Conway Animal Welfare Unit or mail to F.O.C.A.S P.O.Box 11193 Conway AR 72033.
Visit us on Facebook, or www.friendsoftheconwayshelter.com to donate as well.






If you would like to donate to help with spaying and neutering of animals, or vet bills. You can mail your donation to us, or via paypal (focasconway@gmail.com) All donations are tax-deductible.


A Brief History of the Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter (FOCAS)
In August of 2001 Conway resident Nancy Rowell became concerned with the conditions at the Conway animal shelter. She was particularly troubled by the lack of a cooling system in the hot summer months in the metal building where the animals were housed. In 1993, after some unsuccessful negotiations with city officials, Rowell met Shona Osborne who had recently been hired as the director of Conway Animal Welfare. Osborne suggested that Rowell organize a “Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter” group to assist the shelter in carrying out its mission. Rowell established the organization in 2003 and served as its first president. Other original board members were Tom DeBlack and Marian Luza (vice-presidents), Debbie Plopper (treasurer), and Susan Greene (secretary). Director Osborne and Major Benny Battles from the Conway Police Department were extremely supportive in this process. The “Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter” became incorporated and received its tax exempt 501c3 status in April 2004.

One of the group's first priorities was to raise money to purchase a cooling system for the kennel, but it also sponsored the disease testing, vaccination, and sterilization of numerous cats and dogs for adoption. Some of these animals were then transported to the Conway PetSmart store, which displayed them and facilitated their adoption. Others were adopted directly from the shelter. The organization also funded the software necessary to publicize the availability of animals on the shelter’s recently implemented website. Thanks in large part to support from Don Potter’s family and his personal fundraising efforts with the Chase Race, FOCAS eventually raised enough to purchase a water cooling/fan system that operates more economically than air conditioning and lowers the temperature by about twenty degrees, making a huge difference in the comfort level for the animals.
Rowell resigned from the organization in September of 2007 because of increased personal demands on her time and asked director Osborne if she knew anyone who might be interested in taking charge. Osborne approached Chris Quinn, who had served for a time on the board of The Faulkner County Humane Society. Quinn accepted and continued the active and passionate leadership that Rowell had exhibited. Along with Betsey Barham, and Betsey's two daughters, she went to the shelter almost every Saturday morning for over a year and a half. They walked the dogs and gave them treats, and talked to potential adopters who came to the shelter to help them spend time with animals, while the shelter staff was busy doing other work. They asked questions about the potential adopters' family situation and tried to match them with an animal that would best fit their situation. Their efforts were responsible for the adoption of several animals that might otherwise not have been adopted. Quinn asked Barham to join the board as secretary, and she accepted. Quinn and Barham continued to visit the shelter on weekends. On one such visit they met Abhishek (last name), who was also coming to the shelter on Saturdays. It quickly became obvious that he shared their passion for animals, and he was asked to join the board. Another volunteer at the shelter, Stacey Ary, also became a board member for a short time before moving out of state.
The board initiated several fundraising activities, including the sale of FOCAS T-shirts with a logo designed by Wilbanks. In 2009 it also began to produce and sell calendars. Board members called on businesses to sell advertising for the calendars. Barham used her talents as a graphic artist to put all the ad copy together and built each ad. In 2011 the group organized a huge event at the shelter called “Paws 4 a Cause." The board worked diligently to get vendors and members of the community involved. The events featured face painting, a jump castle, a band from UCA, the trailer, representatives from PetSmart and Pet Country. The staff from First Security Bank grilled hot dogs, and Tropical Smoothie provided treats. The event drew a large turnout and was a huge success. Several animals were adopted and the board gave out plaques to people who had helped the shelter in the past. Again, all of the board members worked together to make this a success, Terri Freeman Peaks and, upon the resignation of Debbie Plopper, joined the board as treasurer.
In the last five and half years, FOCAS had greatly expanded its outreach and its mission. The organization now reaches out to potential adopters via Facebook. It has paid for the treatment of a lot of injured and sick animals and partnered with rescue groups to get animals adopted in other parts of the country where the animal overpopulation is not so great. It has purchased ceiling fans, another industrial cooling fan, an awning, paid for the creation of a new med room, and bought an anesthesia machine, and much more. The need continues to be great, but the Friends of the Conway Animal Shelter remains committed to providing for the needs of homeless, injured, malnourished, and abused animals and to seeing that as many as humanly possible find loving homes.