FOHO WV (The Federation of Humane Organizations of West Virginia) 32 Years of improving animal welfare in West Virginia!
From our inception in 1994, FOHO WV has been the only state-wide group advocating for the purpose of improving animal welfare throughout West Virginia. We urge local humane societies, rescue groups, animal welfare leagues, plus any animal advocacy group or individual to get involved to help us in our effort to improve animal welfare throughout our state. Our mission is To provide effective means for the propagation of humane principles; to prevent cruelty and neglect to animals; to advocate for spay/neuter throughout WV, to educate regarding the laws of the state of West Virginia pertaining to animal cruelty, neglect, spay/neuter, care, health and welfare; to cooperate and network with other similar organizations in such efforts in West Virginia; and any and all acts allowed corporations by West Virginia Code.
Operating before the advent of social media, FOHO WV initially established its network across the state’s 55 counties by connecting directly with public shelters. To identify key issues and develop solutions, the group gathered data on animal protection laws, shelter intake figures, and euthanasia rates. From the late 1990s through 2016, FOHO WV expanded its outreach by hosting statewide conferences and collaborating with national organizations, including the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) and the ASPCA. A core piece of their ongoing work is the publication of the highly popular WV Animal Laws Book, which has been distributed regularly since 2008 and is currently in its 2024 edition.
The all-volunteer board has successfully advocated for multiple statewide animal protection laws, including:
- Making intentional animal cruelty a felony
- Adding “cruelly chain or tether” definitions to the state animal cruelty code
- Banning the use of gas chambers in West Virginia
- Enabling county commissions to establish housing standards for dogs through local ordinances
- Mandating the spay/neuter of adopted shelter animals
- Including pet protection provisions within domestic violence acts
- Establishing cross-reporting protocols for abuse and strengthening general cruelty laws
FOHO WV’s most encompassing achievement is the establishment and funding of the WV Spay Neuter Assistance Fund (WVSNP)
In 2009, FOHO WV introduced the initial legislative concepts that led to the creation of the state’s spay/neuter program. Backed by a supportive state senator, the WV Spay Neuter Assistance Fund was formally established in 2013 under West Virginia Code Chapter 19, Article 20C. Administrative rules were enacted in 2015, and funding was secured in 2017 via a pet food registration fee managed by the West Virginia Department of Agriculture.
While FOHO WV originally requested a $900,000 annual allocation, lobbying from the pet food industry resulted in the funding being reduced by half to $450,000. The original legislation also imposed a 10-year sunset clause set to expire in 2027. In 2025, FOHO WV successfully lobbied to have the sunset clause permanently removed. However, the program continues to operate under the constraints of the $450,000 funding limit. Join us at FOHO as other groups have done to support statewide animal issues – together we can make it happen! FOHO WV is not affiliated with any other animal welfare group. Tell us what you or your group is doing to help the animals!!
FOHO WV is a 501c(3) non profit organization
FOHO WV Board of Directors
Theresa Bruner (Randolph County) President
Frankie Michelle Dennison (Harrison County) Secretary
Chelsea Lambert (Upshur County)
Lisa Mitchell (Kanawha County) Treasurer
Amy Moloney (Monroe County)
Steve Tennant (Brooke County)
Terri Tichenor (Marion County) Vice-President / President elect for 2027
Nancy Young (Monongalia County)
FOHO President Theresa Bruner has been awarded the 2026 Governor’s Service Award for Lifetime Achievement. FOHO is very very proud that our President received award on behalf of all the animal advocates throughout our state who tirelessly work as volunteers to assist the animals of our state. Here is a press relaste of Theresa achievements from Volunteer WV.
The following are tributes to Betty Burkett and Sylvia Shafer. They started FOHO WV in 1994 and have been on our board or advised FOHO throughout all those years. Betty also died the night of Jan. 24th, the same night Sylvia left this world. They were both champions of our cause. They will both be greatly missed. It is only a snapshot of their accomplishments but their advocacy has been long and remarkably dedicated. We are all building on the work of those we follow in animal welfare. The WV animal law book was Betty’s idea. Sylvia helped make the law and Betty helped to record it. FOHO sought Senate Resolutions to honor both Betty and Sylvia and include them here. They are missed.
Honorary Past Board Members
Dana Johnson (Monongalia County)
Mary Ann McDonald (Monongalia County)
Sylvia Shafer (Kanawha County) Passed 1.24.2024
Betty Burkett (Marshall County) Passed 1.24.2024
Lina McDonald (Mineral County)
Ginnie Maurer (Berkeley County)
Melissa Lilly Lyons (Raleigh County)
Steve Tennant (Brooke County) rejoined board in Feb. 2024
Laura Davis (Harrison County) Passed
Dana Keefe (Preston County)
Brenda Gerkin (Taylor County) Passed 8.30.2025
Barbara Kelley (Barbour County)
Donna Spencer (Cabell County)
Jim Spencer (Cabell County) Passed 4.21.2020
Dorothea Sloan (Marion County) Passed 12.21.2012
Sandy Swisher (Wood County)