10/25/2026
❤️ From a Small Dream to a Lasting Legacy — The Story of the Humane Society of Hardy County ❤️
We wanted to take a moment to share our story. Where we started, how far we’ve come, and most importantly, where we’re going.
Because what started as one man’s desire to help a few community cats has grown into something much bigger than any of us ever imagined.
🐾 WHERE IT ALL BEGAN — 2023
Around 2023, our founder and current director, Steve Pendleton, saw a need in our community. There were cats everywhere, reproducing at alarming rates, and very few resources available to help them.
With funding available through the State of West Virginia for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), Steve decided to do something about it.
He established a nonprofit organization, assembled a small board of directors, secured grant funding, and began helping community cats through TNR.
But even then, Steve had a bigger dream tucked away in the back of his mind.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if one day we could have an actual animal shelter serving both Hardy and Grant counties? A place that could help not only cats, but dogs as well?
At the time, it seemed like a very distant dream.
🐾 THEN WE STARTED GROWING
Not long afterward, Michelle Funk joined the board, bringing years of hands-on animal rescue experience.
As TNR efforts expanded, we kept encountering kittens in colonies. Kittens that couldn’t simply be returned outside. Kittens that deserved a chance at a safe, loving home.
Michelle began coordinating with rescue organizations to get those kittens placed, and before long, our work had grown beyond TNR.
Over time, board members changed, new volunteers stepped forward, partnerships developed, and our goals continued to evolve.
We were no longer just talking about what we wished we could do.
We were starting to believe we could actually make it happen.
🐾 THE DREAM BECOMES A REALITY
Along the way, we were fortunate to gain the dedication and experience of Sharon Auville and Ryan Arnold, who brought valuable knowledge about shelter operations, facility planning, and design. They have also become instrumental members of our shelter fundraising efforts.
With the right people coming together, the dream of having our own shelter no longer seemed so far out of reach.
And then we did something incredible. We purchased a building!
A building that we fully intend to transform into a functioning animal shelter for our community.
But purchasing the building was only the beginning.
🐾 LOOK HOW FAR WE’VE COME
In just a few short years, our organization has helped thousands of cats through TNR, rescue placements, and foster care.
We’ve developed relationships with rescue partners, built a small but incredibly dedicated foster network, helped countless animals receive veterinary care, and continued working to reduce the overwhelming population of homeless cats in our communities.
None of this would have been possible without the people who believed in what we were trying to accomplish.
Our board members, volunteers, foster families, veterinary partners, rescue organizations, donors, and supporters have all played a part in getting us here.
And yet, we are nowhere near finished.
🐾 WHERE WE’RE GOING NEXT
Our immediate priority is raising the funding needed to complete Phase One of our shelter renovations so we can begin accepting animals.
We are organizing a dedicated capital campaign fundraising team that will meet directly with businesses, community leaders, and potential major donors to help make this next phase possible.
Our long-term vision includes a shelter that can accommodate dogs, provide housing and adoption opportunities for cats, and serve as a central base for our TNR operations.
And we don’t intend to stop growing there.
As our resources, funding, and community support grow, so will our ability to help animals.
Our goal isn’t simply to open a shelter. Our goal is to build an organization that will continue to grow, evolve, and serve this community for generations.
❤️ THIS IS BIGGER THAN ANY ONE OF US.
This isn’t about Steve, Michelle, Sharon, Ryan, or any individual board member.
It isn’t about the current volunteers or the foster families who are giving so much of themselves today.
It’s about creating something that will outlast all of us.
Something that will still be here helping animals 20, 30, even 50 years from now.
Boards will change. Volunteers will come and go. New generations will take over.
But the mission should remain.
A community where homeless, abandoned, neglected, and unwanted animals have somewhere to turn.
We are building that future from the ground up, and we are determined to see it through.
🐾 NOW WE NEED YOUR HELP TO BUILD THE NEXT CHAPTER.
As we approach the end of the year, we are actively seeking major donors, business sponsors, and individuals interested in making a lasting investment in animal welfare.
Perhaps you’re considering your year-end charitable giving. Perhaps you’re reviewing your estate plans and thinking about the legacy you want to leave behind. Or perhaps you’re a business owner who wants to make a meaningful difference in the community you serve.
Please consider making the Humane Society of Hardy County part of your legacy.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, eligible contributions are tax-deductible as permitted by law.
Whether it’s a significant gift toward our building renovations, a planned legacy gift, or a donation of any size, your generosity helps move us closer to opening our doors.
We have come so far with limited resources, a tremendous amount of determination, and a group of people who simply refuse to give up.
Imagine what we can accomplish with the full support of our community behind us.
We aren’t building this shelter for ourselves. We’re building it for the animals who need us today, the animals who will need us tomorrow, and the generations who will carry this mission forward long after we’re gone.
From one man helping a few community cats to a future animal shelter serving two counties.
What a journey it’s been. And the best chapters of our story haven’t even been written yet. ❤️🐾
Thank you for believing in us, supporting us, and helping turn a dream into a legacy.
The Humane Society of Hardy County
Building a better future for animals, one life at a time.
❤️ Please share our story. You never know who might be inspired to help us write the next chapter.
Humane Society of Hardy County
Improving lives through compassion, TNR, and community support.
