About  Us

Animal Friends of Wyoming County is a 501(c)3 non-profit community organization made up of Wyoming County, NY, residents with a strong desire and passion to help out animals.  Our main goal is to promote Animal Health Awareness as well as simultaneously promoting the Wyoming County Animal Shelter.  AFWC raises funds and creates programs to help and care for unwanted dogs at the animal shelter.  AFWC was organized and created by a Board of Directors, each using their God-given gifts, talents and abilities to contribute to the overall goal.  Directors communicate and work to organize programs, events and promotional material to bring together the community to care for lost or abandoned strays in the county.  Though AFWC is a completely separate entity from the Wyoming County Animal Shelter, their goals are similar: to educate our local community and save abandoned dogs.  AFWC is proud to have such a loving community to work with.  Because of volunteers, members and residents, programs such as Spay Our Stray and Pets For Vets are possible through contributions.  Thank you!

Meet the Board of Directors for Animal Friends

Sam
President

My name is Sam Goodell and I am proud to serve as a board member of Animal Friends of Wyoming County. I was there when it all began! In 2015, during AFWC's conception, I started off as the Vice President while also fulfilling secretarial duties prior to that position being filled. In 2018, my position changed to President of the organization and has remained that way since then.
I grew up with a strong desire and passion for animals. My mother is Officer Justa Goodell and I would always volunteer at the Wyoming County Animal Shelter whenever I was not in school or at home. After high school, I could've chosen a different path, but my interest in proper animal welfare and passion to make an impact exceeded all other avenues. My personal interests include pro-life and anti-animal cruelty studies, advocacy and legislation. Learning the existing laws and how they are implemented always excites and intrigues me. I personally believe if everyone understood our local and state laws then better solutions can be made for the lives of the most vulnerable, including our companion animals. My faith in God keeps me grounded while my work at AFWC always keeps me on my toes. I truly have to express how blown away I am at our amazing Wyoming County residents who care so deeply about our animals. It is because of them we have grown so much as an organization and I am humbled to be a witness in progress! God bless everyone!!

Lori
Vice President

​Hi, my name is Lori Brown and I am the
Vice President for Animal Friends of
Wyoming County.
I joined this amazing group the Spring of 2021. I handle ordering the Oliver’s
Chocolate Bars we sell as a fundraiser for
Spay Our Stray and serve as the liaison
between AFWC and Perry Vet. I currently work at Wyoming County Community Hospital and also a Domestic Violence shelter. I took on a second job after my last fur-baby had to be put down. I
had a miniature Australian Shepherd. I work two jobs so it wouldn’t be fair to own a dog since I’m not home much. I have a good friend who lets me “borrow” his
Yorkie when I do get a day off. He sometimes spends the night too, so it works out well for now.
When I joined AFWC, I had no idea how well received the community supports our organization. I’m blessed to volunteer which such a wonderful group of animal lovers and hope to adopt a dog myself when my work schedule slows down. Maybe when I retire!

Looking to Fill!
Secretary

If you are interested in joining our Board of Directors, this position is available.
Successful applicant shall have basic computer skills, attention to detail, excellent communication skills, and physically accessible to the office at least once a week for a few hours at most.
Applicant for this position must also be available for monthly board meeting and note taking of said meetings.
Must be 18 years of age or older. If interested, please e-mail your interest to Lori at [email protected]

Cassandra
Treasurer

Hello! My name is Cassandra Reding and I am the Treasurer for AFWC. I had been wanting to volunteer for the Shelter but my work hours didn't coincide with their hours. So when the opportunity to join the Board came up, I applied right away. I attended my first
board meeting in February, 2023 and was voted in shortly after. Some of you may know me from working at The Gainesville General Store for almost 10 years, when my Aunt and Uncle owned it. Many others might know me from working at Letchworth Central School for 19 and a half years as a Teaching
Assistant. Now I work for Wyoming County at the Treasurer’s office. I have been married to Randy for 29 years and have 2 sons, Cody (Amber) and Colin (Lindsey) and 3 grandsons, Damen, Diesel, and Connor. In August 2023, our beloved dog, Tucker passed away leaving us devastated. We decided we wanted to get another dog and went to see Justa at the Shelter. We looked at many dogs and then 7 malnourished puppies came in. We fell in love with a very small, 5 lb 4oz puppy, who we named Ryleigh. She is the light of our lives! In January, we wanted to add to our family and 5 more puppies came in with their parents, who happened to also be Ryleigh's parents. We adopted Ryleigh's mom, Pebbles. It may be chaotic some days but we love our girls!

Rachelle 
Events Director

TBD

Kelly
Media Director

Hello, my name is Kelly Shearing, I am the Media Director for AFWC.  I joined the Board in June 2022, after retiring with 35 years of service from NYS.  I wore many hats with the state, DDSO, Industry School for Boys, Corrections and my last 9 years of service was with NYS Parole as an Officer, then promoting and retiring as Parole Investigator and a Deputized Fugitive task force officer with US Marshals.  I worked all over the State over the years, living in the Poughkeepsie area for 4 yrs. and Brooklyn for 1 yr.  Now that I am retired, I can give back to the community that I am from. I grew up on a Dairy Farm in Gainesville NY and live a stone's throw away from my family farm. I am a single mother of one Son, Jacob (Jake) and an Advit Animal Lover, I'm finally doing what I really love to do, work with DOGS. As Media Director, I take care of AFWC Social Media websites, posting stories of successful adoptions/ photos of dogs up for adoption and educational information. I am currently enrolled in Penn Foster's Dog Obedience/Trainer course and started shadowing Tom Purcell, so I can learn how to help owners and dogs with behavioral and training issues. I live with my best friend, my dog Tucker; A rescue Pit bull/ Siberian Husky mix and his best friend Piper the kitten. I've also adopted a puppy from the shelter, my sweet Jemma.

Tom
Program Director

Tom has always felt a kinship to dogs. He always had at least one dog in his life at all times. During his childhood he always believed his mother to be the original dog whisperer and paid special attention to how dogs responded to her. Thomas is a retired police officer with over 30 years of experience from Buffalo. He even had the privilege of having a Doberman Pinscher as his last partner. Shortly after his retirement, Thomas became a Certified Dog Trainer and Instructor through Penn Foster College. Within weeks of his graduation he became a volunteer at the Wyoming County Animal Shelter and now dedicates most of his time transforming surrenders and strays into well-adjusted family members. Being the Program Director, Tom oversees AFWC programs such as Spay Our Stray and Pets For Vets. Pets For Vets was created by Tom being a veteran himself as a way to give back to local service members. Thomas is also a local author with a best-selling book "The Art of the Dog" (Thane & Prose). He owns his own business called "That Damn Dog!" which guides seemingly frustrated dog owners to have a better relationship with their own pets. Tom lives with his beautiful wife Sally and trusted companions Luke and Grammar.

Lisa
Member Director

Hi, my name is Lisa Reynolds and I am the Member Director for Animal Friends of Wyoming County.
I retired as a Registered Nurse in 2019 from Livingston County and was hoping to volunteer at the dog shelter. I have held the Member Director position with AFWC since Spring 2021. What I oversee as the Member Director is keeping track of contributing memberships, renewals of these members on a yearly basis. I also reach out to members every month with updates about the Wyoming County
Animal Shelter happenings, what AFWC is doing with the dogs, what fundraisers are happening, what funds have assisted with to get the dogs adopted into their forever homes including immunizations, spay/neuter, microchipped and any emergency care they may need.
I reside in Warsaw with my husband David, on 20 acres so we can walk our two large dogs, Roxy and Harley (David's Service Dog) numerous times a day. We have lived in Wyoming County all our lives. We are both Army Veterans serving during Desert Storm, Dave in Kuwait and myself at Walter Reed in Washington DC. My husband David and I volunteer at least once a week to take the shelter dogs for walks. This gives us great satisfaction to give a little extra love to the pups. Hard not to take them all home. I have had a great love for all animals from a young
age. I was raised on a dairy farm in Perry, New York, the "Fischer Family Farm". I was very active in 4-H and showed Holsteins, horses, and dogs at the Wyoming County Fair. Still loving to go to the Fair and see all the animals and watch the kids
show their animals and to know all the hard work that goes into it. And now that AFWC and the shelter has a booth at the fair, more reasons to visit, come see us at the fair!

Ed
Program Coordinator

Hi, I'm Ed LeBlanc aka "EJ".  As program coordinator for the AFWC I assist the directors in their missions.  A major part of my duties is to handle the databasing of dogs that have been helped through our program.  Working with the AKC registration of the chip ID's assigned to each rescue.
I am a graduate of RIT and have worked as an electronic engineer, supervisor, as well as owned a business for over 14 years.  My wife, Cheryl and I have been married nearly fifty years and we live in the outskirts of Gainesville, NY.  As a Viet Nam Army veteran I am an activate participant in the Pets-For-Vets program.  I also volunteer my time and efforts to the Eagle Memorial Veteran Post 1720 located in Bliss, NY doing IT work.  The work at AFWC is very personally rewarding in the self-feeling of accomplishment helping the programs and the animals.  Please stop by any of our outings and say hi.
​

Mehgann
Photographer

TBD

Jessie
C H O W Coordinator

TBA

Trisha
Event Coordinator

TBA

Meet the Staff at the Wyoming County Animal Shelter

Justa Goodell
Animal Control Officer

Since September 1996, Officer Justa Goodell has served the residents of Wyoming County bringing a voice to dogs and animals all around. Born and raised in Wyoming County, Officer Goodell has three grown children, Zachariah, Isaiah and Samuel, and is survived by her late husband, Fredrick Goodell, of 38 years of marriage. The daughter of Sallye and Larry Treusdell, Justa had the pleasurer of serving the Letchworth School District as a bus driver before becoming the animal control officer. Thanks to her heroic work, the shelter went from a barn in a desolated area to the beautifully established facility between Silver Springs and Warsaw. Recently, Justa has pursued expanding her knowledge on the evergrowing crisis of animal hoarding. Since 2018, Justa has held many speaking engagements around Wyoming County with her PowerPoint presentation of animal hoarding. Her advocacy in animal health awareness and diligence in pursuing justice for homeless dogs of our county is a shining example to follow. Thanks Justa!

Daryl Klump
Animal Control Deputy

In February 2019, the Wyoming County Animal Shelter added another Animal control officer to their payroll, local Wyoming County resident and Veteran Daryl Klump.
Raised in Castile, NY, Daryl was an avid boy scout. After graduating from Letchworth High School, Daryl entered college at Alfred State studying carpentry. In 2005 Daryl felt the call to join the United States Army and did tours Iraq and Afghanistan. Upon being discharged, Daryl focused on the more personal side of life getting married and have 2 incredible kids. Prior to his Current position, Daryl worked as a truck driver driving up and down the east coast. The Klump family currently live in the Arcade area and Daryl is thrilled to join Officer Goodell on this endeavor in rescuing Wyoming County’s homeless dogs and finding forever homes! 
On his off days, Officer Klump enjoys fishing with his son Landon, hiking, camping and working out at the gym. AFWC has learned that his favorite snack is Wasabi Almonds in case anyone wants to send him a “thank you” gift.

Have a Question?

​For Animal Friends

or

For the Shelter
What kind of Community Based Services & Programs Does Animal Friends of Wyoming County Provide?
Animal Friends of Wyoming County was created not only to tend to the well-being of the homeless dogs at the Wyoming County Animal Shelter, but also to encourage Wyoming County residents to get involved in the community.  Programs such as the P.U.P.P.I.E.S. Program are intended to do such that.  Educating and bringing awareness to animal neglect and animal cruelty is also a striving point within the organization.
How can i get more involved with animal friends?
The best way to get involved with Animal Friends is 
How long does a dog have to stay at the Wyoming county animal shelter before it is available for adoption?
In short, (7) 24 hour business days.  After a dog is picked up by the Animal Control Officer or surrendered to the Animal Shelter, the dog remains at the Shelter for at least (7) 24 hour business days so the owner has some time to redeem his/her pet.  During this time Animal Friends of Wyoming County posts a photo with a brief description on their 'Dogs for Adoption' page on the website, Facebook and Instagram.  Once the (7) 24 hour business days are up, the dog is evaluated "For Adoption".