History / About us


Friends of Animals Utah (FOAU) is a non-profit organization based in Park City, Utah. FOA is comprised of staff and volunteers dedicated to assisting our two local shelters, Summit County and Heber City, in rescuing and finding new homes for dogs and cats. Through shelter rescues, FOA has achieved the goal of ending euthanasia of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats in Summit and Wasatch Counties. Under certain circumstances, our group also rescues animals from the streets and responds to cries for assistance from local pet owners who can no longer care for their pets for various reasons.

When founded in 1990, Summit County Friends of Animals (FOA) was just a small group of animal lovers lobbying for a new shelter facility. Today, we are a full-fledged animal rescue and rehabilitation organization with an adoption center (Furburbia), dedicated staff and board of trustees and a new state-of-the-art facility now under construction in Browns Canyon.

Since its inception, FOA has achieved the goals of:

  • Ending euthanasia of healthy, adoptable dogs and cats in Summit and Wasatch counties
  • Offering spay and neuter assistance programs
  • Boasting an incredible adoption rate (over 800 animals in 2007 alone!)
  • Providing continuous help with, and education of, animal-related issues

In addition to operating Furburbia, FOA recently broke ground on a new 100-acre animal rescue and rehabilitation facility in Browns Canyon. This amazing, state-of-the-art center will allow FOA to expand into equine rescue and help many more animals in need.

Phase I will include:

  • Dog dormitories Indoor and outdoor animal play areas
  • Cat condos
  • Horse stalls and pastures
  • Spay and neuter clinic
  • Caretaker’s quarters