Animal care specialist Melissa Cutuli changes out water and food bowls at the Animal Friends of the Valleys’ cattery in Wildomar. Valley News/Courtesy photo
From its earliest beginnings in the late 1980s in Lake Elsinore, when there were no animal shelters in the area, to its current state-of-the-art facility in Wildomar, Animal Friends of the Valleys is now one of many shelters, rescues and other organizations that help animals in southwest Riverside County.With its mission of being “dedicated to promoting humane care of animals through education and a humane, proactive animal services program,” AFV is also committed to preventing the suffering of animals and to ending pet overpopulation in the communities it serves.“We have a strong volunteer base and so many programs people can get involved with, which is great,” Beth Soltysiak, director of development for AFV, said. “Last year alone, we opened our doors to over 8,000 anim
