When the Rev. Laura Palmer heard about a dog named Doc who had just been rescued from a trash bin, she knew right away that she wanted to help – and meet the West Mt. Airy woman who saved him.

So she looked up Aminda Edgar, founder of West Mt. Airy's Familiar Hearts Animal Society.

"As you probably know, local animal shelters are overflowing," said Palmer, a priest at the Church of St. Martin-in-the-Fields in Chestnut Hill, who recently adopted Doc. "Familiar Hearts is not a job for Aminda; it's her calling. She is intrepid, going into dicey situations to retrieve an animal in harm's way. People who connect with their passion in this life are inspiring, especially when it's in service to others."

Edgar, who spotted the emaciated Doc, has rescued more than 200 animals from Philadelphia's streets, dumpsters and train stations. In one particularly moving case, an emaciated female dog was discovered at the Washington Lane Train Station. 

"We found a home for her with a local family that has a nine-year-old autistic son who loves the dog," Edgar shares. "This is what is so special about this work. An unloved dog that was thrown away like garbage now gets so much love and gives so much love to the adopters."

And she's attracted a loyal following along the way.

"My journey with Familiar Hearts holds a special place in my heart," says Shelby Escourt, a Mt. Airy Realtor who often sees animals abandoned by their owners. Escourt wanted to find a way to divert a portion of her earnings to help alleviate the suffering she saw. "After learning about Familiar Hearts and speaking with Aminda, I immediately knew they were the rescue I wanted to partner with."

A lifetime of advocacy

Edgar, whose Arabic name means "trustworthy" (though people often mistakenly call her Amanda), brings a unique background to her rescue work. Growing up in Wisconsin, she earned an art degree from the University of Wisconsin and worked as a therapist with sick children for several years. Her path to animal rescue began unconventionally – she lived in a cabin in the woods for eight years until she was 31, where her reputation as an animal advocate grew organically.

"People would bring me animals that were found, abandoned, abused, needing help," Edgar recalls. "They knew I would take care of them. I was told to dump them on a farm, but I couldn't. There were no shelters in the county. The nearest shelter was an hour away in Minnesota."

Edgar's life took a turn in 2009 when she met her future husband, Rizwan Ahmad. Ahmad's acceptance to Widener University's psychology department for graduate studies brought the couple to Philadelphia in September 2010.

"We had planned to stay here for five years," Edgar says, "but we loved it here, so we stayed. We especially love the Wissahickon park. So we lived in Germantown for five years and then in Mt. Airy for the last nine years."

Edgar began finding stray cats almost immediately upon arriving in Northwest Philadelphia. She joined Green Street Rescue in Fairmount, where she dedicated nine years to their mission. But as inspiring as that was, it wasn't enough.

"People kept bringing me dogs," she explains. "I couldn't get help from other nonprofit organizations, so I decided to start my own."

Building a network

In 2021, Edgar achieved a significant milestone when she received state approval to incorporate Familiar Hearts Animal Society as a certified nonprofit organization. The organization operates through an extensive network of foster homes that provide temporary care for rescued pets until permanent families can be found. Many foster families, touched by their temporary charges, end up adopting the animals themselves.

Today, FHAS foster homes care for 20 dogs and 40 cats. Edgar's 14-year experience as a pet sitter and dog walker in Northwest Philadelphia has built a vast network of local animal lovers who frequently alert her to animals in need. And foster coordinator Madison Mendival-Metzger has orchestrated numerous rescues through social media outreach.

While the organization has raised funds through its website and social media presence, sustainable contributions remain elusive. The need for additional foster homes continues to grow as more animals require assistance.

Given that they're rescuing neglected and abandoned animals, medical expenses also add up. Recently, FHAS invested $2,000 in veterinary care for one sick kitten who, despite their best efforts, didn't survive. To help offset these costs, adoption fees are structured at $150 for cats, $200 for kittens under six months old, and $475 for dogs.

Edgar's commitment runs deep – she currently shares her home with four dogs, two foster dogs, two ferrets, and several cats. "Every rescue person I know has at least 12 animals," she notes. "Some people confuse us with hoarders. We are anything but. We want to make sure every adoption is a good match because the animals have already been through so much. We do our due diligence and get to know the families and don't do the adoptions right away. We tell them to go home and think about it."

Every dog adoption includes one free session with a trainer. "We have one volunteer trainer and others we are able to pay," Edgar explains. This commitment to post-adoption support helps ensure successful transitions for both animals and their new families.

For more information about Familiar Hearts Animal Society, including adoption applications, fostering opportunities, and ways to support their mission, visit familiarhearts.org.

Contact Len Lear at lenlear@chestnuthilllocal.com