10/29/2026
Dear Friends,
We need your help.
Today, I would like to have a very difficult conversation—one that has been weighing heavily on my heart and one that we believe deserves honesty, compassion, and open discussion.
I understand there have already been conversations about a difficult situation involving one of the dogs in our care. Unfortunately, some of the information being shared from outside our current team presents an inaccurate picture of our animals, our shelter, and the situation we are working through. I would rather you hear the facts directly from me.
Over 15 years ago, we founded True Friends because of our overwhelming love for animals. But sometimes loving animals means facing decisions that absolutely break your heart. And right now, we are facing one of those decisions.
We have a dog named Bruno who has been at our shelter for over three years. During that time, he has formed wonderful relationships with a handful of people he knows and trusts. Unfortunately, he also displays extremely serious aggression toward unfamiliar individuals, as well as some familiar individuals he seems to distrust. From what we’ve been told, he didn’t exhibit this level of aggression when he first arrived. Despite our efforts, life in the shelter hasn’t consistently provided the exercise, enrichment, and socialization he needs. We can’t say exactly what contributed to his behavioral decline, but we recognize the emotional toll that prolonged confinement can take on an animal.
Recently, we brought in two very reputable certified trainers to evaluate him and explore the possibility of rehabilitation or specialized placement. Unfortunately, these evaluations raised serious concerns about the risk of Bruno causing significant harm.
After receiving these evaluations, we reviewed them with our staff and volunteers and asked for their input and suggestions. Several of them also reached out to sanctuaries and rehabilitation facilities in an effort to find help for Bruno, but without success. This is a lot to ask of any rescue....
When I returned to True Friends, alongside a new management team and Board of Directors, one of the most heartbreaking discoveries was that nearly half of the dogs in our care had been living at the shelter for anywhere from two to eight years.
Since my return, our team has successfully placed approximately 50% of those longtime residents in loving homes or appropriate sanctuaries. We have welcomed volunteers and visitors back into our facility, expanded opportunities for exercise and enrichment, and made improving the quality of life for our remaining longtime residents one of our highest priorities.
We are incredibly proud of the progress we've made, but we also recognize that we have much more work to do.
And unfortunately, despite our best efforts, not every dog can be safely rehabilitated or placed into a home.
This brings me to the incredibly difficult position we're in today.
As a public animal shelter, our responsibility goes far beyond the animals in our care. We have an obligation to protect our valued employees, our dedicated volunteers, the families and visitors who walk through our doors, the other animals in our shelter, and the community we serve.
We cannot knowingly put someone's safety at risk. Nor can we place a dog into a home knowing that he could cause serious injury.
But there is something else that weighs just as heavily on my heart.
Bruno's quality of life.
Is keeping an animal alive always the same as giving that animal a good life?
What happens when a dog spends year after year living primarily in a kennel, with limited human interaction and little opportunity to experience the world?
I don't pretend to have all the answers.
I don't believe euthanasia should ever be considered simply because an animal is difficult to care for or because a shelter needs space. But I do believe that when an animal's quality of life is seriously compromised and the safety of others is at risk, we have a responsibility to evaluate every option honestly and compassionately.
There is also a difficult reality that weighs on me. Every day, wonderful, friendly, adoptable dogs across this country lose their lives simply because there is nowhere for them to go. Meanwhile, shelters like ours struggle with limited space and resources while caring for animals who may never be able to safely leave their kennels and who, despite our best efforts, are often very unhappy.
I am not suggesting that one life is more valuable than another. Every animal deserves compassion, dignity, and the opportunity for happiness. But as someone responsible for the welfare of so many animals, I cannot ignore these difficult realities.
This is where we are asking for your help.
Is there a reputable behavior modification program, specialized rehabilitation facility, or sanctuary willing and equipped to take on Bruno? If so, what would the costs be, and what realistic long-term options would be available to him?
One very important condition is that any facility or professional accepting Bruno for rehabilitation must also assume full responsibility for securing an appropriate, safe, and permanent placement following his training. This includes recognizing that rehabilitation does not guarantee he will ever be suitable for a traditional home.
We are not looking for someone who is simply willing to take Bruno home. His behavioral challenges require specialized experience, appropriate facilities, and safeguards that protect both people and animals. Any placement would need to be carefully evaluated to ensure it is genuinely safe, responsible, and capable of providing Bruno with an acceptable quality of life.
I want to be very clear. We had reached the heartbreaking decision to schedule humane euthanasia for Bruno. That appointment has since been postponed while we take this opportunity to explore whether any realistic, safe, and humane alternatives remain.
I cannot begin to describe how difficult this has been. I have dedicated so much of my life to saving animals. The thought of making a decision like this leaves me with a pit in my stomach. It is something I dread and something I will never truly get over.
We are not asking the public to decide whether Bruno should live or die. That responsibility ultimately rests with our organization, informed by appropriate veterinary and behavioral expertise.
But we are asking for knowledge, experience, resources, and compassion.
What does being a responsible no-kill shelter truly mean?
Does it mean keeping every animal alive indefinitely, regardless of the quality of life that animal is experiencing?
Or does it mean fighting for every possible chance at a happy, healthy, fulfilling life while recognizing that there may be situations where a safe and humane solution simply cannot be found?
Please remember that behind these difficult decisions are people who love these animals deeply—people who care for them every day, who form bonds with them, and who lose sleep worrying about their futures.
This is not about giving up on Bruno.
It's about trying to determine what is truly best for him while honoring our responsibility to protect the people and animals around him.
We don't want True Friends to simply be a place where animals are kept alive. We want it to be a place where animals are given the opportunity to truly live.
If you know of a qualified professional, established sanctuary, or specialized rehabilitation facility that is willing to help, please contact me directly at 570-396-6011.
Thank you for listening, for caring, and for standing beside True Friends, especially when the conversations are difficult.
With love and compassion,
Dory Browning
Executive Director
True Friends Animal Welfare Center
