Donte's Den Foundation

06/06/2026

Today is the 82nd anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. Omaha Beach. WWII. D-Day.

Never forget.

06/04/2026

Compassion Without Compromise

Mark your Saturday morning calendar to watch a special episode of Animal Outtakes on ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB at 10:30am. We speak with staff about why they love working at the Donte's Den Foundation Sanctuary. We also interview Anna Cooke, editor of THE NEW BARKER dog magazine and hear her thoughts on what makes Donte's Den standout. And, of course, our founder and director, Marsha Panuce, tells us about her lifelong dream to create something as special as Donte's Den. This week's Animal Outtakes, it's all about the dogs. 🐕🥰🤩

06/02/2026

Step Up to the Plate for Donte's Den

We are beyond thrilled to have been invited to participate with the Bradenton Marauders during their June 12 Bark in the Park event. Donte's Den Foundation will be recognized as their Friendly City Friday non profit. We will have a table with giveaways to the first 50 people who stop by and say hi.

Stay tuned, as we'll also be giving away a pair of tickets to the game. Please make sure you're following us on Facebook and/or Instagram, and share this post so more dog lovers will get to know the work we're doing at the Sanctuary. For dogs like Kipo, Rosie, Jennie, and Bud. 🥰 Giving them a second chance is our top priority.

It's Woof! Woof! Woof! for our hometeam, the Bradenton Marauders!

05/29/2026

Today is National Heat Awareness Day

Our Donte's Den dogs have been enjoying the bone-shaped hydrotherapy pool. We're also careful about when to go outside with the dogs, and keeping them hydrated. Lucky dogs, they all stay in air-conditioned dens, here at the Sanctuary.

Today is as good a time as any to remind everyone of the hazards of leaving dogs in the car while running errands. Just don't do it – not even for a minute – please.

First of all, in Florida it is against the law, in any season, to leave a pet in an unattended parked car. It is considered animal cruelty and can lead to criminal charges, some with automatic $500 fines.

Florida's Good Samaritan Law allows bystanders and first responders to forcibly enter the unattended vehicle to retrieve the pet. Bystanders must first call 911 to report the distressed animal, and check the vehicle doors to see if they are unlocked before breaking a window.

Even on a day when it's 70 degrees outside, the temperature inside a car can hit 90 degrees in about 10 minutes. On a hot day, it can shoot up to 116 degrees in a matter of minutes. Cracking windows does not eliminate the risk of heatstroke or even death. And "just running in for a minute" in reality turns out to be much longer.

05/25/2026

Today, this Memorial Day, as we bow our heads to honor fallen soldiers, we also remember that not all of them wore boots. Some padded on four paws, alongside their handlers, sniffing out bombs or standing guard through endless, hostile nights. Military Working Dogs (MWD) – the loyal, the brave, and often the unsung heros who paid the ultimate price for our country.

MWD Streaker was one such dog. Killed In Action, Afghanistan, November 15, 2011. The yellow Labrador Retriever was trained to serve as an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Detector Dog with his handler, Cpl Thomas Sardo. They deployed to Helmand Province, Afghanistan with the U.S. Army's 95th Combat Engineer Company. On November 15, Sardo and Streaker were supporting a logistical resupply mission to outposts near Camp Leatherneck when their "Husky" Ground Penetrating Radar vehicle hit a recently laid 70-pound IED. Streaker was killed in the explosion. Remembering and honoring all who gave their lives while serving the United States of America.

Source: Keegan Albright

05/23/2026

It's been a heck of a week at Donte's Den. This story from THE NEW BARKER has all the feels we need to remind us why we do what we do, here at the Sanctuary. We thank the folks at Hillsborough County Pet Resource Center for your hard work and Rescue Me Tampa - Shelter Dogs for your dedication. We also want to thank Jennifer with Lucky Puppy Nail Specialists LLC for wanting to go the extra mile for Kipo.

Read Kipo's save story below. 🥹😍

05/20/2026

It's National Rescue Dog Day. For all of us at Donte's Den Foundation, it's no different than any other day, since we consider every day rescue dog day. We are committed to the lifetime care of every dog who comes into our Sanctuary.

Sometimes, we are able to find just the right forever home for a dog in our care through the Joyful Dog Adoption program. If something should change after the adoption, we will take the dog back as part of our lifetime commitment. Other times, a dog will enter into our Lifetime Care program and live out the rest of their life in the comfort of our safe haven.

Take these two, Toby (left) and Rosie (right) as prime examples.
Toby was found as a stray. Earlier this year, we featured him on Pet of the Week with our founder/director Marsha Panuce and Summer Smith on ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB. He waited patiently for the right person, and we loved showering him with attention. He was recently adopted, and we just couldn't be happier for him.

Rosie came to us earlier this year by way of Humane Society of Highlands County. Her previous name was Maine. She was found in a ditch with multiple pelvic fractures and a broken femur. Her condition was dire, and yet, her tail never stopped wagging. We committed to the full care and recovery of Rosie thanks to our entire team, including Dr. Byron Young, a boarded surgeon with Gulf Shore Veterinary Specialty Surgery, and Rosie's dedicated foster. They were all recognized during our 12th Annual Top Dog fundraising event in March at The Toasted Yolk Cafe in Sarasota.

All of this comes at a cost, which we are able to cover as a result of supporters and dog lovers like you. Care to donate just a bit in honor of a dog who rescued you, today, in honor of National Rescue Dog Day? Please know that every little bit is a very big deal to each of our dogs.
https://www.zeffy.com/en-US/donation-form/donate-to-dontes-den-animal-sanctuary

05/19/2026

Thank you to THE NEW BARKER for reminding us to be aware of our surroundings when outdoors with our dogs. Thank goodness little Keeley the Dachshund is doing okay. Read her story below.

Did You Know That There Are Three Types of Rattlesnakes in Florida?

Sweet little Keeley, a Dachshund puppy, unexpectedly met one of them right in her own backyard, and was bitten in the face. Although it was a frightening experience, we're happy to report, Keeley is doing much better.

According to Becky Deighan, surgery nurse at Animal Specialty and Emergency Center of Brevard, they think Keeley was bitten just below the eye by a young rattler or a pygmy rattlesnake. She became sick pretty fast, and her face selled up, as you can see in the two photos. She was comatose by the time she arrived at the Emergency Center.

Four vials of antivenom later, and some pain medication, along with close monitoring, and Keeley was able to safely return home the next day, Deighan said. She also said they're seeing a couple of snakebites a week, right now.

What should you do if your pet is bitten by a venomous snake?
Take a picture of the snake if you can. Do not try to pick it up. Do not bring it to the veterinary hospital. If you can't get a picture, the hospital will figure out if it was a snake bite based on lab testing. The dog will most likely receive pit viper antivenom (also known/referred to as antivenin).

Even if you're unsure if your pet was bitten, go to the ER as soon as possible, Dr. Deighan advises. Also, immediately remove your dog's collar, and do not give any over-the-counter medication. Do not attempt to suck out venom.

Reminder: With this warmer weather, snakes are becoming more active. If your pet is bitten: Stay calm, seek immediate care and do not delay.

BTW, the three kinds of rattlesnakes are: Eastern Diamondback, Timber Rattlesnake, and the Dusky Pygmy Rattlesnake. The other three venoumous snakes in Florida: Eastern coral snake, Southern copperhead, and the Florida cottonmouth.

Source: Florida Today
Link to video of Keeley and the veterinary emergency team that saved her in the comments below.

05/17/2026

Puppy Power Took Over Pet of the Week

Our founder/director introduced Katana, a 10-week-old Rottweiler puppy. And we were in heaven with those puppy kisses. Thank you for visiting us, Summer Smith and ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB

If Katana is pulling at your heartstrings, give Raidens Haven a call for a meet and greet. 941.539.4509.

ABC 7's Pet of the Week, Katana, is a purebread Rottweiler puppy packed with personality. She’s full of energy, loves to run and play, and would do best with an active family that can keep up with her.

05/13/2026

PSA from Donte's Den Foundation for those of you who might be visiting the beaches with your dogs over the upcoming Memorial Day weekend. Did you know that seaweed can be fatal to your dog? Seaweed is much more common on unmaintained or rural beachfronts. While some seaweed is used in healthy pet supplements, the raw variety found on the beach is a different matter entirely. It's loaded with saltwater and often covered in sand and other debris.

Saltwater contains high levels of sodium which can lead to dehydration, vomiting, lethargy and – in severe cases – seizures.

Even when seaweed appears dry, the danger remains. If ingested, dried seaweed rehydrates and expands inside the dog.
This leads to intestinal blockages that can become life-threatening emergencies in a matter of hours. Hidden toxins can also be present in the plants, including harmful bacteria, parasites, or ocean contaminants.

If you're heading to the beach with your dogs, consider early morning or just before sunset when it's not as hot. Also, carry plenty of fresh water for you and your dog to stay hudrated (and in case your dog ingests saltwater). Stay safe. Stay aware. Have fun.

Do you have any other tips for folks visiting our beaches with their dogs for the first time?

Some dog-friendly Beaches: Brohard Paw Park in Venice; Bird Key Park, Sarasota; DeSoto National Memorial, Bradenton; Palma Sola Causeway Park, between Bradenton and Anna Maria Island.
NOTE: Please respect signs for Turtle Nesting, and keep dogs off the beaches in those designated areas.

Source: The U.S. Sun
Photo Credit: Getty Images