Donte's Den Foundation

07/31/2026

Today Is National Mutt Day

But, we don't call any of our dogs mutts. We call them by their names or a term of endearment that may describe their personalities such as Wigglebutt, Nugget, Bubba, or Buddy.

How about you – what terms of endearment do you have for your dogs? We know some folks who have a whole list. We'd love to know if you'd like to share in the comments.

Stay tuned for tomorrow, August 1, as we celebrate the universal birthday of all shelter dogs with THE NEW BARKER and Sweet Dog Tampa. DOGust 1.

🐾🐾It's a good day to remind everyone that today, July 31, is the last day to vote for Donte's Den in the Sarasota Magazine Best of 2026 awards. The voting link is in the comments below.
Why vote? Every little bit of recognition helps us continue with our mission of saving and helping dogs. Plus, your vote is an inspiration for us. 🐾🐾

✅Best Animal Based Non-Profit
✅Best Animal Rescue Organization
✅Best Pet Day Care
✅Best Community Leader - Marsha Panuce

07/27/2026

Look what THE NEW BARKER and Florida Studio Theatre are doing for Donte's Den Foundation. 🥹 They are hosting a Toy & Treat Drive for our Lifetime Care Dogs. We are so grateful.

Read a bit about the play, Dog Mom, written by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok, in The New Barker post.

The play, Dog Mom, runs through this Sunday, August 2 at Florida Studio Theatre. There is also a matinee and evening show on Saturday and Sunday.

Calling All Dog Parents

We are excited to announce a collaboration with Florida Studio Theatre and their production of the play "Dog Mom." Written by Tate Elizabeth Hanyok, the story follows Liz, a tough-as-nails New Yorker with a life falling apart. The least "dog person" in the world, Liz reluctantly agrees to foster a stray dog who shows up on her stoop. By the way, Foster the dog is played by a woman. The play is running now through August 2. Link to purchase tickets in the comments below.

Our collaboration has two parts.
First, we're co-hosting a toy and treat drive for Donte's Den Foundation. Theatre goers with tickets to the show are encouraged to bring an unopened box/package of dog treats and/or a new toy all this week. There will be a collection box in the theatre lobby through the play's run (August 2). We will deliver the goodies to the Sanctuary.

Second: To help us promote Dog Mom, and the treat and toy drive, we are encouraging dog moms and dog dads to post a photo of yourselves with your dogs. Please tag Florida Studio Theatre and The New Barker when posting the photos. We will randomly select someone for a professional photoshoot for a feature story in an upcoming edition of The New Barker dog magazine.

Dog Mom reviews:
TownChronicle: Audiences are howling about a reluctant dog owner.

Sarasota Magazine: It's always a pleasant surprise when you come out of a theater with a better experience than you expected. Hanyok’s play reminds us of how we humans can benefit, not only from being with a dog, but from learning from them—how to appreciate the sun on your face, the breeze in your hair, or, to put it simply, the difference between a dreaded “tomorrow” and the exciting expectation of a “new day.”

Family Beautiful Magazine and Media
It's witty. It's heartfelt. It's wonderfully clever. And yes... you'll probably want to go home and spoil your dog afterward.
🐶 My verdict? Grab your fellow dog lovers and go see it. It's one of Florida Studio Theatre's most entertaining summer productions.

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
A charming touching new play about connection.

07/26/2026

Today is National Dog Photography Day. Who knew, right? We're always taking photos of our dogs at Donte's Den.

Our Lifetime Care Dogs are the dogs whose owners are no longer able to care for them. Some have also been found after having been abandoned, abused or neglected. They're all in a safe haven now, living their best lives in the best place to be a dog: Our sanctuary.

How about you? What's the favorite photo of your dog that you have in your phone's camera? Share it with us, please. Let's create a big collective universal smile, today. ☺️🐶😍

07/23/2026

Voting for Sarasota's Best Of Has Been Extended

Help Donte's Den by placing your vote, EVERY DAY, now through July 31. Let's do this! Link to vote is in the comments below.

✅Best Animal Based Non-Profit
✅Best Animal Rescue Organization
✅Best Pet Day Care
✅Best Community Leader - Marsha Panuce

07/20/2026

We Made the News

Our Donte's Den Foundation team, photographed by Ian Swaby for Your Observer. Claudia Harden, Anna Cooke and Cooper. It looks like Cooper wants a sip of that Snow Dog cocktail 😂

Link to more photos of the One Year Cooler Anniversary Celebration at Dog Bar Sarasota in the comments below.

07/19/2026

We're down to the wire, here, and would like to remind everyone to please take a few moments to vote for Donte's Den Foundation in four categories in Sarasota Magazine's Best of 2026. You may vote every day through July 22. Link is in the comments below.

☑️Best Animal Based Non-Profit
☑️Best Animal Rescue Organization
☑️Best Pet Daycare
☑️Best Community Leader: Marsha Panuce

Did you know that Marsha has been hosting Pet of the Week on ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB for more than 15 years? She even did it through the pandemic, outdoors at a dog park with the cameraman. She also produces and hosts a weekly educational series for kids all about animals called Animal Outtakes. She does all this while also overseeing the day-to-day of Donte's Den Foundation from the dogs to the staff. Help us show Marsha some appreciation with a vote.

Please vote. Please share.
Signed, the dogs at Donte's Den. 🐕🐩🐶🐾🐾

07/17/2026

Louie, a Donte's Den dog, is available for adoption. He was featured today on Pet of the Week with ABC7 Sarasota - WWSB Summer Smith and Marsha Panuce, founder and director of Donte's Den.

Just after Louie's feature, Summer and Marsha gave a shout out to tomorrow's (Saturday)one-year anniversary event for Dog Bar Sarasota.

Rain? No worries. If need be, they'll keep the party going cool indoors. Come out and see us. Donte's Den is the beneficiary. Raffle baskets from acutienamedstewie and THE NEW BARKER. We also have a 3 day/2 night stay at TradeWinds Resort up for grabs.

WWSB ABC7 News at Noon

07/16/2026

On today's Morning Blend!

07/15/2026

One Cool Event You Cannot Miss

Please plan on joining us this Saturday from 2p-5p to help Dog Bar Sarasota celebrate their one-year anniversary. We were part of their grand opening, last year, and are so honored to be invited back as their event's beneficiary.

We will be there with THE NEW BARKER. There will be giveaways and some really cool raffle baskets including a 3/2 night stay at TradeWinds Resort on St. Pete Beach. Also a gift basket from acutienamedstewie and one from The New Barker that includes gift cards from The Toasted Yolk Cafe, Columbia Restaurant/Cha Cha Coconuts, The Honu Restaurant & Tiki Bar and Sea Sea Riders Restaurant.

The Dog Bar has created a special Snow Dog Cocktail with Tito's Handmade Vodka and proceeds will benefit Donte's Den Foundation.

07/13/2026

We Want Your Vote

Donte's Den Foundation made it to the next round in Sarasota Magazine's Best Of 2026 Awards. Your daily vote will help bring us closer to winning in one or all of the following categories.

✅Best Animal Based Non-Profit
✅Best Animal Rescue Organization
✅Best Pet Day Care
✅Best Community Leader: Marsha Panuce, Founder & Director

To be recognized by our community within our community through this campaign is an honor. It will help place the work we do for the animals in our care in front of more people.

We encourage voting every day, now through July 22. The link to vote is in the comments below.