"We have the luxury of space here so dogs can be dogs," said Faith Maloney, Best Friends director. "Dogs have a fun time here, rolling in dirt, digging holes, chasing toys. They learn to interact with other dogs and people as well as basic obedience commands. We get to know the personality of each dog so that we are better able to place them."
This sanctuary attracts more than 10,000 visitors a year who devote vacation time to volunteer cleaning out cages, taking dogs on runs and feeding them. Tom and Jean DePrizio, who live outside Orlando, spent two vacations there, each time leaving with a dog, including Rosie, a 14-year-old Sheltie mix. She spent her entire life at the shelter, having never heard a telephone ring, slept on a queen-sized bed or pranced on carpeted floors. No one wanted her because she was shy and not well socialized.
"We went to the sanctuary with the intention of picking a dog that was not very adoptable," DePrizio said. "The minute I made eye contact with Rosie, I knew we were soul mates."
Rosie joined Buttercup, a 12-year-old Cocker Spaniel the DePrizios adopted from the same shelter two years ago, and proved almost any well-behaved dog can win a heart and a home.
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