Community Charity
Furry Friends by Denise Copeland A non-profit foundation established in 1979 100 Capital Street, Jupiter, FL W e all have preconceived notions of how an event will unfold. Traveling south to Jupiter, I honestly thought I’d be sitting in an oce with Linda Gore (the
services and accessible veterinary care not as a pro t center, but as a public service. e goal is straightforward: keep pets healthy and keep them with the families who love them. By removing cost barriers, the clinic helps prevent situations where animals are surrendered simply because care feels out of reach. In cases where a family pet faces medical emergencies they cannot a ord, the clinic has been known to step in and perform necessary surgeries to preserve that bond. e priority is not revenue, but continuity, recognizing that keeping an animal with its family can be as lifesaving as rescue itself. It is another example of how Furry Friends approaches animal welfare with practicality, compassion, and a long view toward community stability.
founder of Furry Friends) to rehash our previous phone interview, collect a few facts face-to-face, and perhaps get a few photos. Instead I was immediately greeted by not only Linda, Jason Gluck was by her side as well. And almost as quickly, three elated people emerged from the opposite side of the reception area, carrying what I deemed as the most adorable puppies I’ve ever seen.
Almost immediately, the reception area lled with energy. Tibor Feigel, the Chief Training Ocer, surrounded by volunteers,
As he spoke about the importance of early handling and socialization, I found myself sitting with them, letting tiny paws climb into
“Furry Friends is recognized as the first no-kill shelter in the United States.”
my lap while he described how these early experiences shape con dent, adoptable dogs.
From there, we watched the larger dogs at play, supervised closely by volunteers as they ran, played, and splashed in a tub of water. e atmosphere felt structured but relaxed, with clear attention to safety and behavior. Inside
[ Linda Gore - founder of Furry Friends ]
[ Jason Gluck - Chief Executive O cer ]
each of them carrying a pair of puppies. e room erupted into instinctive oohs and ahs. A perfectly timed photo opp!
again, we passed rows of adoptable dogs alongside a detailed daily schedule that showed just how coordinated the operation is. Jason told me they place and adopt out an average of six dogs a day, which is an accomplishment in itself given the level of care and matching involved. e tour of the rst oor ended in the surgery center, where spays and neuters were actively taking place. I expected it to feel unsettling, but it didn’t. e space was so clean and professional that it felt more like a modern medical clinic than a shelter. If it
Aer gawking at the puppies, Linda and Jason led me toward the outdoor socialization areas, where we ran into Tibor again. He explained that the puppies would be getting spayed and neutered shortly, part of the routine care that keeps the rescue moving forward responsibly. He also explained the veterinary clinic at Furry Friends operates with a clear and intentional philosophy. It runs at a break even level, o ering low cost spay and neuter
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12 Coastal Pearl Living - AWAKENING
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