As a trainer who specializes in fear and aggression cases, I’m regularly asked by private clients and rescue organizations about sending dogs off to a “sanctuary,” and I want to be clear about how I’m using that term here. I’m referring specifically to facilities that market themselves as a permanent placement option for dogs who are unadoptable and unable to be rehomed, not the broader use of the word that some reputable rescues use to describe a safe haven for adoptable dogs. The question almost always comes from the same place: someone who is facing an impossible decision and trying to avoid the conversation about behavioral euthanasia, surrendering or rehoming.
My answer is always the same. There is no such magical place. It’s a unicorn.
Dogs who would need to be sent to a sanctuary are, by definition, not safe in the general public and not candidates for rehoming. That means they will be living in some form of isolation. For a social species like dogs, isolation is not a humane outcome. It becomes a quality of life issue, plain and simple.
Think about what that looks like in practice. If a dog is afraid of people, there is no sanctuary on earth devoid of people. Someone has to feed them, clean up after them, and administer medications. That dog will always be struggling, and if the aggression is serious, the dog will eventually be more and more isolated because they simply aren’t safe to approach. If a dog is afraid of other dogs, they spend their entire life alone except for brief windows of time when a staff member can sit with them one on one. And if the sanctuary is run by one person, as many are, those windows are not frequent.
Places that market themselves as dog sanctuaries may start out well intentioned, but the model is fundamentally flawed. They take in more animals than they can realistically care for, lack the physical space and financial resources to meet everyone’s needs, and often charge families close to $10,000 per dog. They profit from desperation and they frequently collapse under the weight of what they’ve taken on. This applies to many rescues too.
This isn’t speculation. There are documented cases:
- Angel’s Gate housed 150 animals in 7 rooms.
- Spindletop kept nearly 300 dogs stacked in filthy crates.
- Palena Dorsey stole money and abused 158 dogs.
- The Haven had almost 800 animals when the ASPCA intervened after neglect claims.
- Kimi Peck went from rescuer to hoarder.
- Kim Strong housed over 118 dogs in her home before being arraigned.
- One sanctuary owner faced 17 animal cruelty charges.
- Another was charged after 600 dead animals were found on the property.
- Miranda’s Rescue was accused of shooting chipped, reportedly rehomed animals.
These aren’t isolated incidents. They’re examples. There are many operations like these still running, that haven’t been caught yet, and that are collecting thousands of dollars from families who genuinely believe their beloved dog is living out a peaceful life.
I know this bursts a bubble for a lot of people. But as with so many things, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
If you’re at the point where you’re considering a sanctuary because your dog is beyond what you can manage, I’d encourage you to start by downloading my free rehoming and surrendering guide. Rehoming or surrendering is sometimes the best option. From there, I’d strongly recommend working with a qualified behavior consultant alongside a board-certified veterinary behaviorist. Yes, you might need both. Many cases, though not all, can be meaningfully improved with the right medication and a properly structured training plan. Whatever you do, please don’t use a trainer who promises to “fix” your dog using a shock or prong collar. I can promise you that approach will not make things better, and it will very likely make them considerably worse.
If you need guidance, please reach out. I’m here to help.
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