Donte's Den Foundation

Sarasota Girl

I have a 74+ yr old friend whom I believe has been taken advantage of by these people. She has one dog already and they are trying to convince her that she needs to adopt another dog! She has difficulty walking and has had double hip surgery. She has given them THOUSANDS of dollars. I'm planning to Call 8 on Your Side.

Jaymi Perez

This facility is an amazing place to see in person. I have personally adopted two dogs from Dontes Den and I couldn't be happier with them. The staff were very friendly and the owner has a love for those dogs ,as well as her own, that I have never seen in anyone else. Dontes Den is just an amazing foundation and more people should consider going here to adopt. It has been said that the adoption fees are ridiculously expensive but they fail to see the care that goes into these dogs, from the rehabilitation to vaccines and surgeries. They care for the dogs like no other. I think it's so worth every penny that is spent to adopt or donated to their cause. Not to mention the military dog program for those service members who are over seas and cannot care for the dogs. This facility has 24/7 care to accompany the dogs every needs and to see the joy when dog and owner are reunited is an amazing sight.

Kathleen Kessler

Donte’s Den and its Founder, Marsha Panuce, is the one place and the one person I trust with the most precious part of my life: my dogs. I learned about their lifetime care program from watching Marsha and the Den’s public service announcements on her Saturday morning show, Animal Outtakes. My dogs and I are now part of her lifetime care program. If something happens to me and I am temporarily or permanently unable to care for my fur-family, Marsha will take them in and give them a home for the rest of their life or until I am able to bring them home again. She and her staff will take in my dogs- and stay with them! - the next time we are threatened with a hurricane and I need a safe haven for them. I did not make this decision lightly. I did extensive research to make sure the private, non-profit foundation was financially sound. I had my friend and legal counsel speak with a board member and even come to The Den to meet Marsha and tour the facility. He came back with the most positive report – and he isn’t even a “dog person”. I spoke with people who know Marsha both professionally and personally; I heard and felt the respect and love people had for her work, her professionalism and her dedication to the most vulnerable of the dogs in her care. I met with her and her staff and brought my dogs to meet her and tour the facility. My littlest dog climbed in her lap and stayed there until we had to leave. I now have peace of mind knowing my dogs will never end up on the street or in unsafe, unloved conditions. I have seen the recent negative review on this site that Google chooses to list as "most relevant". I have first-hand knowledge of this situation. Marsha asks that people make appointments before coming to The Den so that she and/or staff can schedule time for them and yet this person and her friend showed up several times without appointment or notice. This person and her friend brought a dog on to the property even though they were asked specifically not to: no reputable dog facility would allow an unknown animal owned by unknown people to come in contact with their dogs without medical records proving the animal is current with the required immunizations. MOST CONCERNING: this person made reference months ago on a public forum that she had considered conducting a “kennel break” to get control of this dog that was rescued in her neighborhood. This caused alarm at the Den and among many of Marsha’s clients who entrust their dogs there. After this scare, little information was shared with these women out of concern for the safety of the animals. Everyone should hope a person who conducts themselves in this manner is not welcomed with open arms! It is not hard to understand why this person did not qualify for adoption. Marsha has never asked for donations from this person or the neighborhood that cared deeply about this dog’s fate. Dozens of people volunteered donations directly and asked their neighbors to consider doing the same. The neighborhood decided to hold a garage sale and donated their money to the care of this formerly-feral dog. Many people gave, but only this person and her friend thought that this money bought them the right to call the shots at the Den regarding this dog’s care and future. Thank heaven Marsha loves control over the facility and especially the fate of the animals in her care. I wouldn’t want it any other way.

stacey Perez

Donte's den is a dog's dream come true! The staff and facilities are wonderful. Everytime i have visited the facility is clean and the staff is giving one on one attention to the dogs.I have adopted two dogs from Donte's who are the sweetest, most caring dogs I have had. They always enjoying going back to run and swim in that bone shaped pool. If you need a place to board your dog for any amount of time I highly recommend taking them here. They will enjoy their stay everytime.