Just about anyone living in Jupiter recognizes the name Furry Friends. They are a not-for-profit, no-kill animal welfare organization. The term “animal shelter” hardly does justice to the welcoming, bright facility on Capital Street, and it is open to and plays a big part in the Jupiter community for everyone who values the lives of our four-legged friends. They have played an integral role in helping to bring pets into the lives of people and improving outcomes for stray cats and dogs since 1981. If you ask around, chances are someone you know has adopted a pet from there.

As I write this, I feel a sense of gratitude and connection toward the organization, as that is where my kids and I met, fell in love with, and adopted our own dog five years ago. My children were begging me for a dog, and I was adamantly opposed to the idea. My deviously brilliant daughter, who was eight at the time, asked if I would take her and her brother to spend time with the animals at Furry Friends. I was moved by her altruistic heart and readily agreed. I began to take them once a week, where we would sit and play with the cats or take one of the dogs on a walk. My daughter knew her mark well, and I lasted all of 30 days before I laid eyes on a disheveled mutt named “Scruffy,” My heart melted, and we brought him home. Our story is just one of tens of thousands of love stories to come out of Furry Friends over the years. However, this article isn’t about me; it is about an organization breaking the mold of traditional shelters and the incredible people making it happen.

Jason Gluck has been with Furry Friends for several years, first as a committed board member and now as Chief Lifesaving Officer. Jason has brought an exciting new outlook to help push the not-for-profit to the next level. After years in the entertainment industry serving as part of the management team that helped stars like Miley Cyrus shine, Jason made the move to South Florida and began to channel his talent toward his passion for animals. At Furry Friends, Jason has launched and expanded highly impactful programs that serve both the animals and people of our community and beyond. Among Furry Friends’ most effective recent initiatives are the transport, mobile veterinary, and low-income assistance programs, which help thousands of pets and people each year, even as the organization grows adoptions and rescues by over 100%. There are also annual fundraising events that allow community members an opportunity to help support the shelter while promising a good time in return. 

Coming up this November, they will be holding their 4th annual Furry Friends and Fancy Things fashion show to raise money for the shelter. The star-studded event is chaired by Admirals Cove member Kimberly Guilfoyle and will feature Haute Couture designs by Oscar Garcia-Lopez. This may be the one show where the beautiful models and visionary fashion are only props to the real stars however, as a variety of dogs who are still looking for homes will be walking the runway as well. Kimberly is excited to be part of the event as a lifelong supporter of rescue animals. Growing up, her family always adopted rescue pets, and she has carried on the legacy, using her platform to advocate for shelter animals. Mr. Gluck is thrilled to have Kimberly so profoundly involved in the event, expressing profound appreciation for having someone “who has a voice and knows how to use it” participate in this year’s festivities.

100% of the money raised at this year’s Furry Friends and Fancy Things fundraiser will go toward a new campaign in 2024 that includes innovative projects that will help fill gaps in the shelter system. One of the projects aims to create a safe environment for pregnant moms and their new puppies in private bungalows. Often, pregnant dogs are brought in from other shelters that do not have space; at these other shelters, expectant mothers may be days or even minutes away from euthanization. But Furry Friends serves as a safe haven for these moms and newborns in need. New puppies are particularly vulnerable to disease as they are not yet vaccinated, and this new project, dubbed Puptown, will ensure that there are medically safe, private spaces for the mothers to give birth and the puppies to be well protected. This project, in particular, has special meaning to Kimberly as she recently adopted her own rescue puppy from Furry Friends. Chela, AKA Princess Peach (the often-used moniker that attaches her to the other two dogs in her pack, Mario and Luigi), came to Furry Friends at only one day old. The adorable puppy was part of a confiscation in Palm Beach County, along with nine other animals left without food, water, or adequate shelter. The day that Kimberly met her, she was visiting Furry Friends to tour the facility and had no intention of rescuing a dog, but fate had other plans. It happened to be Mother’s Day, and as Kimberly had lost her mother when she was just a child, perhaps there was a little extra space in her heart that day, just big enough for a tiny rescue puppy to fill. Chela was named in honor of Kimberly’s mom and, upon entering the home, immediately won over the rest of the family. Chela got a second chance at life, and Furry Friends acquired a new advocate.

You can join Jason and Kimberly on their mission to ensure every dog and cat brought into Furry Friends finds their forever home. Tickets for the Furry Friends and Fancy Things fashion show can be purchased via their website (https://furryfriendsadoption.org). The show sells out quickly each year, so if you miss your chance to see the four-legged stars strut the catwalk, stop by the center to find out how else you can support the animals. There are always volunteer opportunities available, and who knows…you may just walk out with a new best friend.

So, the next time you hear the name Furry Friends, remember that it’s not just a name; it’s a symbol of hope, compassion, and the boundless love between humans and their four-legged companions.