Brother Wolf Animal Rescue and ASPCA Join Forces to Find Loving Homes in North Carolina for More Than 60 Behaviorally Rehabilitated Dogs During COVID-19 Crisis

Asheville, N.C. (August 3, 2021)– While one in five households welcomed new pets into their homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, connecting the dots between adopters and homeless animals posed new challenges with the implementation of social distancing, the temporary closure of some animal shelters, and a limited ability to relocate animals across state lines. In response to these challenges, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and Asheville-based Brother Wolf Animal Rescue started working together in a new way to find homes for dogs who had graduated from the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center (BRC) in Weaverville, N.C. This collaboration led to over 60 dogs being placed in homes and ultimately a new local avenue for adoption directly from the ASPCA.

The ASPCA BRC provides behavioral rehabilitation for severely fearful and undersocialized dogs, such as those rescued from puppy mills and hoarding situations. Dogs undergo specialized rehabilitation treatment to prepare them for lives in loving homes. The Center’s canine graduates had historically been transported to a national network of placement partner shelters for adoption. When that avenue became increasingly difficult during the pandemic, the ASPCA looked for new ways to find loving homes for the program’s graduates.

Local partner Brother Wolf Animal Rescue collaborated with the ASPCA to promote BRC graduates through Brother Wolf’s website and social media channels alongside their own available dogs, who were then cross-promoted on PetFinder.com.

“The COVID-19 crisis forced every industry to change and adapt. It’s positive outcomes like these that highlight how critical it is for all of us to think outside the box and work together to achieve our shared goals, no matter the circumstances,” said Leah Craig Fieser, Executive Director of Brother Wolf Animal Rescue.

“The ASPCA is grateful for our established network of placement partners, including Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, that allow us to find loving homes for the animals in our care who have overcome so much and deserve a second chance,” said Kate Pullen, Vice President of the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center. “When we had to pivot from our usual operations during the pandemic to seek local placement for rehabilitated dogs, both Brother Wolf and the Western North Carolina community stepped up to support our needs through adoption and fostering. We look forward to continuing to deepen our roots in North Carolina and find new, loving homes for even more BRC graduates.”

The collaboration between the ASPCA and Brother Wolf Animal Rescue resulted in over 60 graduates of the BRC  finding homes locally during the pandemic. As the ASPCA continues to place BRC graduates both locally and throughout the country, they recently launched a webpage dedicated to featuring dogs rehabilitated through the BRC who are available for adoption. You can view the webpage at www.aspca.org/adopt-pet/north-carolina-adoptable-dogs.