Transforming Animal Welfare: The Visionary Leadership at Furry Friends

Charity Influencer: Lori Griffith
Photographer: Tibor Feigel

CEO/Chief Lifesaving Officer Jason Gluck has brought a new vision to the animal rescue.

Jason Gluck, CEO of Furry Friends, says, ' My long-term vision is a future where no animal in the state of Florida is euthanized due to lack of space.'

Photo by Tibor Feigel

In January 2023, former Board Chairman Jason Gluck assumed the role of CEO at Furry Friends, initiating a bold transformation of the organization. Under his leadership, Furry Friends has evolved from a local adoptable animal shelter into a nationally recognized animal welfare organization.

“My long-term vision is a future where no animal in the state of Florida is euthanized due to lack of space,” says Gluck. One of the most significant shifts under his direction has been the way animals are placed in homes.

What was once a standard application process has been replaced with a more compassionate and engaging approach: conversational adoptions. This new model, led by highly trained adoption counselors, prioritizes meaningful interactions with potential adopters to ensure the best possible match for both the animal and the family. The staff at Furry Friends, often the first to show these animals love, comfort, and care play a vital and often under-recognized role in this process.

Despite these successes, the organization faces an urgent and growing challenge: the overwhelming number of animals in need.

Florida shelters and others across the country are at capacity. “We’re being asked to rescue from overcrowded facilities, respond to natural disasters, and care for animals with complex medical or behavioral needs,” says Gluck. “We’ve stepped up but it’s difficult, and resources are tight.”

Furry Friends rescues over 3,000 animals annually, working closely with public shelters like Palm Beach County Animal Care & Control, which at times must make heartbreaking decisions due to overcrowding.

The organization focuses on areas of greatest need, including severely overpopulated shelters in Okeechobee, Clewiston, Palm Beach County, the Seminole Tribe, and Miami, where over 800 dogs are housed in a facility built for just 300.

Luna at Furry Friends in Jupiter. The not-for-profit, no-kill rescue organization, has been rescuing, rehabilitating, and re-homing animals in the community since 1981. They also transport animals to loving homes across the U.S.

“We do not euthanize animals due to space or behavior,” Gluck emphasizes. “We’re not just filling gaps, we’re redefining what a shelter should be. It’s not a warehouse for animals. It’s not a bigger and more beautiful shelter. It’s about creating a community hub that supports a variety of programs and, ultimately, ensures that no dog spends months confined in a box.”

When asked whether public attitudes toward animal rescue have shifted, Gluck shares a sobering truth: “Unfortunately, the shift is going in the wrong direction.

More animals are being euthanized this year than in the past decade due to space constraints. The solution must be generational and we need to empower youth to create lasting change.”

To that end, Furry Friends has launched the first-ever virtual humane education program for students in grades K–12, aiming to instill compassion and responsibility in the next generation. The organization also transports approximately 1,000 animals per year to loving homes in the Northeast and Midwest, helping to relieve pressure on local shelters.

There are many ways the community can make a difference:

• Adopt or foster an animal, opening space to save more lives.

• Volunteer or donate to support ongoing rescue efforts.

• Sponsor a transport to help animals reach safe and loving homes.

• Share our mission to build awareness and inspire action.

Believing strongly in "locals helping locals," Gluck has partnered with the Chasin A Dream Foundation, offering free adoptions for participants, along with a lifetime of training, complimentary parasiticides for the first year, and ongoing veterinary assistance through the Furry Friends clinic.

To learn more or get involved, visit furryfriendsadoption.org.