ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Sometimes it's hard to believe, but things do get better.  

“He’s pretty easy going,” said Deirdre Franklin. “He loves other dogs. He loves snacks as you can see.” 

Franklin is always reminded of that when she looks at dogs like Kong. Kong was rescued from a coal mine in Virginia and brought to the ASPCA’s Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in Weaverville. 

What You Need To Know

  • The ASPCA Behavior Rehabilitation Center is the first of its kind and the only one in the United States that focuses on studying and providing rehab to extremely fearful and unadoptable dogs

  • The Center is located in Weaverville and opened its doors back in 2018

  • Kong and Hammond recently graduated from the center's rehab program and are currently up for adoption

It’s here where Franklin works with rescue dogs to give them a new chance at life. 

“You start with dogs that are so shut down, dogs that are having such a hard time even making eye contact, even having you walk past their kennels sometimes and seeing week after week the specialized work that our behavior team does here… it’s incredible,” she said. “To watch them just transition and realize…and make those generalizations that people are good.” 

This center is the first of its kind and the only one in the United States that focuses on studying and providing rehab to extremely fearful and unadoptable dogs. The majority of dogs come from puppy mills and hoarding situations, like 5-year-old Hammond. 

Hammond’s life started in a single-wide trailer with 90 other dogs. After being rescued and rehabilitated, he’s finally ready for a real home. 

“Through the program here, he has learned all of those things that sometimes we take for granted for a normal well socialized dog,” said Monica Body. 

Body is one of the center’s behavior specialists who has watched Hammond transform over these last few months. 

“A dog like Hammond, in the state that he was in, likely would not have been adopted out at a normal shelter without this specialized behavior modification,” she said. 

Hammond and Kong are just two of nearly 500 dogs that have graduated since the center opened its doors, first as a pilot program in New Jersey back in 2013. With things like real life rooms and sensory gardens, this center serves as a place for dogs to know it does get better. 

“Imagine the hardships they might have come through and seeing them come to the other side so they are able to actually enjoy that life and start to see that spark in them,” said Franklin. “I think what else could you ask for.” 

Franklin says right now they are in need of foster homes for these dogs. If you are interested in fostering dogs from this center you can email Franklin at deirdre.Franklin@aspca.org. 

Both Hammond and Kong are currently available to be adopted and are looking for their forever homes. You can find more information about Kong HERE and about Hammond HERE.