Fostering Hope

In 1987, veterinarian Dr. William Suro and his wife Nanci Suro placed a donation jar on the counter of their practice to raise money for a stray dog that had been injured in a hit-and-run, requiring multiple surgeries. The Suros named the dog Max, dubbed the money raised “The Max Fund,” and within a year had founded a nonprofit dedicated to sheltering and protecting animals, guided by the principles of “No Kill” animal welfare.

This year, MaxFund rebranded as True Companions, a fitting tribute to the deep connections between humans and the animals they care for. Those connections have been proven to dramatically improve the quality of life of both pets and their owners. Studies by leading medical associations, such as the American Psychiatric Association (APA), have shown that owning a pet positively affects mental health, emotional well-being, social connection, and physical fitness.

The American Heart Association, for example, concluded that owning a dog reduces an individual’s mortality rate by 24%. Scientists at Washington State University have observed that petting a dog or cat for ten minutes reduces cortisol, lowers blood pressure and heart rate, and relaxes muscle tension, while also releasing Oxytocin, known as the “love hormone.” Additionally, the Journal of Aging and Health published a study showing that adults over the age of 65 who owned a pet for five years or more scored higher on cognitive tests than adults without pets. The research overwhelmingly shows that pets make our lives better, including intangible benefits, such as providing a sense of purpose, a routine, and an unbreakable bond with another living creature.

Profound Impact

True Companions’ campus now comprises an entire city block and includes a full-service veterinary clinic, two courtyards for socializing and playtime, and multiple shelters subdivided based on types of animals and their needs. Some dogs and cats require physical rehabilitation for medical issues caused by their previous living environments. Todd Perry, True Companions’ COO, recalls how, at the beginning of his tenure, the shelter took in 72 Chihuahua-Poodles who had been victims of a hoarding situation. Following the devastating fires in Los Angeles, they rescued 11 dogs. More recently, they took in a group of dogs that had been hoarded in Oklahoma, and would have likely been euthanized had True Companions not stepped in. Such animals have experienced trauma, necessitating specialized care. “We do a lot to rehabilitate and socialize animals that really have nowhere else to go, and no other place to turn,” explains Perry.

True Companions employs eight veterinarians and works with a network of certified clinicians who provide orthopedic surgery, cardiology services, and other highly specialized treatments. Last year, their clinic treated 14,000 patients, a huge increase from just a few years prior, when they saw around 5,600 pets. As a nonprofit, True Companions is supported by charitable donations and by a network of 800 volunteers who walk dogs, pet cats, and provide affection while the animals wait to be adopted. Their veterinary clinic provides low-cost, high-quality medical care not only to client-patients, but to all the animals in their shelters. They subsidize veterinary visits and pet food for low-income owners and offer a range of other services for not only animals, but humans as well.

“A couple of years ago, we worked with a firefighter who had suffered a traumatic brain injury on the job,” Perry says. “The hospital where he was being treated reached out to us and asked if we could help with sensory therapy. It was amazing to see the transformation and the human process he went through with the animal he was paired with. It was almost as though the animal instinctively knew his needs. And through the course of that therapy, he was able to move from a wheelchair to standing and began to regain his mobility. Animals have a profound impact on human beings.”

Saving Lives

True Companions takes its “no kill” mandate incredibly seriously, which differentiates it from other shelter models. Perry elaborates, “We don’t euthanize unless an animal is truly suffering, as determined by a licensed veterinarian.” Other shelters, he explains, will euthanize animals in order to free up space. Lately, shelters have been literally overflowing with needy animals.

Denise Boehler is a writer and animal rescue advocate who currently has seven dogs in her care, the majority of which have some form of special needs. She adopted two of them from True Companions. One had been shot and left for dead in the San Luis Valley. Another had been essentially dropped off the back of a truck. Both have physical deficits from the abuse they endured—neither can walk without assistance—and require a level of care few pet owners can provide. But Denise points out that many shelter animals are perfectly healthy—they just need a home, and someone who will give them a second chance.

“It’s triage right now in the animal welfare world,” Boehler says. “There are about a million dogs and healthy, adoptable animals that lose their lives every year because of what is known as ‘open shelters.’ We are in an overpopulation crisis right now, and maybe part of the problem is that most people outside of the shelter and rescue world simply don’t know how bad it is.” Boehler points to economic uncertainty and other external factors, including government policies, that have contributed to the crisis. She urges everyone who’s considering becoming a pet owner to forgo buying from breeders, adopt from a rescue shelter, and save a life in the process.

A Caring Community

True Companions has a robust network of donors, volunteers, and medical professionals, but they still rely on the support of everyday animal lovers. On Saturday, Oct. 17, the nonprofit will host its annual gala, which takes place at the Four Seasons Hotel and includes a silent auction that everyone can bid on virtually. The gala raises critical funds for the shelter and the clinic, for the animals, and for their owners.

“What we achieve each year with the gala is irreplaceable by any other event or initiative,” says Kathy Gaines, True Companions’ CEO. “It’s a night of celebration and appreciation for those who continue to support our life-saving mission. We get to share our wins, goals, and plans for the future with the very same community members who want to see our organization grow.”

Perry stresses that True Companions is redefining the “no kill” ethos for shelters across the country. “We want to be the lighthouse,” he says. “We want to be the standard of what sheltering should be.” That means more outdoor time for the animals, the best medical care possible, and a deep understanding of the adoption process, ensuring that every animal finds its family, no matter how long it takes. The gala honors not only the dedicated team that has stewarded True Companions since its founding nearly 40 years ago, it also strengthens the mission looking ahead, securing a future for every pet in need.

“I’m constantly amazed by the ways our community supports our animals and programs at the gala each year,” Gaines says. “There are folks who have been coming for 30 years, and others who have just learned about us that same month. I get to shake their hand, learn about their story, and thank them for contributing to such a meaningful cause.”

The 2026 True Companions Gala, themed “Game of Homes – Whiskers are Coming,” takes place on Saturday, Oct. 17. The accompanying silent auction opens for bidding on Oct. 13 at 3 p.m. and closes on Oct. 17 at 7 p.m.

To bid, visit truecompanions.ejoinme.org/gala2026