Seeing any dog in a shelter can break your heart. But prospects are really bleak for dogs with behavioral issues due to cruelty or neglect. Even if they go to loving homes, the difficult behavior often persists. Ultimately, most are unadoptable.

But there is some good news. The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals recently opened the ASPCA Behavioral Rehabilitation Center in North Carolina. There the focus is on the retraining of homeless dogs that are unadoptable due to their extreme fear.

Behavior experts work with the dogs every day, teaching them to trust people and how to handle stressful situations. Visiting professionals from other shelters can also learn the techniques and use them back home.

Best of all, graduating dogs are put up for adoption across the country. Now that’s something to cheer about.