Happy Holidays!

Happy Holidays to all the Great Pyrenees owners and lovers out there! 

Yes, They Love The Snow... But...

I recently relocated to south Jersey with my two Great Pyrenees.  As if there were not already too many pieces of misinformation out there about giant breed dogs, I anticipate a hard summer down here.  Not for my dogs, but for the commentary from the ever-so-vocal east-coasters who let their opinions be known at all times.  I have been preparing myself for "How can you have those dogs around here?  It must be so hot for them".  No doubt said with a degree of anger and spitefulness, for certainly how could any owner of a Great Pyrenees have them in any place other than snowy mountains?

It amazes people when I inform them that a large percentage of Pyrenees dog ownership in this country is in Texas.  I cannot speak to the family pet aspect, but I know from speaking with Texan rescuers that their shelters get a huge influx of Great Pyrenees.  But..  Texas is so hot!  How could anyone have this long-haired, white breed down there?

I think when it comes to many dog breeds, people need to think less aesthetically and more practically.  Would I be less or more protected walking around naked in glaring sunlight versus wearing clothes?  "They must be sooooooo hot"...  Ironically people always make the "hot" comment while my Pyr stands next to a Bulldog about to fall over from heat exhaustion.  I feel so bad for all the other dogs... so often people neglect their needs because they assume that without a thick, warm coat, that they are great in warm weather.  It's just not true.

Like with all things, we have to ask ourselves where our dogs originated from, what *kind* of a coat do they have, and is their area of origin exposed to many different kinds of weather?  Great Pyrenees love the snow.. Yes.. but they are very resilient to heat and weather, and tend to hold their heads up like champs on summer days while many short-haired breeds suffer. 

Why to Great Pyrenees fair well in hotter climates?  Their coats serve as insulation as well as protection against sun exposure.  On top of it, they are very low energy dogs who don't get all worked up on an amazing summer day.. jumping and loosing their minds and working up their core temperature.  These angels are so good at self-regulating; they are that friend that always says "I'm cool, do whatever."

Please, please never alter your Great Pyrenees.  I don't care if we're talking dew claws or shaving their coats..  These dogs were made to such perfection and beauty.  So please, south Jersey, cut me some slack with my dogs when spring and summer roll around.  After all, everyone so far as thought they were Siberian Huskies.

Understanding How Rescues Work

If you yourself volunteer with rescue or are close to those who do, you wonder how they can do it.  Initially people think more about how someone can subject themselves to such sadness on a daily basis.  So many dogs condemned to die, so many in great need.  If you talk to a rescuer, you will quickly learn that while those elements are trying and difficult, the most difficult aspect of rescue is dealing with the humans.  And no, not the humans who have left these animals in horrible circumstances.. Yes, it's the potential adopters.

I saw a post on Facebook not too long ago which asked, "Why is everyone in rescue crazy?"  Really? They commented on how it must be because they love animals and not people.  Like somehow rescue is meant to support and cater to people, not dogs.  Do it yourself for a year, and if you don't feel like it makes you crazy, then I stand corrected. And it's not the dogs.. it's comments from people like that.

A great percentage of those looking to adopt from a rescue are amazing people who "get it".  These are the people who drop off bags of dog food to the events they pass by, who donate money above and beyond adoption fees/donations, and who perhaps even foster themselves.  If adopting, they will enter it with great understanding and patience not only for the rescue, but for the potential of short to medium term challenges with their new dog.

Sadly, so much time is spent working with potential adopters who really give the rescue a hard time.  I think, bottom line, their shared sentiment is that because they are supporting rescue, the process should be easier, faster, and cheap.  After all, these dogs were perhaps going to die, right?  Why does it cost so much to adopt?  Why does it (sometimes) take so long?  Why do I have to sign a contract and feel "inspected"?  Aren't they better off with me anyway, regardless of all this vetting?  And now, the dog is sick.  I adopted him 2 weeks ago and those rescuers "should have known".. 

Rescues aren't used car salesman.  They are not salesman at all.  There is no profit to be had, no paycheck to receive, and no accolades from co-workers.  All they have is the burned image in their head of the dog when they first met them, and the reward of seeing their wagging tail walking away from them into the car of a new home.  That's it.

Why is the adoption fee/donation so high?  Many rescues have varying requested donations, and I think this can cause some confusion.  Some can ask for as little as $150 for a dog, while others can be upwards of $400.  Like all things, it is still a business, a non-profit business.  A rescue asking for less likely has less overhead.  Perhaps they cater to a smaller area, requiring less driving, thusly gas money expenditure, to rescue dogs.  Perhaps they do less medically with their dogs.  For the higher priced adoption donations, take a hard look at everything they are putting into it.  Do they rescue from out of state?  Do they cover more than core vaccines?  For giant/large breeds, did they pay for a gastropexy during spay/neuter? 

"You'd think if they are serious about saving dogs, they would have called me back by now".  "You think if they are serious about saving dogs, they would charge less."  "You think if they are serious about saving dogs, they wouldn't make me go through such a lengthy process".  I've heard it all before.  Believe me, they want those dogs in homes as fast as possible.  But without taking the proper time and attention, those dogs just come right back.  No words can explain the emotional devastation a rescuer feels when a dog is returned.  Where did they go wrong?  Why was it the wrong family?  NO answer is ever "we spent too much time trying to place them".. it will *always* be the contrary. 

I'm sure a rescuer has felt themselves, under the pressure of the comment about "why haven't they called me back yet", getting home from work and saying to themselves, "I haven't even gone to the bathroom yet today, and these people think I am taking too long".  Full time jobs, personal life, human family..  every spare moment spent trying to re-home dogs, and it often isn't fast enough or good enough.  Again, so many people *get it*, but unfortunately so many do not, and share such exhausting lack of patience which makes rescue much harder than it ever should have to be.  Once a woman came up to me and said "I left (her) 2 messages about adopting a dog and she never called me back.  Make sure you tell (her) that a dog could have been saved today."  She walked off triumphantly.. well, she really told me.  Did she even *see* how many dogs were at the adoption event?  And that 1 woman did it ALL, essentially? 

The adopter needs to understand how much the rescuer loves the dogs they save.  They *don't* have to be doing this.  Life, for them, would be much easier if they didn't rescue.  So when contemplating the adoption application, adoption contract, home visit, and all the other aspects, imagine if it were a human adoption;  I would seriously be cautious about rescues who do not take every special care to ensure the home is a perfect match.  The adopter should be able to walk away saying to themselves, "Wow, they really care where their dogs go".

A person once commented to me that they decided a reason they walked away from adopting from rescue was because they felt that they "didn't have their pick".  They really wanted to be able to say "I want that one", and leave with him or her.  There was no way to make them understand the process: that if 2 families want the same exact dog, (and both are great families!), the rescue will be forced to make a choice.  How else would it work?  They will select the family who they truly feel is the best match.  Feelings get hurt, people get turned off from rescue, but that is how it must be.

"I don't want a sick dog".  This is not only an excuse to not adopt from shelters and rescues, but also a complaint from those who have.  I have to say, lately, I have seen more sick pups who came from breeders.  And here is the thing:  it's not necessarily that the breeders did something wrong.. they are dogs and can get sick.  New adoptive families, travel, etc.  takes it's toll.  They are not unlike humans: how sick do we get when we are stressed out, not eating right, and confused?  Very.  I think on the whole, our dogs fair better than we would in the same situation.

People want their dogs "now" (and I can't blame them.. you fall in love so fast!) but.. we need to understand that many illnesses have "incubation periods".  Unless your rescue is determined to hang onto a dog for a few weeks or longer, you may adopt and see signs of upper respiratory disease, Parvo, or any number of illnesses a week or two into adoption.  It is difficult for a rescue to determine what vet bills they will pay for once the dog is no longer theirs.  Perhaps the dog *was* healthy, and the day after you adopted him or her, you recklessly took them to a place to socialize them without first addressing their vaccine status.  Who's to say where the pup got sick?  How long have you lived in your house?  Did you know that Parvo can *live* in the soil for a year?  Perhaps the tenant before you had a Parvo pup out back.  It really becomes the adopters job to understand animal health, and partner with their veterinarian to make wise choices.  In addition, I'm sure a rescue would love to be able to hold onto a dog for a month for this reason.. but they simply can't.  For each day that dog lingers in rescue or foster, I don't need to count the number of dogs dying, waiting for a spot to open up for them.

"Why do rescues demand contractually that the dog be surrendered back to them, if I decide I no longer want them?"  People feel inconvenienced.  And if not, others just feel ashamed or embarrassed and would really prefer to drop them to a shelter.  Understand how heart-breaking this is.  That rescue did *so much* so ensure that dog *didn't* end up in a shelter.  They trusted you when you said you could love them forever, and then they get a call from a shelter that one of their rescues was dropped off.  Don't allow this contractual obligation to turn you away from rescue: If you are concerned about it, you probably shouldn't be adopting.

Rescues, like women, "all stick together".  Do not be surprised if you find yourself a little "black listed" if you adopted from a rescue, surrendered, and try to adopt from another rescue.  If rescues had their way, there would be a physical "black list" they all could share to ensure they could all partner to ensure that no one ever gave that person a dog again. 

All rescues have different ideas about how to run their business.  You will likely encounter variations in their protocols that reflect the morals and goals of those running it.  The ultimate goal is always the same: save the dog, and find a great home that will keep them forever.  Some may cover less medically, some may take longer to place, and some may be harder to get a hold of.  But, why the rush?  A dog is forever.  Take your time, shop all your rescues and shelters.  Understand how expensive saving a dog's life is, and all the emotional involvement those involved have. 

Before you fall in love, ask the volunteer about the process.  If something doesn't sit right with you, ask them why.  Adopting from rescues and shelters is the only sensible thing to do, and everyone knows it.  Take your time, and understand that the goal is to not have to keep saving the same dog over and over again.  Rescue wants to do it right the first time, and they will take the time needed to do so, the contracts accordingly, and ask you for enough donation to ensure they can save the next dog.  It's really that simple.

My Dog Licks Their Paws!

Many owners think nothing of the fact that their dog seems to lick and chew on their feet a lot.  I've heard owners say they assumed their dog was merely grooming, and didn't give it more thought than that.

Cats groom themselves, but dogs do not... *not* in the sense that would explain away licking away at paws or other areas of their body.  We naturally see our dogs affectionately lick on their friends, but offering grooming and licks to a buddy is different than the focus they give to their own bodies. 

Your veterinarian may ask you about licking or chewing, and they do this because it isn't typically a normal behavior.  Dogs who pay this kind of attention to their paws are likely suffering from some kind of allergy, and their paws are itchy.  With excessive licking, they may become raw and irritated, and will likely "bronze".  Bronzing is easy to see in our white dogs, because their fur turns to the color of tea.  Their saliva causes these changes, and if they stop licking (are cured of the source of the itch), the bronzing will go away.

Seeing bronzing is a sure sign of excessive licking, whether it be around their mouths, their paws, or their abdomen.  If you do not notice your dog licking much, he or she may be doing it more when you are not home and if you notice discoloration of fur like this, have your vet talk to you about ruling out allergies.

In addition to this unwanted attention to their paws, if you notice itchy ears or reoccurring ear infections, allergies are a likely culprit.  (Keeping in mind there are *many* things which can irritate our dogs ears, such as baths, excessive hair in the canal, and swimming, to name a few). The only *real* way to determine if it's an allergy is to have a DVM do allergy testing.  It's just like how they do it in humans, where a patch of fur is shaved and irritants are injected under the skin to isolate what they are allergic to.  Not all general practice DVMs may do this, but they can refer you to a dermatologist.

Some of the most common allergens for dogs are dust, fleas, grass, pollen, and certain proteins they are consuming in their foods.  Based on my experience and conversations with veterinarians, some dogs who never had a particular allergic reaction to, say, cow, can develop one after a couple of years eating the same protein.  Your vet may recommend trying a new protein (anything else.. fish, chicken, etc.) for *no less* than 2 months to see if you see an improvement.  (Keep in mind that buffalo and cow are essentially the same protein). Switching for less than 2 months won't give their body enough time to respond.  If you do this, WATCH YOUR SNACKS..  make sure the correct protein is also within your snacks, not just their main meals.

While some dogs have an allergic reaction to vaccines, this *won't* be why you see this licking.  If you dog is allergic to vaccine, symptoms of that will show up the day of the injection and present, most commonly, as a swollen face.  (Anything other than being tired following a vaccine should be cause for concern and you should call your vet immediately).  

Our pups spend their entire lives on their feet!  We need to take any possible discomfort very seriously, whether it be allergens or even overgrown toe nails.  Always be cognisant of the surfaces they are walking on, especially in extreme cold and heat.  With winter coming, beware of salt placed on slippery surfaces, as this can irritate their feet as well.  In the winter, dogs are also more prone to pad injuries, because the ground is covered in leaves or snow, hiding lawn edgings and other potentially harmful items.

That being said, if you notice your dog licking or chewing, exam their paws.  Be sure to look closely between all their "toes", and ensure no nails are overgrown and rubbing into their pads.  If you have ruled out injury or irritation from a foreign object, take them into the vet.  It won't GO AWAY without a change in diet or reduction of allergens, and will likely grow worse and more irritated and possibly infected.  Dogs can be placed on medications to help manage allergies, just like us.

As with all things, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure, and putting off addressing even things which seem minor save us a lot of money in the long run, not to mention the comfort of our best friends which is always paramount to anything else.

Available for Adoption: Peter

Peter is a small, mixed breed dog estimated to be between 5-7 years old.  He came to us from a cruelty seizure in Texas:  Original Seizure Blog

The rescuers who passed this sweet boy to us thought he was  Pyrenees mix, but he is very petite (50 pounds) and looks like a minature lab/akbash mixed dog.  He was heartworm positive, but received his treatment and is now in recovery!  (Thank you to a very special woman who paid for that entire cost herself.. she knows who she is)

When we met Peter, he was infested with horrible, huge ticks.  He was shy and afraid, and behaved as if he had never even been outside before.  It broke our hearts, but not for long.. because he is doing so well!

He has made great strides in coming out of his shell! In his first foster home, he showed some confusion about where to potty, but in his new foster he has been an angel!  He uses the doggie door and is a perfect gentleman!  He paws his foster mom for snuggles, and is happy and enthusiastic. He can still be shy at times, but the world is a big, huge place he hasn't properly experienced before! She can't say enough amazing things about him!  He doesn't bark, chew, nothing naughty at all!  She says he is the easiest foster she has ever had!  He is great on a leash and great in the car.

He is up-to-date on core vaccines, neutered, and received blood work before his heartworm treatment which revealed him to be internally healthy. 

His ideal home isn't unlike that for many dogs: love, attention, and the time to dedicate to keeping his activity low for the next few months as he continues to recover from being heartworm positive. The family will also need to understand he is an older pup, who will need regular vet visits. This is true about all dogs, but our older dogs should be seeing a doc twice a year. Peter also needs a dental, as we believe he has spent years locked in a kennel.  He has chewed away at his canine teeth, and his other teeth are not healthy and will likely require several teeth to be removed down the line.

He is a sweet, gentle soul who has a second chance at life, if there is someone out there able to provide that for him.  We are hoping there is someone out there with the time and love to give Peter the life he has never known.  He is amazing with all forms of life.. other dogs, cats, and humans.  He really just is looking for his soul mate family, and he believes they are out there somewhere!

Available for Foster and Adoption: Paulie

Hi!  Paulie came to us from Texas, where his life was saved by the generous offer from a foster home!  Please read his original story, and a note from his foster mom, and let us know if you can write the final, happy chapter of his life!  Paulie is a neutered, healthy male mixed breed dog, estimated to be over between 5-7 years old.  He is currently in foster, but needs a new foster home due to the upcoming travel of his current foster home!

Cruelty Seizure Blog

"Paulie is a very special dog that will need very special people/person to love him!

My understanding is that he came from an abusive situation, yet Paulie is maybe the sweetest dog I have fostered to date.  

He is greatly appreciative of every, single small act of kindness he is given- from a tidbit of a treat to a good scratching behind the ears...once you gain his trust, of course.  Gaining Paulie's trust will take a bit of time but is proved possible!  Once he trusts you, you are golden.  

This precious dog has a perfectly clean bill of health!  I think Paulie will do well with a family/person that has a calm, low key lifestyle and has semi-low activity going on within the household.  He is wonderful company and a perfect companion dog (who is absolutely influenced by treats!).  

He will do well with or without other dogs in the household as long as they are friendly, naturally!

He's been around small children and other dogs and is perfectly behaved.  He does not have an aggressive bone in his body.  100% potty trained - never an accident! 

Also, side note...he likes to make a nest of socks if you happen to have them laying around.  He is very gentle and sneaky about it though- haha!

Please contact us for more information on this gem of a dog!"

 If you can foster or adopt Paulie, please fill out an application

Henry: Success Story!

Look how handsome I am after a trip to the groomer!

"Hey, why is your head shaved?"

Henry and his new sister, Mia!

Henry's long chapter of rescue, medical treatment, and finally finding a forever home has come to a close... Henry went home to his "forever family" yesterday!  Henry will live his wonderful life in the care of a family who adopted a Great Pyrenees girl from Dawn a couple of years ago.  Experienced with the breed and willing to take on a deaf dog, we knew that Henry had found his perfect home the day he met them.  Henry had never tried to play with anyone, before.  Upon meeting his potential new "sister" dog, he play-stanced and loved her.  He also thought it quite appropriate to make himself at home that day, wandering the yard and feeling it was "his" home to enter and explore.  His potential family worked with us through weeks and weeks of care, showing great patience, as they waited to learn this wonderful boy could be theirs.  I don't know who is luckier, them or Henry.

He was in rescue with us for quite some time.  We had no idea what medical conditions Henry came with, only that he stared at us from behind the shelter bars and said, "I'm a good boy.  Can you make the pain stop?"  The shelter said he was mean, and when he met us he said, "I'm not.  I'm just smart and I know who I can trust."  Never raising an eyebrow, or retracting from a hug, Henry stepped forward and told us that he was amazing.  The shelter prepared us for an aggressive dog, and he welcomed us with a head nudge and a plea for more kisses.

Henry received AMAZING donations that SAVED HIS LIFE.  Through all your generous support, his ear surgery was paid for, as well as all his other diagnostics to ensure he was fully healthy.  We didn't know what we were going to do:  this amazing dog we rescued, no money in the bank, but we had to say "yes" to treating him.  We were afraid we'd never find the money.. and then came YOU.

Henry's story is filled with many, many names.  Names of so many who gave so much, to help pay his bills and offer moral support.  Sometimes people can question, "Why spend so much money to save 1 dog?"  Our answer:  Every great dog is worth saving.

He was, and will always be, the reason people rescue.  An amazing boy.. smart, affectionate. Perfect.  The only thing not perfect about Henry was his history.. a stray who found himself in a shelter facing a grim fate.  A dog who wandered as a stray with ears so badly infected that he could hardly remember life without pain.  A skinny dog, who perhaps never knew what it felt like to feel full.

We would do it all, all over again, even if someone told me he only had 1 week left to live.  He is amazing, and he deserves to know a painless life full of love.  I wish a picture could capture his spirit, his courage, his forgiving nature.  Henry knew pain for years, and still never refused a kiss to his painful head.. never refused a hug from a baby.  He trusted us to ensure his life would be forever changed, forever improved. 

I wish we could all be more like Henry.

Thank you, THANK YOU, to everyone who supported saving this precious life.  We will NEVER forget your support and generosity.

Texas Hoarding/Cruelty Seizure Dogs Arrive to Denver! "Peter and Paulie's Story"

Paulie being curious and friendly!

"What 'ya guys doin'?"

"I was nervous at first, but now I knew it was okay to smile!"

"I can't wait to see what my life holds for me now!"

"I'm a dainty, friendly guy!"

"My new foster is taking me to the groomer!  I can't wait!"

"The next time I walk through these doors, I will be heart worm negative!"

"All we know is that we lived with someone who had *way* too many other doggies, and our health was neglected.  We all had fleas and ticks, not to mention nearly all of my brothers and myself have heartworm disease.  A few really nice people down in Texas, where we're from, met us at the shelter after other people came and loaded us all up in crates.  Some of my family I never ever saw again.  The locals told me that we were all great boys, and that they would work really hard to make it sure we didn't have to go to sleep.  They found nice people up in Denver who said they could take me and my brother!  I met them today, and they took us for a ride in their van to the doctor's office.  My brother, who they called Paulie, met this wonderful woman who put her in her car and said goodbye.  They said he is going into "foster home", but that I have to wait until the worms in my heart are gone.

"That's my brother, Paulie, in his new foster home!"

"Paulie was tired, it was a long trip.  I'm tired too!"

We were both a little shy when the nice Denver people got us, Paulie is a little more brave than me, but we are both so sweet and just want to snuggle and be loved.  I don't know if Paulie is *really* my brother, but I think I have known him for a really long time.  The lady today told me that she was going to tell me the same thing she told this other dog she called Henry.. she said that 'now that I met them, I didn't have to worry anymore.'

I have a wonderful foster home lined up, and I can't wait to meet her!  First I need to spend some time at the doctor's office so they can do some tests and get rid of the worms in my heart.  I can't wait to know what it feels like to be healthy again!

Me and Paulie are both great dogs, we didn't deserve this and we can't wait to become a member of someone's new family forever!"

Paulie & Peter are new to rescue and under evaluation.  They will be made ready for adoption when their health and behaviors are established and they've had time to adjust and get well!

We had overwhelming emotional support in our efforts to get them here.  They came a long way, and so many people were moved by their story and that of their other brothers & sisters.   These dogs were truly facing death and the Pyr rescue down in Texas really wasn't going to stand by and let that happen.  All the rescues down there are full, and they went to great personal and financial lengths to transport these guys up to us!  THANK YOU, Texas rescuers Eileen, George, and Dusteen!

If you'd like to donate money to help pay for Peter's heart worm treatments, or donate to all our worthy dogs in need in general, please call with a credit card or mail a check "For Great Pyrenees Rescue/Peter" to:

Animal Health Care Specialists

• 6701 Washington St
• Denver, CO 80229
• Phone: (303)288-6800

"Someone named me Henry"

"I can't wait to get outta' here.  I'm tired of hospitals!"

"I rest my head on the nice lady's leg when she visits me in the hospital"

Many of our blog readers are familiar with our friend, Henry.  Henry came into rescue over a month ago.  The past month has been tumultuous..

We knew that Henry stood a 50/50 chance of his ears not being able to be 'saved'.  His infection when we got him out of the shelter had been there *for years*, doing what we know not to be unrepairable damage.  We all tried hard.. fosters, doctors..  but it has been determined our sweet Henry does need surgery to remove both of his ear canals.  This will naturally render him deaf, but will spare him a life of ear infections, pain, and discomfort.  Henry is a strong guy, and he was also likely fully deaf before coming into our rescue, just due to the amount of inflammation and infection.

Henry's surgery will cost just under $2000.00.  I wondered tonight, if we had known it would have cost this much money to save Henry when we first met him at the shelter, would we have rescued him?  The answer:  YES.  He is amazing, and he deserves to know happiness.  But, we need help.

Naturally no rescue can afford this kind of care.  In order to save dogs like Henry, we must rely on donations in order to make it happen.  If you can help Henry, please do..  all money will go directly to his care.  If for some miracle we raise more money than needed, it will roll into our next great dog in need of great care.  Unfortunately there are so many out there!

Send a check to:
"Animal Health Care Specialists".. just say it's "For Henry"

• 6701 Washington St
• Denver, CO 80229
• Phone: (303)288-6800

OR.. call and give them a credit card over the phone.  Again, just say it's for Henry's surgery.  They will know what you are calling for!

Thank you.. please share.
"Saving one dog will not change the world, but surely for that one dog the world will change forever"
Henry's Original Story 

8/31 Update!

Henry's surgery has been completed on both of his ears.  He did wonderful under anesthesia both times, and recovered smoothly.  I was able to be there with him today for his 2nd procedure.  His inner ear was revealed to be very unhealthy, squelching any concerns we had over whether we had made the right decision to do the surgery.  His ears were left to get diseased for *years*, and now, once he is healed, he will know a painless life for the first time.  His spirit remains unchanged: he is happy, affectionate, and didn't seem to mind too much over the whole thing.  After his 2nd ear was done today, he was READY TO GO!  He tried to hard to leave!  I can't wait to see how an amazing dog becomes even that more amazing when he's not walking around in pain every day.  Thank you to all who have supported our choice to rescue him, and who also have donated to his care.  You are all amazing people!  He still needs more fund raising, but we know we can get there.  

 

Can you Foster?

There are some dogs down in Texas who really need some help.  We cannot take them into our rescue unless we have a foster home for them to go to.  We do not have a wide foster base, but we'd love to save even just a couple of these babies.  Please read their story.  Please share their story.  Please look at their faces and really consider if you have room in your home. If you can foster, please let us know..  you may be able to save a life.
  Never let the background of a dog deter you; dogs are forgiving, and Pyrenees retain their gentle and forgiving nature through the worst of circumstances.

"These dogs are all part of a cruelty seizure by Killeen Animal Control. They were rescued from a hoarding environment with very bad living conditions. These dogs are available to rescue only. Many of them are shy but not aggressive. They are considered URGENT. They need out ASAP or they will be euthanized. We are overloaded at KAC. I believe all of them have been de-wormed and given a first round of shots. They have also been heartworm tested. I believe some are neg and some are positive. But like I said, if the rescue is interested in any of them, let me know and I can get more info. For now, here are the pictures. I believe there are 7 pictured that need placement asap" 

Volunteers Needed!

Do you love Great Pyrenees?  Of course you do..  who doesn't?  The only people not completely mesmerized by this breed are only those who have yet to meet one.. 

Our goal is to offer rescue and re-homing for Great Pyrenees and Great Pyrenees mixed breeds. In addition to that very basic goal, we desire to offer tremendous support during the process, and optimal owner education and guidance.  We want to find *pyrfect* homes for these dogs!  They have been through a lot, many of them, and they deserve the proper care and time it takes to re-home and have it truly be *forever* this time.

We are currently only 3 volunteers strong, and there are 2 things we need to grow.  We need MORE FOSTERS HOMES first and foremost, and secondly we need more volunteers.  Volunteering doesn't need to mean every moment not spent at your job is spent supporting rescue.  Any help is welcome.

Currently we need volunteers in a few important capacities: home visits for adopters and fosters, reference calls, and moving the dogs around.  Rescue dogs need trips to the vet, and transport between foster homes and potential adopters.  We also need occasional support to transport donations such as dog food and other items, as well as meeting a transport that is rescuing them from a shelter.

If you want to learn more about how you can help us save these angelic giants, please fill out our

Volunteer Application!

"Look at my great nose! You may not be seeing it today if it weren't for rescue!"

Franklin - Adopted!

Franklin

Arrived - 8/4/12

This is Me!!  Look how handsome I am!!

This is me with my new foster sisters!  This is basically what I do all day...just hang out! 

I am told that I have BEAUTIFUL eyes!  I'm not really an attention hog either, but my foster sisters are and I don't get mad at them at all for it.

I have some long legs!  But who doesn't like tall, dark (er, white), and handsome!? 

I really just like to chill out! :]

This sweet guy was in a pretty scary shelter about 4 hours south of Denver.  Most of the time dogs in that shelter rarely make it out, and Franklin only had a few days left when we heard about him.  A volunteer from another rescue was down at the shelter and saw this handsome face.  He was sitting behind those rusty bars, but as soon as he saw her smiling face, he just lit up!  His little tail started wagging (see blur in picture below) and his butt was wiggling as fast as it could.

This is me when I was still in the scary shelter! :[

That volunteer contacted us and asked us if we had room for this guy!  She didn't know much about him, not really even his gender at that point, just that he was a sweet boy and needed out of there!  We were able to find out that Franklin (as we named him after we found out his gender) was indeed a young male.

We named him Franklin after Missy Franklin, Colorado native, who won her first gold medal on the day we heard about him.

We were able to get Franklin out of there and into an awesome foster home yesterday, 8/4/12!!  He has an appointment with the vet this week for his exam and neuter surgery.  At first glance, we think he is about 1.5 - 2 years old and probably a Pyr/Akbash mix.  He has a shorter coat like an akbash, but those great Pyr eyes, nose, and ears.

This is me getting out of that scary place!!

Franklin's foster mom says that he is the most perfect boy ever!!  This is what she has to say about him:

I spent two hours at Wash Park with him and my other foster... He is as close to perfect as you could get... such a good looking boy too! I think he cannot be more than 1.5 yrs. Great with all dogs, kids, people... very chill and seems a little passive...whoever adopts this boy is going to be stoked!

Franklin is doing wonderfully in his new foster home!  He gets along great with everyone - people and dogs.  He is quite a bit underweight, only weighing about 70# right now, but his foster mom is working on "fattening him up"!  He is just an angel, and really a perfect pup!  He loves to go romp in the yard with his foster sisters, but doesn't beg for attention and would rather just"hang out" with everyone.  Whoever adopts Franklin won't be disappointed!

We love our rescue dogs so much, so we are letting Franklin feel a little stability in his new foster home, and get some healthy meals into his belly!  We are hoping he'll be ready to start meeting potential forever families soon!

If you would like to add this sweet angel to your family, please fill out our online adoption application

Sometimes I'm a silly boy...

This is my friend Pearl Bear giving me some love...she loves me a lot, but who couldn't?!

Sometimes she loves me SO MUCH she never leaves me alone, but I don't really seem to care :]

See, I told you I am a handsome, happy boy!

"It feels so nice to be out of that shelter!"