Happy Endings
All's well that ends well with Pyr rescue. The story ends well when a deserving dog finds a wonderful new home—happy endings are what we strive for. Here are some of the dogs who have been placed in new homes by our rescue volunteers.
Loving Laine
Laine's new owners write, "We are all well and_loving_our wonderful dog/family member!!! He happily waves his plume tail (like the Queen's wave), and loves to prance and RUN freely like a streamlined arrow: ears flush with his head and the happiest expression on his face. It truly warms our hearts to see the transformation in this beautiful dog, who probably had had such a difficult time in the past. Thank you again for all you have done for him and for us. We just have a smile imprinted on our faces and in our hearts almost constantly now because of one very special dog: the right dog, and because of very special people who chose to 'make a difference'."
Everybody Loves Samantha
Samantha was one of the most popular dogs ever posted on Petfinder. Everyone wanted to adopt her. She was found in a Kansas shelter, fostered in Missouri and spent a week in Tennessee before moving to her new home in Central NY. Her new owner Debi writes, "This doggie is a DREAM!! Samantha could not be any sweeter—we just adore her. She seemed to know she was coming home with me—she came over for pets and snuggles, then proceeded to lay on my feet until we were ready to leave. She got along perfectly with other dogs, and the cat—it's amazing, I don't think we've ever met a dog like her. Thanks so much to everyone for making this happen!"
The King of the Bronx
King came from the Shelbyville, TN shelter. His rescuer writes, "He was a stray running at large. We did not think he was going to make it, as he had a bad case of kennel cough, got sick in the first transporter's car EVERYWHERE, was hosed down by the second transporter, who also pulled over 20 ticks off him and gave him Frontline Plus. I got him and started him on Baytril immediately (the only meds that seem to work well for kennel cough). l also pulled an additional 15 ticks off him the following day and got him heartworm-tested. It took him two weeks to be well enough for neutering." The new King arrived on transport a few weeks later. As you can see, his new family is delighted with him, even though he is still partially shaved (looks more like a lion that way). He was great with the kids, just took it all in. The kids followed King to the car, and you could see how happy they are. When they all settled into the car, King nested right next to the baby, who was sitting in his car seat, all happy and gurgling.
Joe Cool Heats Up the Neighborhood
Joe was adopted from Mid-South Great Pyrenees Rescue. His new owner writes, "Today, Joe met my neighbor directly across the street and her old male Newfoundland, Ryan. They loved each other. Ryan gave Joe a kiss on the lips! Mary gave Joe some of her homemade liver treats and one of Ryan's toys—a fleece fish, to take Ryan's scent home with him. He then met five neighbor kids running down the road with their little dog. They stopped and patted Joe and Joe gave them some drool. Welcome to the neighborhood."
Rosco Finds a Big Sister
Roscoe was adopted through Great Pyrenees Rescue Society of Houston. His new owners write, "He is growing very quickly, already 48 lbs. and 5 months old. He is also teething like crazy. We don't know what type of dog his dad was but he barks like a beagle, so I would think maybe beagle or hound.
"He is doing well and his big sister Jill, who is also part Pyr, has been very good with him. He is trying to rule the roost but she won't let him, LOL. He still chases my cats, we are trying to break him of that—he just wants to play. He is a joy!!! We love him so much. Thanks again."
Hey, Jake Is OK
Jake came from Tennessee. He was placed through Mid-South Great Pyrenees Rescue with a family in New York. His new owners think that he is the best dog ever. He gets along great with the cat and when he's not cuddled up in the house he spends his time behind a secure chain link fence they put up just for him.
Abby (a.k.a. Haley)—Happy at Home
Just a short note to let you know that Abby (Haley) is doing fine. She's a great dog. She has stopped trying to get under the fence (I installed some fencing along the ground) and she has dug a few holes that she likes to go and sit in, especially in this heat we have been having. She doesn't like to stay out long and likes to stay inside and sleep. Abby has taken to coming upstairs at night and sleeping right at the top of the stairs so she can keep an eye on everyone and everything going on. She has put on weight and is doing great.
Trixie (a.k.a. Scout)—from Texas to NY
Trixie is a Pyr-Retreiver mix who really likes the water. Her new owners write, "I thought I would drop you a quick note to let you know how well she is doing. We have changed her name to Trixie. I can't tell you how much Kim and I are enjoying her. She is just a sweetheart! Busy, busy, busy all the time. She keeps our other dogs just hopping but they love her too! Her legs are growing like crazy! She is already taller than our Bassett Hound. She was great right from the start with housebreaking. When we go walking in our fields she stays right with us. Our Bassett is not very trustworthy so he has to be leashed. Trixie takes his lead in her mouth and leads him around. When it's bedtime she goes right to her crate and waits for me to close the door. It's so cute! I never had a puppy do that! I see the new puppies on your site—they are just beautiful. Good luck finding homes for all and thanks again for sending us such a sweet little girl.
Hugo and Bridget (Photo by Robert L. Campbell)
I rescued Bridget from the Memphis Animal Shelter in July 2006. She was an owner-surrender; half Great Pyrenees, half Bearded Collie. Like many Great Pyrenees in rescue, she was given up when she was no longer a cute puppy, but had reached the mischievous and destructive juvenile delinquent stage of Pyr development.
Hugo landed in a small rural Tennessee shelter as a stray in the Spring of 2006, when he was about two years old. He was heartworm-positive and in generally deplorable condition. He was rescued by Tennessee volunteers and fostered by Andee Anderson in the Nashville area. When he was ready for a permanent home, he joined Bridget and me in Memphis, in August 2006. A truly happy ending!
Gypsy (a.k.a. Emma)—Home at Last
Gpysy is a young female Pyr who came up from Texas. Her new owners write, "Gypsy is getting more used to us every day. She understands that the air conditioning sure is nice, and though it may be hard, that tile floor is really good for a summer cool down. She still surfs the counters but she hasn't stood on them to reach the food in the back since that plate smashed and made a horrible noise ... or have we just been a little more careful? She is real good at not trying to push past the gate and escape when you go through, but she sure did want to get out and play with that stray who ran by. For some reason, she likes to go in my shower and take down our washcloths and lay them in our bedroom. If you see her in the backyard, you will know she has plenty of room. I put the table on the lawn so she would have some shade, but she much prefers to lie on top when it is a cooler time of day. We really enjoy her. Thanks for all your work to get her to us."
Banjo (a.k.a. Buckley)—North Meets South
(L. to R.: Karen Alice, Sabrina, Barbara, Banjo)
Banjo was adopted in April by a young couple, named Ray and Karen Alice, who had owned a Pyr before, named Cody. When he passed away they wanted another dog, but it tugged at their heart strings just to look at a Pyr because they missed Cody so much. They wanted to help, so when they found two Pyrs in a Northern Louisiana shelter near their home, they fostered them and helped transport the dogs to SPIN rescue in Texas so they could be saved.
They were in touch with Arkansas Great Dane Rescue about adopting a Dane when they found out that there was a young Pyr—Buckley—in a kill shelter who was scheduled to be euthanized. National Great Pyrenees Rescue arranged for Great Dane Rescue to pull Buckley from the kill shelter, and Ray and Karen Alice agreed to foster him. When they took Buckley home, they knew they wanted to keep him—he was just too sweet. Buckley was renamed Banjo and when he and his family took a a trip north while passing through New York, they visited the Northern Catskills and stopped to visit Barbara (and her Pyr, Sabrina) from National Great Pyrenees Rescue and take a picture of one very happy ending.
King of Hearts
King is a Great Pyrenees mix from Tennessee who was left behind to fend for himself when his people moved out. He has a wonderful personality and his new family in New Hampshire is thrilled with him. They write, "King got here safe and sound! As you can see, he's made himself right at home. What a mellow dog!!! He is so sweet, and everyone in our home and in the neighborhood loves him. He's even found a new dog friend to play with next door." This is one happy dog.
Happiness Is ... Heidi (shown at left)
Rescuers who were caring for Heidi said you couldn't find a sweeter girl. She is a typical Pyr in that she actually tried to protect her family from a bear in Colorado by barking it off the planet! Heidi came to rescue after her family downsized to a small house with a small yard. She came to a home in NY where they didn't understand Pyrs, and subsequently developed knee and hip problems that need a lot of TLC. Heidi needed a good, caring home to take care of her special needs. A family in Western NY, who had an older blind male Pyr, stepped forward to take her and will shower her with the love and attention she deserves.
Scooby (a.k.a. Samson)—Giving the Paw
Scooby's new owner writes, "We have had him now for a little over two months and he has truly become a family member. He is very much a house dweller and only goes outside to do his business and for walks. He LOVES those, and let me tell you, he can move! He is great on the leash, just stays to our left and prances right along. He is always happy to come back home, though. He loves attention and will stand in front of anyone who will pet him. He does that a lot when we're watching TV at night and if we stop, we get the paw. He is in the habit of doing that.... As you can tell, this is a success story, for sure.
Update on Penny
We adopted Butterscotch/Hope on January 27, 2007. We named her Penny, actually she knew her name, I just had to figure out what it was. The first time I called her Penny, she looked right at me. She came home to meet two new brothers and two new sisters who were not really happy with a new member of the family—especially a puppy. But we worked it all out and now they all get along with no growling or showing of teeth. Penny is such a gift. Some of the things she loves are chewing up stuffies, biting the other dogs' ears, getting in bed with one of us in the morning, and her cookies. She is a smartie. After only three days in her new home, when I said it was time to go night-night, she would get in her crate and wait for her cookie. I can't wait to take her to doggie school. Everyone says we are crazy to have five dogs but they each have a personality and are great companions. They give us so much joy. They want to go everywhere I go, even to work. And they are always waiting for me with wagging tails when I get home. I am so glad the rescue group found a home for Penny with us.
Jack—Just a Great Guy
Jack was one of three puppies rescued from a kill shelter in TN, the morning they were due to be euthanized. One puppy died of parvo but Jack and his brother were saved and brought up to New York for fostering before they were placed. His new Mom writes, "We are very happy to have Jack. He is a very gentle, relaxed puppy dog. With his size, I forget that he's actually still a puppy. He is very, very social. When we're walking and he sees a jogger on another street, he has to sit and wait until the jogger approaches him. Everyone stops to pet him. The neighborhood kids all love him. I take him to baseball games and the kids there all run to pet him. He doesn't lick or jump up and he has great manners. We've taught him sit and shake—stay and come are shaky, though. He walks well on a leash, until we get near his girlfriend's house. There is a neighborhood Golden Retriever named Dixie whom he just adores. This family also has a 4-month-old English Black Lab, Watson, and they make a very nice pack of dogs when they run around their yard together. Jack is so easy-going that I am considering taking him to training and getting a certificate for a therapy dog.
A Place for Buffet
Buffet is Jack's brother. Buffet's new Mom writes, "I just wanted to take a moment to thank all of you for making it possible to have such a wonderful joy in our lives. I am referring to our newest family member, Buffet. Since his arrival on Saturday, my children have been simply delighted over having such a wonderful, playful and well-behaved puppy in our home. We have all been doing our best to make sure that he is getting plenty of the exercise he needs. My kids love taking him on walks and playing with him in our back yard. We all love showing him off—today each of the girls brought in a picture of Buffet to their classes so the other kids could see our new pride and joy. I too brought into school (I am a lunch and recess monitor) a picture of our new pooch to show all the kids in my classes, and everyone thought he was oh sooo cute!
It's amazing to be out and about with him and to see people's reaction to him and hear their comments about what a beautiful animal he is or how well-behaved he is. It's sometimes hard to believe that he is only a puppy because of how well he is doing. However, we are only gently reminded that he is indeed a pup when we see him running down the hall with one of my husband's slippers in his mouth.
I appreciate all that your group does for these animals who may have otherwise met a very early and undeserving death. I never realized just how many animals are in need of someone to love them and a place to call home until I was surfing the Internet after being told about Petfinder.com by a friend of mine. I spent hours looking at all the different dogs listed on the site and found myself drawn to the Great Pyrenees. I do believe that we will be a "Pyr" family for many more years to come. In the future, if anyone asks, I would definitely recommend your group because I feel you go above and beyond to make sure that the dogs and families who are adopting are well-suited for one another.
Thanks again so much and please just know that Buffet is in a home were he is getting lots of love and attention!
Sara—Fairy Tales Do Come TrueSara is how it all started for NGPR. She was a Katrina dog, who only found her way to Pyr rescue in November 2005, three months after the storm. She was in terrible shape, as you can see in the photo at left, and desperately needed care and expensive medical attention. Ten months later, in September 2006, Sara was still in rescue, with her Mississippi Great Pyrenees Rescue trying to find a home for her before her rescuer went into the hospital for a coronary bypass. A rescue volunteer, NGPR's founder and director, saw the plea from the Mississippi rescuer and matched her up a family in Boston who were longing for a dog like Sara. NGPR's first south-to-north connection was made and national rescue was born to assist rescuers who needed placement outside their area. Sara is now doing wonderfully, but your help is urgently needed to assist more dogs like Sara coming from the South. Please click here to contribute.
Dante—It Takes a Village
Dante was found running loose on a farm in Tennessee. He needed to be neutered, vaccinated, and at least partially groomed so he could move to a real home. He was very badly matted so his rear end and tail were shaved, resulting in what his rescuer called a Portugese Water Dog cut. Dante has turned out to be a very sweet boy, good with cats, kids and animals, and was the perfect placement for a family near Rochester who wanted to replace a Pyr mix they had lost. When Dante arrived in New York he needed a day foster, so a caring rescue volunteer held him for ten hours, until he could be driven to Albany by another volunteer to complete the transfer. Including the volunteer who did the home visit and the transporters, it took close to ten people to move Dante to his new home. If you ask his new owners, they will tell you if was worth every minute. They say, "We can't thank you all enough for all that you have done to give him a better life, and rest assure that he is in good hands, and will never have to worry about being loved again."
Matoskah (a.k.a. Blitz)—Ready to Romp
This puppy's new owner writes: "Well, thanks to all of you, my little boy has arrived. We picked him up yesterday in the aftermath of the snow storm. Luckily, the transport service was running late, and so were we due to the 11-plus inches of snow. Anyway, we all survived the trip home, and the night. He is a delight, and soooo lovey. He's doing pretty well with going potty outside, although he's amazed with all the snow, and he loves it.....my grandson already calls him 'my best friend'. He cried off and on last night, and sucker that I am, I wound up letting him out of his crate, and sleeping on the floor with him.... I know it's a big mistake, but we both got some sleep that way. He loves to snuggle."
Two Pennies for Your Thoughts
Penny and Penny are Pyr/Saint Bernard mixes placed by NGPR. These composed pups are shown just as they are finish their long journey from Tennessee to their new homes in Upstate New York. These gals didn't miss a beat during their transfer, capturing everyone's hearts along the way. Coincidentally, although they started their journey named Faith and Hope, both new families decided to name their new pups, Penny.
