Ali from Montana is the calendar cover dog for National Pyr Rescue’s 2026 Great Pyrenees Rescue calendar. This is the 17th Annual “Happy Endings” calendar, which features Great Pyrenees dogs and mixes who have been rescued and rehomed across the country.
Ali and her pups were rescued in Utah in the summer of 2021. We’ve known for a long time that rancher’s dogs and their puppies were being abandoned when flocks or herds move. We’ve seen and heard about this many times before. But every time we encounter it, it’s a gut punch because what could have happened is so awful.
One fine day in July four years ago, a Great Pyrenees puppy walked out of the woods onto a trail. A startled hiker who was passing through realized something wasn’t right. He searched until he found Ali, the pup’s mom and Ellis, another pup. The dogs were terribly thin and severely matted. If it had been any other time of the year, the pups’ chances of survival in the wild would have been greatly reduced.
The hiker sent out an SOS, and soon reinforcements arrived with food and water. They camped out for two days, searching high and low for more pups, but no more pups were found. Great Pyrenees can have large litters, sometimes as many as ten or more. But no trace was ever found of more surviving pups.
Ali and her pups, estimated to be two months old, were moved to a house near Salt Lake City. Word was put out locally about the Mom and pups found on the mountain but there was no response from anyone. It’s not unusual for dogs to be left behind when sheep are moved from higher elevations to summer grazing grounds. This is what appears to have happened with Ali and her pups.
After a few days Ali and her pups, Ellis and Koda, started perking up. Their health had clearly improved so it was time to move them to the care of Great Pyrenees Rescue, Montana, who could find them homes.
The Journey Home
On July 16th Ali and her pups started their journey north. Tim was one of the folks who helped with transport on the last leg of the trip. He had never seen a dog in such bad shape as Ali and his heart went out to her immediately. When she arrived at the boarding facility, Ali weighed 60 only pounds. She was skin and bones. Tim was so concerned he went to see her every day for five weeks while she rested and regained her health. The pups were welcomed into foster homes and adopted soon after.
On August 22nd Ali went home with Tim as a foster. And only a month later, on September 23rd, Tim adopted Ali. He knew from the first time he set eyes on her he wasn’t going to let her go.
A Complete 180
Ali has gone from an emaciated Mama Pyr struggling to keep her remaining pups alive in the wild to being Queen of the house—and possibly the most spoiled dog ever. From scruffy mountain survivor to pampered princess, Ali’s life did a complete 180.
In June of 2024 Tim and his family adopted another rescued Pyrenees, a male named Bear, but he says “Ali is my heart.” Ali has found a loving family and a loyal Pyr companion. She stands as a testament to the breed’s resilience and will to survive. She’s truly luckier than she’ll ever know.
Please consider fostering or adopting a dog through Great Pyrenees Rescue. The list of rescues across the country can be found here.
