GSMR – The Evolution
It was 1995 when I received a phone call inquiring if I, as a member of the Mastiff Club of America, would pick up a Mastiff in a shelter in Pennsylvania, have him neutered and deliver him to his new home. Although I had owned Mastiffs since 1968, thinking I knew the breed, this was quite an experience for both the dog and me. This teen-aged Mastiff, full of energy, no training or social graces had me just for a flash on Mother Earth.
This was the beginning of a labor of love. As MCOA Rescue folded, Friends of Rescued Mastiffs, (F.O.R.M.), sprouted. I continued to rescue under F.O.R.M., gleaning more knowledge with every rescue experience. I began reading books on dog behavior and training, preparing myself to make the right decisions in numerous and varied situations.
As the vet bills began to soar, I began to fundraise. This inspired me to form a more local rescue organization, including New Jersey and surrounding states. In 2010 Garden State Mastiff Rescue (GSMR) was officially chartered as a public charity.
Rescuing and rehoming a Mastiff is an extremely emotionally draining kind of volunteer work; for the dog, the rescuer and the owner of the dog. Why would anyone choose to expose themselves to this kind of activity? For any dog lover it is the incredible reward… his head upon your shoulder as you drive, the thankful paw that strikes your leg, the “smiling” ears and soft eyes as you say good-bye and wish him a wonderful second chance in life. That is what takes away all the distressing, unfortunate and difficult experiences encountered in this work. And so you move on to the next needy Mastiff. This is why to date we have rescued 227 needy Mastiffs.
