Hemi
Thirty days in a boarding kennel. I wondered what was going to happen to me. Luckily I was with my best friend, Harley. We are both 4 years old and need to leave our home because of a divorce.
I felt sick. The day I was to go into Rescue my owner decided to have me spayed. The vet discovered that I had a pyometra. My innards were infected. After surgery the vet didn’t want to keep me there, so that same day Rescue had to come get me. My friend Harley was neutered and had to leave the same day, too. Three days later I went to another vet and had to have another operation. I heard that this time I almost died while they were operating on me. The operation took 1 1/2 hours with two vets operating on me. I had peritonitis. I was so sick.
Harley moved on to a new home, but I was too sick. I stayed at this vet’s place for a few days. I loved the people there, but I was so worn out I didn’t even want to eat. Finally they allowed me to go to the Rescue people’s home. They were very nice to me, but I just couldn’t eat. Since I had to take lots of pills and my stomach was empty, I had to go to the vet every day to get a shot instead of pills to make me well.
I had lost 11 lbs. and everyone was worried, including me. One day they gave me cat food to eat. It was really quite good. I ate cat food for days. I was starting to feel better.
Now I feel like brand new again and go for short walks in the park and meet people. One day I went to Petsmart and met lots of people and dogs. It was fun, but it wore me out. I layed down in the store with my head on the floor while Rescue Mom went off to bring me a soft toy dog. I took him and shook him to see if he’s aggressive. He’s very sweet so Mom bought him for me. When we got home, I took my new toy to bed with me and layed my head on him. This is the life for me. Rescue people just know where a dog belongs. I am in my forever home!
Danny
A 20 year old young man, who had no money, saw me sitting in a pet shop. Daddy bought me for him and then ran out of money to pay for me. An elderly friend paid off the rest of my bill and I ended up in the young man’s home until his mother decided I was too big for her house.
At the age of 6 months I was taken to Dad’s work and chained to a construction trailer where I lived for a year. There was no grass. There was no shade. Dirt and stones and a 10 foot high chain link fence were my home. Then they stopped feeding me. The elderly friend would bring me food and water. It was he that decided this was not the life for me. I was 18 months old. He called Rescue.
I was so happy to meet the Rescue lady that I jumped right into her car and began playing with a big red rubber bone. I loved the car ride. My new home was very different. I could sleep in a dog bed or a cot with a pillow or on the cool tile floor. I enjoyed my food that I got on time every day…fresh water, too. I even got toys! I had to learn a lot…sit! down! come! heel!…don’t bark at the deer or the turkeys…don’t chase the hop toads…don’t bark at things on a walk in the park, that includes people, dogs, cyclists, rollerbladers and cars. Kitchen manners: keep my paws off the counter. Dinner manners: keep my head off the table. I had a lot to remember!
One day we went to visit a home where I was going to live forever. I liked it there, but 10 days later I was back at my Rescue house. Even though the people bragged about how they loved big dogs, they wanted a young dog with perfect manners. I was young, but not perfect. There is no such thing.
I was back to learning again. It was fun. I was allowed to play on the grass in the yard with one of the dogs. In the meantime, I had barking conversations with the house dogs through the fence. Then one day Mom said it was time to meet everyone. I loved Tilly and Clem. They are around my age. We three played together a lot. The old guys ignore me, just yell at me if I get too rambunctious near them.
My favorite time is bed time. I snuggle up to Mom in a nice soft bed while she reads and pets me. What a wonderful life I have now and I’m not even going to the orthodontist. Even though my teeth reach out to greet you, Mom says she loves them. They give my face character.
HOOCH
Hooch’s owners worked nights. Hooch slept at night. His owners slept days. Days were very boring for Hooch. The little puppy had no one to play with and nothing to do as he sat outside tied to the porch. He sat in the hot sun and pouring rain and barked. When Hooch was 14 mo. old, he escaped from his miserable life. Trotting down the road, he was picked up by an Animal Control Officer and taken to a shelter.
Hooch stayed with Rescue for quite awhile. He needed to learn many things; obedience commands and house manners, too. A special home was needed for Hooch, one with children and Mastiff knowledgeable adults. He was a big boy who loved kids and dogs.
Rescue found the perfect place for Hooch! The family had young children and a love for big dogs. Hooch later was joined by Athena, also a Mastiff. He, in turn, became the love of Chris’ life. Hooch ever so gently took the offerings from Chris as Chris sat in his high chair. As Chris and Hooch grew up together, the two became inseparable.
It was a wonderful life for Hooch until many years later his time came to go over the Rainbow Bridge. Both children and adults learn we must let go of the ones we love, but life goes on. Months later a new Mastiff appeared on the horizon. Beau, a darling, loving fawn Mastiff was in need of a new home, as his was in foreclosure. Beau did not take Hooch’s place. Hooch will always have a very special place in Chris’s heart, as does Beau, his new Rescue dog.
Christopher wrote a lovely letter to us when Hooch was about to leave him. It touched us dearly. Please take the time to look at his letter and the pictures of Chris with Hooch and Beau. Rescue does more than save the lives of dogs, it also enriches and sometimes saves the lives of us too.
DALLAS
I’m looking ’cause I thought I heard someone say “Pizza”. Always makes my ears perk up. I had to leave my home because of pizza. My owner opened a pizza parlor and it took up so much of him his time that I was left alone 14 hours a day.
At least he loved me enough to know it wasn’t fair to me. I’m a good boy. I lived with a little dog and then I was fostered by someone who introduced me to horses and cows. Meadow muffins taste kind of good!
I was taught new manners, but don’t try to tell me cats are nice. No, they are not and I do not want to live with a cat! By the time you read this I’ll have a new home… with no cats!
WINSTON
There are many reasons why a rescuer may have trouble finding the right home for a Mastiff, but it’s rather disheartening when one comes across a handsome dog with a wonderful temperament, but the proud owner purposely created a powerful dog with very poor manners.
Winston was given an “entertainment center” in his backyard when he was very young. It included pulling a truck tire. When he was successful at this, another tire was added. Winston became a powerhouse and now needed to be walked constantly on a prong collar because his owner had no clue as to methods of training Winston otherwise.
Things went from one extreme to the other. At the age of 3 1/2, Winston suddenly found himself put outside on a wire run for exercise (no fenced yard) and having no toys, he dug up rocks and played with them.
Walking on his hind legs while reaching for a chunk of beef was another trick his owner was very proud of having taught the 170 lb. boy. What a perfect exercise to create a cruciate tear!
Winston was not neutered, a distasteful procedure for some human men to accept, and was encouraged to mount humans and other dogs. The dog was having fun to the amusement of the macho owner.
Dear Winston was neutered and had to be trained in the humping department as it had become a learned behavior. It would have saved us much time and energy and saved Winston from staying in another place before being rehomed if his former owner would have had some common sense.
These foolish behaviors made it difficult to place Winston. Rescue was finally able to place Winston successfully on a large horse farm. He is with his new owner 24/7, off leash and has the run of the farm. He is well behaved and has learned to enjoy the horses and the freedom every dog deserves.
SADIE
The nice long walks were getting shorter and shorter until they became sporadic due to the long working hours of Sadie’s owner since her divorce. It was only fair to move Sadie to a more promising home.
Sadie was in her foster home when she was on a nice walk in the country when a deer suddenly appeared. Not being familiar with deer, Sadie lunged suddenly and tore her cruciate ligament. Rescue came to the rescue and had her cruciate ligament repaired.
The healing process is long and slow for a cruciate repair, but we never know what dogs are thinking. Sadie must have gotten tired of waiting. Maybe she felt hydrotherapy would help. She heard the bath water running and since no one was around, she was able to climb the stairs and much to her owner’s surprise, joined him in the tub.
KUMA
Born in the state of Washington, I traveled to my new home in Idaho. After a while I went on a road trip to Maine. One more road trip took me to New Jersey. I did all that in 4 years. I have gone back to my roots! I discovered my grandfather was from NJ, a champion called “Doc Holiday”, and my father was from NJ, too!
I had to leave my NJ home because a baby was coming. I was glad because I lived in an apartment with no yard. I love people and there would be no time for me.
Thanks to Rescue, I live near the Jersey shore now where I will stay forever. I have more than I ever dreamed of having. My new owner is the most loving person I have ever met and so is his 13 year old son. I also have a best friend dog, a Bullmastiff girl and a cat that loves me from a distance, sort of. We never discussed it, but silently told each other we’d be good to each other.
My yard is big enough for 50 elephants and 1 giraffe, but I only weigh 170 lbs., so I have lots of room to run and play. Spinning around with Lilo keeps me in good shape. Since we live near the shore, I hope I get to go swimming in the water that never stops flushing. I like the beach. My foster Mom took me there one time.
Now I’ll get to walk on the boardwalk, too. I’ll show off my handsome self and will be an ambassador for the Mastiff breed. I promise.
BEAR
It happens too often. The instant gratification of buying an adorable giant breed puppy, without considering future plans, which so often results in the Mastiff having to leave his beloved home when he is no longer compatible with his family situation. This is what happened to Bear. The human baby was coming, so the time had come for Bear to leave.
Bear had been well-cared for, well socialized and well trained. He is a happy guy who loves everyone, both dogs and people. He moved into his new home without a problem and had an instant dog family consisting of two busy Boxers. He was fine with that. He loved the kids, too.
The best part of his new home was going for long walks in the country every day and going to the mall on special occasions to help raise money for the needy Rescue dogs. Bear’s life had changed for the better. He now had things to do.
BEAU
Rescuers try to obtain as much information as possible about a dog’s history, including the reason for giving up the dog. Sometimes it’s difficult to obtain a true history. Beau was one of those dogs. Someone had stolen Beau and thereafter decided they didn’t want him. They called Rescue. After some investigation, the original owner was found. It was discovered their house was in foreclosure. They could no longer afford to take care of Beau, but were distraught that their dog had disappeared.
Beau was only a year old, a darling dog with a wonderful temperament. Rehoming him was not difficult. He was welcomed with open arms into a wholesome family of Mom, Dad, three boys and a female rescued Mastiff who permits him to live happily in her home.
MILLIE
Millie wandered the streets of New Jersey until someone found her and took her to a shelter. Rescue was called and skinny Millie, although frightened and cautious, went willingly as she stepped into the car for the trip to her foster home.
Millie needed to regain her strength and gain a few pounds before she could be spayed. She looked paper-thin as she rested on her dog bed. She enjoyed her new surroundings, watching the activity in the park through the upstairs window in her temporary home. She had a voracious appetite, eating the badly needed nutritious meals served to her.
When her time came to move on to her new home, she eagerly hopped into the car and off she went to meet her new family, including a dog friend. Upon arrival, Millie was not so sure this was a good idea. She immediately let her new dog friend know she would be the boss, but in a matter of hours the two dogs took a walk around the neighborhood, enjoying each other’s company. The cats were another issue. It took a bit longer to accept their presence, but it all worked out in the end.
TEDDY
Dear Teddy was already 6 years old. It’s difficult to place a 6 year old dog because people want a puppy (go buy one). The general public believes older dogs are “set in their ways”. People are. Dogs are not. Dogs can learn at any age. People need to be wise enough to teach them.
Teddy was adopted by a family who had a Mastiff previously and they did not care about age. He now lives happily with his new family and shows them the same love that he had for his previous family. He especially enjoys his visits to a relatives house that has three Mastiffs.
CAESER
Life was good until we all had to move because of Dad’s job. The only place we could find was a small, second floor apartment to hold us over, since Dad’s job was going to be temporary. It wasn’t big enough for three kids, two adults and big me. The plan was to move very far away and leave me behind. It was a tearful good-bye.
I moved on to a family with two kids and a cat. It was up in the mountains and I loved it! One day when we were walking around the lake, a bear came out of the woods! He came down the hill, looked at us and simply crossed the road like he was on a mission.
I never saw a bear before and was so amazed I didn’t do anything but stare. Lucky for us all, the bear was not interested in us and we were almost home. Mom, the kids and I hurried into the house and sighed a sigh of relief. My new home is a wonderful, loving place with plenty of mountains for long walks and new smells!
