Florida Giant Dog Rescue, Inc.

24/01/2025

20/01/2025

This pretty little lady has had zero interest, I mean crickets. Her name is Kali, she is a 1 year old Great Dane and she is deaf. Owning a deaf dog has some minor challenges, teaching them sign language and realizing they won't react to noises. However, that doesn't change their capacity for love, play and loyalty.

She is good with other dogs, cats and children as we understand it. She is at the very beginning of learning sign language, so she will require an owner with experience with deaf dogs or one willing to learn how to communicate with her. She is up to date on vaccines and will be spayed prior to adoption.

If you are interested in possibly adopting Kali, please go to our website and complete the adoption application. She will appear on our website shortly, but you can still complete the application.
https://flgdr.org/application-form/

20/01/2025

Well, well, well, what a busy day today! Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday (observed), Inauguration Day and National Penguin Day. Somehow that group all fits together, I think it's the formal suits they all wear. Did you know that Martin Luther King Jr. was accepted to Morehouse College at the age of 15?

Speaking of things in formal suits - our boy Captain has found his forever home! Captain came to rescue as a discarded breeding dog from a local animal control. He was neutered, had entropion surgery to fix his eyes and spent two weeks with our trainer so that when the time came to meet an adoptive family, he would be healthy and ready to meet them. Folks, this is where your donations go - to help dogs like Captain.

His parents are retired and permanent Florida residents and live in a pleasant 55+ community. I'm told that Captain is making friends everywhere he goes and is becoming quite the celebrity in the park. He also loves truck and golf cart rides. Who knew?

Anyway, we wish Captain and his family all the best and look forward to updates as he continues to conquer the community!

16/01/2025

Pssssst, Psssst, yeah you - can I talk to you a minute? The hoomans here are really nice, but I would love to have my own hooman and home. My name Baylor and they tell me I am Mastiff. There is a nice foster mom here that tells me the right home will come along - but when?

It's fun here, there's lots of room to run and play, other dogs live wif me and most are nice to me. Being a youngster, I runs fast and jump around and the older dogs here gets grumpy when I gets to close. I have learned that when mom calls "Baylor" that means me and I run as fast as I can to her, sometimes I don't stop in time and run into her, but she's never mean. I know what sit means and I only potties outside. I have a big comfy box with a bed in it, mom calls it a crate, I spend lots of time sleeping in there.

Me loves ladies, but am suspicious of men and need to warm up to them on my time. Mom says I need a giant dog savvy home that understands my type of temperament and can give me the structure I need. I can't be with kitties, chickens, etc. I love to chase them. They say I can only live with adults, I am too rough to live with littles.

Would you like to meet me? Please go to the website (whatever that is) flgdr.org and fill out adoption application. I would love to love you....

15/01/2025

The Rescuers Final Reward by Benny Archuleta

"The Rescuer's Final Reward"
Unlike most days at the Rainbow Bridge, this day dawned cold and gray. All the recent arrivals at the Bridge did not know what to think, as they had never seen such a day. But the animals who had been waiting longer for their beloved people to accompany them across the Bridge knew what was happening, and they began to gather at the pathway leading to the Bridge.

Soon an elderly dog came into view, head hung low and tail dragging. He approached slowly, and though he showed no sign of injury or illness, he was in great emotional pain. Unlike the animals gathered along the pathway, he had not been restored to youth and vigor upon arriving at the Bridge. He felt out of place, and wanted only to cross over and find happiness.

But as he approached the Bridge, his way was barred by an angel, who apologized and explained that the tired and broken-spirited old dog could not cross over. Only those animals accompanied by their people were allowed to cross the Bridge. Having nobody, and with nowhere else to turn, the dog trudged into the field in front of the Bridge.

There he found others like himself, elderly or infirm, sad and discouraged. Unlike the other animals waiting to cross the Bridge, these animals were not running or playing. They simply were lying in the grass, staring forlornly at the pathway across the Rainbow Bridge. The old dog took his place among them, watching the pathway and waiting. Yet not knowing for what he was waiting.
One of the newer dogs at the Bridge asked a cat who had been there longer to explain what was happening. The cat replied, "Those poor animals were abandoned, turned away, or left at rescue places, but never found a home on earth. They all passed on with only the love of a rescuer to comfort them. Because they had no people to love them, they have nobody to es**rt them across the Rainbow Bridge."

The dog asked the cat, "So what will happen to those animals?" Before the cat could answer, the clouds began to part and the cold turned to bright sunshine. The cat replied, "Watch, and you will see." In the distance was a single person, and as he approached the Bridge the old, infirm and sad animals in the field were bathed in a golden light. They were at once made young and healthy, and stood to see what their fate would be. The animals who had previously gathered at the pathway bowed their heads as the person approached. At each bowed head, the person
offered a scratch or hug. One by one, the now youthful and healthy animals from the field fell into line behind the person. Together, they walked across the Rainbow Bridge to a future of happiness and unquestioned love.

The dog asked the cat, "What just happened?"

The cat responded, "That was a rescuer. The animals gathered along the pathway bowing in respect were those who had found their forever homes because of rescuers. They will cross over when their people arrive at the Bridge. The arrival here of a rescuer is a great and solemn event, and as a tribute they are permitted to perform one final act of rescue. They are allowed to es**rt all those poor animals they couldn't place on earth across the Rainbow Bridge."
The dog thought for a moment, then said, "I like rescuers."

The cat smiled and replied, "So does heaven, my friend. So does heaven."

12/01/2025

Today is National Sunday Supper Day, National Stick to Your Resolution Day and National Hot Tea Day - and a perfect day for a nice hot cup of tea!

Well Bodie isn't a tea drinker, but he'll finish off a water bowl in record time. This handsome guy is 1 year and 9 months old and was returned to the rescue because he was having trouble getting along with his housemates (no negative comments - his parents did everything possible to try to help him). He just isn't able to cope with other dogs right now.

For some reason, Bodie is nervous and jumpy about everything and we will work with him to improve his confidence. He will not be allowed to socialize with the others at the rescue ranch for a while and is not immediately available for adoption. When he is available, he will have to go to a Dane savvy home with no children or other dogs. He is definitely not a starter dog.

Please send him good vibes, best wishes and prayers.

10/01/2025

We have some very happy news for one of our long time rescue dogs - Zalton has found his people. Yesterday was his birthday so his parents made sure to commemorate it.

Zalton came into rescue as a young senior dog, very overweight, poor coat condition, unsure of how to dog and occasionally grumpy. He was immediately put on a healthy weight reduction diet and being fostered at the rescue ranch gave him the opportunity to get more exercise than he was used to. At first he would go outside and do business and come right back in. In time he began to feel better, lose weight and engage with some of the other dogs on a minimal basis. Fast forward 2025, he is at a healthy weight, has learned how to engage with other dogs and play on occasion.

His parents tell me he is loving life with them, gets to go on walks around their beautiful neighborhood, relax in the lovely back yard or inside on the couch - wherever the humans are, he just wants to be loved.

They have adopted a senior dog from us before - they gave Thor a wonderful life until his recent passing. They let us know when they were ready to adopt again and Zalton seemed to fit the bill. All the best to Zalton and his parents!

09/01/2025

Today is National Law Enforcement Day (a big THANK YOU to all who serve in this capacity), National Apricot Day, International Choreographers Day and International Faith Day. It is also the day we show you (drumroll please) Noelle walking on her own!!!!!!

That's right, for all those following her story and all those that donated to help defray the cost of her care - she is walking on her own. The photo of her sleeping upside down (looks like she is in a metal box) before you ask, that was taken at the vet her foster mom works at. She goes to work with her foster mom and as you can see, she is at ease there.

She is doing well, but still has a ways to go. She needs to get stronger and develop muscle tone and at this time her weight is being strictly monitored so she puts on the appropriate amount of weight that her body can comfortably carry.

This is where your donations go - Thank you, Thank you, Thank you from all the dogs that have come through the rescue, those currently looking for homes and those to come.

07/01/2025

It seems like I have been doing way to many of these lately, but it is with very heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Matilda, the Boerboel female that we have had in rescue for a while. it's an unfortunate part of rescue work, but sometimes things don't go your way and there is no happy ending.

She came into rescue with a previous history of having a lump removed. Once she was moved to her foster home a small lump appeared and started growing. We sent her to a specialist and were told that she had cancer that was spreading through her body and that there was nothing to be done but give her the best life possible for the time she had left. That was a month ago.

Her foster mom made sure she had a wonderful time throughout all the holidays, dressed up for Halloween, special treats for Christmas and going with her to work as often as possible. Some of the photos in this video were taken just this last weekend at the beach. Matilda collapsed this morning and passed on her way to the vet.

We can't thank her foster mom, Sarah enough for all the love and care she was given. Please hug your babies extra tight tonight, you never know how long you'll have them.

07/01/2025

06/01/2025

This was written by Helen St. Pierre from No Monkey Business Dog Training and I think it is excellent information for walking our dogs. Let's remember we are the advocate for our dogs, let's not set them up for failure.

Why yes my dog would LOVE to say hi, but I’m still going to say “no thank you” and move on. Why?

1. Because I want my dog to learn that every time we see people it doesn’t mean it’s a party for him. I’d like him to continue his focus on us together as a team and not create conditioned excitement and expectation every time we are approached by someone.

2. Because I don’t know what saying hi means to you. Will you politely touch him? Will you allow him space to move away if he wants? Will you put your face too close to his? I don’t want him to have a negative experience so I’m going to avoid that by continuing our walk.

3. Because maybe I feel overwhelmed or stressed in public places and conversations with strangers may make me uncomfortable, so even though you’d like to talk and meet my dog, I’m protecting myself too.

4. Because we’re in a rush and have to get something done quickly.

5. Because I said no. Even social, sweet, friendly dogs and their handlers have every right to say “no” to a request to meet and be touched by people. This shouldn’t just apply to reactive, worried or bubble space dogs. Dogs are not public property, and saying “no thank you” to touching my dog shouldn’t be regarded as rude or unkind, any more than if a stranger asked to hold my baby.
Please normalize hearing “no” OR even better, normalize ignoring more dogs in public. Let them carry on with their handler and admire them from a far. It would do a world of good for dogs and humans everywhere, trust me.

- Helen St. Pierre

05/01/2025

This pretty little lady has the distinction of being the first dog accepted into rescue in 2025. Her name is Kali, she is a 1 year old Great Dane and she is deaf.

She is good with other dogs, cats and children as we understand it. She is at the very beginning of learning sign language, so she will require an owner with experience with deaf dogs to continue her training. She is up to date on vaccines and will be spayed prior to adoption.

If you are interested in possibly adopting Kali, please go to our website and complete the adoption application. She will appear on our website shortly, but you can still complete the application.

https://flgdr.org/application-form/