Florida Giant Dog Rescue, Inc.

04/10/2025

Happy Saturday! We are set up at Baldwin Park in Orlando for today’s 5k run. You’re invited to come out and visit with us and you still have time to register for the race.

The rescue is setup with cool items - shirts, toys, collars, costumes and so much more! Come on out and say Hi! Race starts at 9:00 am, so if you’re close - you still have time to get here.

03/10/2025

I don’t think we as humans think about this
But we should

How your vet sees euthanasia.....

So, you bring me this puppy - she kisses my face, devours the cookies I offer, and our friendship starts.

Several visits later, he starts to learn where all the cookie jars are in the clinic, and that lady in the white coat, well she’s okay....

Fast forward many visits later, now I am in love with your dog and your whole family because, well, you are just really really good people and I have not only watched that pup turn into a really sweet family member, but I got to watch the kids grow every year and be a very small part of your journey.

Remember that time she ate your teenage daughter’s thong underwear? 😝😝😝 yeah we all had a good laugh over that once surgery was done and she was recovered. Your daughter probably never forgave me for bagging that up and showing the whole fam-jam when they came to pick her up from the clinic.

So many adventures, so little time.....

And here we are, fifteen or so odd years later, having to say goodbye.

He’s got heart disease and I can’t fix it anymore. She’s got cancer and there is no cure. He has arthritis and the meds just aren’t working. I want her to live forever for you. I want that so badly it hurts. I feel like I have failed him and you when I have run out of options to keep them, and you, comfortable and happy.

So now it’s time, and I am supposed to be professional. Objective. I am the doctor. Calm. Cool. Collected. Always under control.

F~*k that.

I have known you and her for a third of my life, and most of my professional career.

But I keep it together. My superhuman amazing technicians have put the catheter in. My support staff from reception to assistants have done all the paperwork. Trust me they may not show it but their hearts are breaking for you. They have been there. They know. And they know you and care about you too.

And I have the needle in the pocket of my white coat. The same pocket that was always full of treats for him. I take a deep yoga breath and come into the room. Gotta stay strong now.......

She’s giving me that sweet look she always does, the one that is followed by puppy kisses and a glance at the cookie jar. But she is too weak now. She is ready. You are not. I am not. But this s**t has to happen because we love her too much to let her suffer.

She would keep going as long as we asked her too. But we can’t ask her to anymore. It’s not fair to her. I wish our human hearts could be so giving all the time. I wish I could be the person my dog thinks I am. I wish I wish i wish I could find a way for them to live forever. But I don’t have those magical powers. I am just a vet.

So we kiss him back, not much left of his body that still works, but that old tail wags, just enough that I lose my s**t on the inside but I try not to cry. Gotta stay strong.

Her body relaxes, she is in your arms and your are sobbing. Another family has lost one of its most cherished members. I put my stethoscope to her heart to make sure it has stopped but she is held so tight to your chest that maybe that is your heart I hear pounding or maybe it’s mine and all the blood rushing through my ears as I try so so so hard not to turn into a blubbering mess.

Confirmed, he has passed. You lay him gently on the table and we hug tightly as you go to leave.

The door closes behind you and I don’t know if you hear this, but I sob hysterically into your pets ear. She is gone, he will be missed, and you have to face what I know will be one of the hardest parts of today.

Entering that house and they are not there to greet you.

Please know that I know how you feel. As you leave the clinic I just wish with every fibre of my being that you never had to face that. I wish they could live forever.

And please know, I am so grateful that I was a small part of your journey.

Love always, Your vet.

03/10/2025

TWO DAYS LEFT TO ORDER YOUR SHIRTS. We need a big push on these in order to get them printed and shipped out in mid October.

You have been asking for us to do some specialty holiday type shirts, well, here you go!. Halloween is just around the corner and these guys can't wait for you to give...

02/10/2025

We have 4 - yes 4 days left for you to order your Halloween shirts to help support the rescue. Many sizes, colors and styles available, from crop tops to full tees.

We are only about halfway to our goal of 50 shirts in order to get these printed!

Order yours today!!!!!

WE ARE PROUDLY NON-PROFIT!!!!

https://www.bonfire.com/halloween-treat-shirts/

Bonfire

You have been asking for us to do some specialty holiday type shirts, well, here you go!. Halloween is just around the corner and these guys can't wait for you to give...

01/10/2025

01/10/2025

The first day of Fall or Autumn was just a few days ago, so I thought we should get some fresh photos of the adoptable dogs in our care. All of the faces you see below are available for adoption. There is a short blurb beneath each photo. All rescues and shelters are full to overflowing, but as always, we can't take any more dogs into rescue until we have a few adopted.

Please LIKE, SHARE and COMMENT on this post to help us spread the word!

Additional information on all the dogs can be found at:

www.flgdr.org

Applications can also be completed online at:

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

01/10/2025

Do we have any friends in the Orlando area that can help with the race this weekend?

We have been asked to have more events in this area, we are trying to accommodate those requests, but without volunteers to man the events - we won't be able to do many more in the area.

Saturday's event is:

Howl-o-ween 5k-Orlando
10-4-25 Race Start Time: 9:00 AM
Harbor Park (Lake Baldwin)
4990 New Broad Street
Orlando, FL US 32814
Volunteers Arrive: 7:15 AM EDT

If you can volunteer a couple hours of your time, we can provide verification of those hours for school or work so you can be credited for your volunteering.

Email us at [email protected] if you can help out. Please don't bring your pooch, as volunteers are busy handing out medals, passing out water, etc.

30/09/2025

October 1st is tomorrow and for our rescue that begins an extremely busy season. There are four - that's right four - charity 5k races for which we are the charity partner recipient. As the charity designated to receive part of the proceeds we are required to provide volunteers to work the races. To date, we are short volunteers for every venue. The races are as follows:

Howl-o-ween 5k-Orlando
10-4-25 Race Start Time: 9:00 AM
Harbor Park (Lake Baldwin)
4990 New Broad Street
Orlando, FL US 32814
Volunteers Arrive: 7:15 AM EDT

Howl-o-ween 5k - Tampa
10-5-25 Race Start Time 9:00 AM
Gadsen Park
6901 S Macdill Ave
Tampa, FL US 33611
Volunteers Arrive: 7:15 AM EDT

Howl-o-ween 5k-Bradenton
10-11-25 Race Start Time 8:00 AM
10299 9th Ave
Robinson Preserve
Bradenton, FL US 34209
Volunteers Arrive: 6:15 AM EDT

Howl-o-ween 5k - Punta Gorda
10-12 25 Race Start Time 9:30 AM
South County Regional Park
920 Grant St,
Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Volunteers Arrive: 6:45 AM EDT

We can verify volunteer hours for those with company match or students looking for volunteer hours for school. Please, please consider helping us out. We understand your time is valuable and greatly appreciate any time you can spare.

Please email us at [email protected] and let us know which race you are able to volunteer for.



J3 Timing

30/09/2025

You have been asking for us to do some specialty holiday type shirts, well, here you go!. Halloween is just around the corner and these guys can't wait for you to give...

29/09/2025

We have 6 days left to make our goal of 50 shirts and we still have 30 shirts to go. This shirt was designed specifically for Florida Giant Dog Rescue by Johnny Agee and is exclusive to our rescue.

Many colors and styles available!

WE ARE PROUDLY NON-PROFIT!!!!

Bonfire

https://www.bonfire.com/halloween-treat-shirts/

You have been asking for us to do some specialty holiday type shirts, well, here you go!. Halloween is just around the corner and these guys can't wait for you to give...