Florida Giant Dog Rescue, Inc.

18/06/2025

Come one, come all to the Dog Bar St. Pete this Sunday afternoon and get in on the fun! We are recruiting volunteers to help wash dogs, sign in people, direct traffic, collect money, man the merch table and just generally have fun with the group! Let us know if you are coming to volunteer so we know how many to expect.

Let us know if you can some by and help, you don't need to be there for the entire time, some people are only available early and others later in the day! If you can't volunteer, bring you pup by for some play time and a bath while you enjoy an adult beverage and watch a variety of sports on the multiple screens around the bar.

We look forward to seeing everyone there!

Send a message to learn more

17/06/2025

UPDATE: Adoption pending!!!

Today is Global Garbage Man Day, National Apple Strudel Day and if that doesn't work for you it is also National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Well this little guy isn't that fond of vegetables, but seems to love people, may we introduce you to Rhett!!!!

This extremely handsome fella was found wandering with no collar, no leash and no chip and was surrendered to the rescue. When they are found as stray there is a lot of guess work that goes into formulating facts, but this is what we believe. He appears to be 12-16 weeks old and weighed in at 34.6 pounds Saturday at his first vet visit, he is slightly underweight, our best guess is that he is a (Great Dane/Mastiff cross) although without a DNA test it is all supposition. Needless to say, Rhett will end up being a VERY large dog once full grown.

He is doing well on potty training, if you take him out regularly, he will whine slightly when he has to go. He excited pees when you reach for him, many times they will grow out of this. He rides well in the car although not really a fan, he will drool while in motion but has not yet been sick. Like most puppies, he plays, naps and looks for attention and things he's not supposed to chew on. He corrects quickly when told no. He loves everyone at this stage, customers and staff take turns loving on him and playing. Like most puppies, he naps a lot. He loves his crate and thinks it it his own private bedroom - (full disclosure the crate is the biggest one they make🤣).

Rhett has had his first round of shots and will need another vet visit in two weeks, but can certainly move to a foster to adopt situation if the right home is found. Giant breed experience would be helpful as this boy will be huge and is already showing signs of having his own opinions🤣🤣.

Adoptions in Florida only.

To apply to adopt Rhett please click the following link:

https://flgdr.org/ouradoption/rhett-daniff-pup/

15/06/2025

Happy Father's Day to all the human and dog dads! Thank you for all you do, much of which goes without praise or even a thank you.

14/06/2025

In rescue, as in life, some times there is a little trial and error period involved, especially since the subjects we work with can't talk. Such is the case with Frankie. It has taken a couple of adoption attempts to learn that Frankie probably needed to be the only dog in the family. He has a very rough play style and can get overstimulated quickly, leading to undesired consequences.

We do our best to place dogs in suitable situations with the information available, however there are instances where the behaviors can't be immediately replicated. Such was the case with Frankie. We are happy to say, we believe he has finally found his family. A family where he can be the only dog in the home and where structure, boundaries and training are stressed and practiced as a part of the daily routine.

We wish Frankie and his family all the best and look forward to updates on his progress.

12/06/2025

HAPPY NATIONAL GREAT DANE DAY!!!

12/06/2025

I would personally like to thank everyone for the comments, messages and support for the rescue and myself generated by Miss Lucy's passing. Even in death, she continues to contribute, that was my girl. However, the rescue wheel continues to turn and there are several young, healthy and beautiful dogs waiting for their happily ever after.

Miss Kali is still waiting for her furever home. Kali is deaf, but has received extensive training on how to communicate from the trainer the rescue uses. She is being boarded there until her family can be found. She is 1.5 years old now, harlequin and absolutely stunning in appearance.

Kali needs a situation that is low stress, low traffic and big on routine and structure. Her adopter will be given instruction from the trainer on how to communicate with Kali and what to expect moving forward. She needs a home without children and her human will need to be experienced with giant breeds and of course, any experience with deaf dogs is a plus.

Her adopter will need to be able to make a couple of visits to the training facility, to meet Kali and establish a relationship with her, prior to finalizing any adoption. For additional information on Kali and to complete an adoption application click the link below:

https://flgdr.org/ouradoption/kali-great-dane-deaf/

11/06/2025

Most of the time I try very hard to keep this page about rescue business, dogs for adoption, etc. If you will indulge me, today it is personal, very personal. The lady pictured here is Miss Lucy (aka Queen Grumpy Butt) she is the reason I do what I do with Florida Giant Dog Rescue. I had worked with rescue most of my adult life and walked away for a variety of reasons and then there was Lucy.

Lucy's original owner surrendered her when the bottom fell out of her life and she could no longer care for Lucy - but Lucy was always loved. I know this because she sent me a note a couple of years ago explaining her situation and giving me Lucy's birth date and background. I hope she see's this post.

I met Lucy at a rescue event, she was already a senior (8 years old), very, very thin and with a strong personality - no one wanted to adopt her - I fell in love that day and the rest is history. Miss Lucy has been the matriarch of the house from that day until this morning. She passed this morning at 13.5 years old from home showered with love and Reese's peanut butter cups. I can't thank Dr. Stephanie from Ever Loved Vet Care enough for her kindness, compassion and gentle manner with both Lucy and myself. I chose to have her leave this earth from home, so she wouldn't be scared or stressed.

If you have ever adopted a dog from the rescue that was fostered at my home, then you probably have Miss Lucy to thank for a lot of things. She taught many, many dogs - how to dog - the ones that came in scared, abused, neglected or simply unsocialized got lessons on how to dog and respect others from Miss Lucy. She was regal in her bearing, strong in personality and very sure of who she was.

To honor Miss Lucy and all she has done I've started a fundraiser for the rescue, if you would like to make a gift, it will be used to rescue and care for more dogs like Lucy, that need a second chance. Thank you for all you do to help the dogs!

10/06/2025

Today is World Pet Memorial Day! We know that almost everyone reading this post gets that gut sensation seeing those words. If you are a pet owner, you have either lost one or will lose one at some point in your life and the grief can be overwhelming.

Being involved with rescue does not shield us from the grief that comes with loss. This year alone a few board members have been dealing with the loss of their fur family members, not to mention the roller coaster ride that being involved with rescue takes you on.

This year we lost Diesel, Harlow and tomorrow Miss Lucy will join the ranks of the heavenly angels watching over their people from above, waiting patiently for us to join them when our time comes.

Hug your fur babies extra tight today and be thankful that they chose you to be their parent. For those suffering loss, we feel your pain, we see you and we understand your grief. Everyone grieves differently, take your time and walk all the way through it. But remember one thing, our fur kids only wanted the best for us, that love doesn't stop just because the heart does.

Be kind to someone today!

07/06/2025

We have an update on our girl Dolly. Her foster family squired her out to a vet appointment yesterday. She had a full physical, including bloodwork, f***l and heartworm testing. The tests will take a few more days to come back and we will post any issues that may crop up. However, at this point, we will begin accepting applications for her adoption.

The vet believes she is about 2 years old and currently weighing in at 83 pounds. As you can see, she is doing well with the foster’s dogs and children. Applications will be processed as quickly as possible, but please remember that this is a volunteer organization, we all have full time jobs, homes, families, etc. Click the link below to be considered as Dolly’s furever family.

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

06/06/2025

Today we pay tribute to those brave souls that stormed the beach at Normandy 81 years ago today. This was the campaign that turned the tide of WWII in the European theater. Without their sacrifice, the world would look very different in 2025.

04/06/2025

This post is going to be short, sweet and to the point - we have taken in a young female dane that was apparently dumped alongside Amtrak railroad tracks. At this time information about the when, where and how is very sketchy and will be passed along once the gaps are filled in.

We know very little about her, other than her name is Dolly and she seems to do well with humans and has attached herself to the fosters young daughter. At this time I DO NOT have answers to your questions, age, health, kids, other dogs, etc. PLEASE do not ask. We will do a post on her once she has seen the vet and we have some additional answers.

She will be available for adoption once we have more answers, please give us time to do our jobs. Thank you!

02/06/2025

I have been asked a few times recently how Ms. Ava is doing, so I thought I would do a quick post.

For those that are new to following our rescue, Ms. Ava is a Neapolitan Mastiff that was paralyzed as a 4 month old puppy when we pulled her from the shelter, she will be five this year. For the first year of her life, I was her back legs, using a sling and she went everywhere I went, if I couldn't take her - I didn't go. During that time she was seen by a fleet of veterinary specialist, had an MRI and it was determined that she has an anomaly in her spine, caused by trauma, what type of trauma can not be determined and is not important.

She was a fighter then and continues to have an incredible spirit, so as long as she wanted to fight, the rescue and I were determined to go the distance with her. She progressed to a wheelchair for a while, had acupuncture on a regular basis (which continues) and then one day, out of the clear blue sky - she stood up on her own. I fell to my knees in tears that day - I remember it like it was yesterday.

Fast forward to today, Ms. Ava runs, jumps, plays, goes for car rides and goes up and down steps on her own. She still has issues with slippery floors so the sling is always close by, but rarely used. She has learned to use her disability to get her way - if she wants my attention and I'm busy with something else she will walk out to the kitchen and lay down, knowing full well, she can't get up on her own.

She was "Pupper of the Month" last June at the Dog Bar St. Pete and is loved by most everyone she meets.

Understanding that she would need care for a lifetime, she is my permanent medical foster and we will continue the journey together - wherever that may lead.