After my Great Pyr, Avalanche, died in 1996, I went searching the shelters in the area for a dog. I visited very often, but none were just right. I got a call that a Great Pyrenees was brought in at Animal Welfare League. When I went to go see her, she was not exactly a Great Pyr, but a Pyrenean Sheepdog. The hair is more wiry. She was a nice dog, but I was afraid that my asthma might kick in with that type of coat. A few weeks later, I went to visit again and low and behold there was a beautiful GSD named Duke. I rushed home to get my husband and by the time I came back, he was adopted out. I missed him by about 10 minutes. My daughter was in tears! I told her that he was not meant for us. The right dog will come along. Again, a call came in for another Great Pyr. I ran down to meet her. She was a nice dog, but then my daughter saw this 69lb. horribly emaciated GSD who was loosing his hair in the cage at the other end of the shelter (I believe it is the end of the line section). She dragged me over to him. The shelter worker told my daughter to come with for a walk with the dog. As they were walking, they stopped to glance at the cat area. The GSD put his paws on the glass window, turned and gave my daughter the biggest, wettest kiss she ever got!! Well, here I am with a big decision. I was called in for the Great Pyr, but here is this GSD in need. What do I do. I decided to adopt the Great Pyr because I figured she was huge and not too many people knew the breed and would be willing to adopt her. Again, I ran home to get my husband. We came back and met her. She was a very nice dog, but....I had to go back to the other section of the shelter to say goodbye to the GSD and hope that he would be adopted. I left my husband and went to say goodbye. All of a sudden, I knew that this poor sickly GSD NEEDED me. Who would adopt such a mess! I could see his hip bones just sticking out! He looked at me with his big sad eyes and ....the rest is history. I brought my husband over and said that I was taking this GSD. He agreed that Killian needed us. I spoke to the adoption lady and told her all about the Great Pyrenees breed and how great they are with kids and that if no one adopted her in a month, I would come back for her, too. Luckily, she was adopted out to a family with kids. After a lot of vet bills and prescription fish and potato dog food and cans of salmon, my beautiful Killian is 110lbs. with a full shiny coat. Sorry that this is so long. In a later post I will tell about Shiloh!
Whew! Kinda long....
Sue

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***Save a life, ADOPT***

[This message has been edited by Sudilar (edited May 04, 2001).]