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A Little About Us
SPIN, Saving Pyrs In Need is a rescue group of dedicated volunteers working with Great Pyrenees dogs who have been surrendered to shelters or abandoned. SPIN places the Pyrenees in foster homes and readies them for adoption. Medical needs are updated and all SPIN dogs are spayed or neutered before adoption. Individual temperament of each dog is assessed to give the potential adoptive family as accurate an assessment as possible. We are currently active in the North and East Texas area. As we grow we will be able to consider Pyrs in need from other areas.
To see photos and hear from the foster families of our adoptable pets, click HERE.
Adopting a Friend
Considering adopting a Great Pyrenees? Your first step is to complete an adoption application. A SPIN volunteer will complete a vet check and a home visit to ensure the safety of the dog. Our adoption fee is $175. for adult Pyrs and $200. for Pyrs under 1 year old. A trained Livestock Guardian Dog will be $250. This fee may be tax deductible since we are a non profit, 501c3 organization. Your adoption fee in its entirety goes towards medical care of our rescued Pyrs.
What else do we require besides a loving home?A good fence that will keep your dog safely at home - high enough and strong enough that your Pyr won’t jump over or through, pull apart, or dig under.
We also require proof that your current dogs and cats are up to date on vet needs, and spayed or neutered.
Why is spaying and neutering so important to us? Because there is a pet overpopulation crisis in the US. Did you know only one in every ten dogs born today will end up in a good home?
Don't take our word for it, here are two articles on the pet overpopulation crisis:
Humane Society of the United States
All of our dogs are spayed or neutered prior to adoption. Each Pyr receives vaccinations for canine distemper, adenovirus type 2, parainfluenza, parvovirus, bordetella and other canine diseases. Puppies require three sets of vaccinations. When they are old enough, all dogs are vaccinated for rabies. All Pyrs are tested and treated, if necessary, for intestinal parasites. We also test for heartworms and take our fosters thru heartworm treatment if positive. Prevention is always given to dogs that test negative. We also microchip all of our Pyrs.
If one of our dogs tests positive for heartworms or becomes ill with parvo or distemper, our costs can be two to four times what we are asking. If you took a Pyr to your own vet, medical costs would likely be far more than our adoption donation. We never deny medical care to our dogs because of the cost. We depend on other donations to help cover these expenses.
Looking for a Pyr but you are not in Texas? Click here:Finding a Rescue in Your State
This list will aid in finding a Great Pyrenees rescue group in anyone's home state. SPIN is dedicated to the rescue and rehoming of this marvelous breed lovingly known as "Big White Dogs" and also to working in harmony with all other groups who work so diligently on their behalf. When we receive an application for one of our foster angels we will contact that applicants local rescue to inquire if that group would have a dog that would work for the applicant and if they would work with them. If the local group does not have a suitable foster then we ask if they would welcome the addition of a Texas Big White Dog from the SPIN family to their home state before shipping him or her off on the journey of a lifetime.
We here at SPIN also strive to work very closely with all other Pyr groups in any and all ways possible to keep as many of these wonderful dogs from harm's way as we can.
Ready to take the plunge? FIND OUR ADOPTION APPLICATION HERE.
Not ready to commit? Try fostering!
Not quite ready to commit to adopting a Pyr? We are searching for foster homes for our rescued dogs. Fostering is a valuable way to contribute to the Pyr rescue organization as well as add a wonderful addition to your family. The more foster homes and adoptive homes we have, the more Pyrs we are able to help.
Happy Tails
Since November of 2003, SPIN has helped over 600 Great Pyrenees find new homes. For pictures and information about our adopted dogs, please check out our happy tails HERE.
Come visit us on the internet!
Here are ways you can learn more about SPIN:
- Website: www.SPINrescue.org
- Email: savingpyrsinneed@yahoo.com
Featured Pet
Lets talk about "rescue" dogs. It's a term that is highly touted by many and scorned by many more. It's a term applied to the thousands of dogs that are taken in by animal rescue groups across the country - many literally snatched from death row as they sit alone and scared and confused waiting for their execution date in city and county run shelters.
Rescue is not all about the sick, old, ugly and broken though sadly we see many that fit into those categories. Rescue dogs come from all walks of life, come in all shapes and sizes, come in all ages but the one common thread that ties all rescue dogs together is that they are DOGS. Dogs are the most resilient and loving creatures. They do not dwell on their past misfortunes, in fact they would happily forgive and continue to love those who have abandoned them or abused them. Some people have attached a stigmatism to shelter dogs - concluding that there must have been something deficient or terribly wrong with the dog for him or her to wind up in a shelter and nothing is farther from the truth. Rescued shelter dogs are loving, sweet, hopeful and above all grateful for being plucked from impending doom - and believe me they know.
Rescuers take these cast-offs of our society and pour their heart and souls into them, love them, heal the sick ones, mend those with broken spirits, open their hearts and homes and give them back the one thing all dogs need and want - to be part of a family. And then that wonderful day comes when that very special dog's new family comes to take him or her home and with tears in their eyes these rescuers bid farewell to the dog who has briefly and deeply touched their lives. You see when you adopt a "rescue" dog you are getting a wonderful new family member who carries a little piece of the hearts of all of those who touched his or her life. You have brought home a very special dog, not just because this is a "rescue" dog but because all dogs are special!
Rescue is about heartbreak and joy ~ the hearbreak of the ones we are unable to "save" and the joy of those we do. So if you and your family is ready to make a lifetime committment to love, cherish and care for one of these wonderful souls then come and experience the joy!! The love, gratitude and unwavering devotion you receive in return is immeasurable.
News and Reference Information
Heartworm Alert
Let's play imagine. Let's imagine a heart infested with hundreds of writhing worms. Let's imagine coughing, wheezing unable to catch a breath, having no energy to do even the simplest thing. Let's imagine a life cut short by a totally preventable disease. And now lets imagine that heart is beating in your chest. Heartworms are totally preventable. A simple test to check for them and then one tablet every 4 weeks does the job. Every dog that goes outside (even if only for minutes) is at risk, even dogs inside are not safe - how many times have you been bitten by a mosquito inside your own home. Heartworms are transmitted by mosquitoes and we all have experienced summer months with millions of the nasty buggars about but also during the winter months they can surface when the temps rise a bit. Heartworms are treatable but the treatment is lengthy and painful, not to mention costly - prevention ~ year round prevention ~ is just so much easier.
Your dog depends on you for his or her health and well being - please remember that all important monthly heartworm preventative. The dog's life you save could be your own.
MY DOGS LIVE HERE
My dogs live here, they're here to stay. you don't like pets, be on your way. they share my home, my food, my space this is their home, this is their place.
You will find dog hair on the floor, they will alert you're at the door. they may request a little pat, a simple 'no' will settle that.
It gripes me when I hear you say 'just how is it you live this way? they smell, they shed, they're in the way..' WHO ASKED YOU? is all I can say..
They love me more than anyone, my voice is like the rising sun, they merely have to hear me say 'C'mon , time to go and play' then tails wag and faces grin, they bounce and hop and make a din. They never say 'no time for you', they're always there, to GO and DO.
and if I'm sad? They're by my side and if I'm mad? they circle wide and if I laugh, they laugh with me they understand, they always see.
so once again, I say to you come visit me, but know this too..
My dogs live here, they're here to stay. you don't like pets, be on your way. they share my home, my food, my space this is their home, this is their place..
------------ Author Unknown
Pet Highlights
Ever wonder what a sea of Pyrs would look like?? Check out Pyr Day in the Park.
Thanks, Petfinder!
Petfinder has been an invaluable asset for so many rescue organizations such as SPIN. A huge Thank You goes to Petfinder for their support! Petfinder, you are the best!
