Pete & Drifter: 2 GSP’s Hitch a Ride with Great Dane Rescue
Drifter and Pete
The story of Drifter and Pete all started with a message from Erika at One Dane at a Time to Greg at California GSP Rescue. "Have you seen this boy?" she wrote, sending a photo of Drifter, a thin GSP stuck in a remote shelter. "Yes, we are aware of him," Greg replied. Erika, knowing the challenges of rescuing dogs from remote shelters, offered to pick up Drifter and meet Greg. Several hours later, Erika messaged Greg again, this time with a photo of Pete, a stray GSP, sitting in another shelter close to Drifter's location. California GSP Rescue had yet to hear of Pete, but Erika again extended her offer to help pick Pete up along with Drifter. A few days later, with both dogs in her care, Erika drove to meet Greg at yet another Animal Shelter where she was rescuing a Great Dane. Planning and executing the rescue and transport was a challenge, but giving these dogs a second chance at life was all worth it.
Erika had already planned to rescue a Great Dane from an LA County Shelter on the same day she was transporting Drifter and Pete. Although it was almost a two-hour drive for Greg, it made sense to meet her there instead of driving separately to the individual shelters for Drifter and Pete. Arriving early at the Animal Shelter, Greg couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding as he walked through the kennels. The place was bursting with dogs of all breeds and mixes. There needed to be more adopters. It was a stark reminder of the need for breed-specific rescues like California GSP Rescue and One Dane at a Time. By freeing up the kennels occupied by purebred dogs, California GSP Rescue and One Dane at a Time created more space and time for mixed breeds and harder-to-place dogs to be rescued and find their forever homes.
Have you ever wondered how so many dogs end up filling every kennel at animal shelters? Just three years ago, this would have been unimaginable. But the pandemic has brought about some unexpected side effects, including a lack of basic knowledge about pet ownership and commitment. For some, giving up a pet has become easier than making the long-term commitment required. Unethical breeders and scammers took full advantage of the demand for temporary emotional support animals, while social media fueled a trend of people adopting dogs to post selfies. The end result? Walk into any animal shelter today, and you'll see the heartbreaking effects of these trends firsthand - kennels full of dogs, each one desperate for a loving home.
After Erika secured the young, beautiful Great Dane, she and Greg said their goodbyes. But the work was far from over. Getting Drifter, Pete, and the Great Dane safely out of the shelters was only the first step. In the coming weeks, each dog would need to undergo evaluations and be neutered before Volunteers from the adoption committee shared their information with potential adopters. The hope was that someone would commit to providing these rescued dogs with the loving, forever homes they deserved.
There are many ways you can help! First, share this post on social media to spread awareness and increase the chances of finding forever homes for rescued animals. Even if you cannot adopt a pet yourself, someone you know might be able to. You can also educate people about responsible pet ownership and the many great pets available through rescue and animal shelters. Another way to make a difference is by donating or becoming a Rescue Hero. As the demand for rescues increases, so do the costs of rescuing and finding forever homes. Every small donation counts and California GSP Rescue is grateful for the support of our Rescue Heroes and donors who help us continue our life-saving work.
