By William Kenny
Times Staff Writer
Their stories are more than sad. In fact, they qualify as true family tragedies.
Alex was barely a year old when her parents had a new baby and began to isolate her in her own home. She had loved to go swimming and on long strolls with her folks but became understandably depressed and destructive when they ignored, then abandoned her.
Duke’s story is equally shocking. At age 3-1/2, his parents had him living in their basement. Although they had begun to teach him basic communication skills, Duke never grew comfortable with his family, which ultimately turned him over to the adoption agency.
Harley’s family didn’t even give him that much of a chance. He was just 1-1/2 when a parent dropped him off at the doctor’s office, looking to give him up, claiming he was too much for her to handle.
A member of the office staff volunteered to take Harley but reneged the following day. A second office worker took him but changed her mind on the way home. Harley lasted only a month in a third adoptive home. Now he’s in limbo, waiting for someone to give him the love he deserves.
A couple of 4-year-olds, Max and Peanut, are in the same boat. Max was orphaned when his guardian developed cancer. Peanut’s folks left him behind when they moved to California.
In fact, there are literally dozens of tragedies like these in the tri-state area, says Sheila R. Marshall, the Eastern Pennsylvania coordinator for the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League and the adoptive parent of two Great Danes.
Many of the dogs were worse off than those mentioned above. According to Marshall, a Phoenixville resident, many dogs that end up with the rescue are malnourished and sickly. Many have been physically abused and neglected by their owners or in temporary shelters.
Unfortunately, a few animals are so bad that they’re beyond help.
“A lot of it is, ‘We got the dog as a puppy, and we pay no attention to it at all. We crate it in the laundry room, and it gets no exercise,’” said Marshall, reflecting a common excuse heard when owners give up their dogs.
“People don’t realize (that the dogs) are going to be wild. They’re puppies. If they don’t have an outlet, they’re going to be overwhelming (to keep).”
Founded in 1971, the rescue seeks to identify Danes and Dane mixes in these troubled settings and to place them in foster homes until qualified owners can be found. The process also includes a full medical evaluation (and treatment if necessary), along with basic in-home obedience training. The dogs are spayed or neutered, as well.
The rescue stays in touch with various community-based shelters throughout its eight-state coverage area (New York to North Carolina), including the SPCA and Women’s Humane Society in the Philadelphia region. That’s where it gets many of its referrals.
The program is similar in many respects to the National Greyhound Adoption Program, which is based in Northeast Philadelphia and has been featured in several Times stories.
There is one key difference, however, according to Marshall. Whereas the greyhound organization operates its own kennel and veterinary facility, the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League houses its animals strictly in the foster homes of generous volunteers.
There are about 50 volunteers and as many as 20 available Danes in the tri-state area alone. Organization-wide, there are about 70 dogs up for adoption.
One brief visit with Marshall’s 4-year-old adoptee, Tonka, leaves little mystery as to why Great Danes are so popular. The area coordinator considers the black-coated male the perfect ambassador for his breed. Danes are commonly known as “gentle giants.”
“They’re big, and they don’t have a clue how big they are,” Marshall said. “Typically, they’re very good family dogs, but they’re a little hard on toddlers because their tail is at (a young child’s) face level.”
Tonka is on the larger side. He stands 36 inches at the shoulder and weighs about 165 pounds, although he is embarking on a diet, according to his owner. Generally, the breed ranges from 28 to 42 inches in height and from 110 to 200 pounds, Marshall said.
Much like his animated brethren Scooby Doo, Astro and Marmaduke, Tonka can barely contain his joy around visitors. He races to greet them at the front door, sniffing them with his oversize snout and begging for a pat.
And he persists until his owner directs him to a neutral corner, triggering a momentary sulk. Still, he manages to follow the crowd from room to room throughout the house.
“It’s just so great to see how much fun they have, and they’re very sensitive,” Marshall said.
Day to day, however, most Danes are less rambunctious.
“They’re couch potatoes,” Marshall said. “They get a couple of short exercise periods each day, which get shorter as they get older.”
Fortunately, their feeding also should taper off with age. Younger dogs can eat six to 10 cups of dry food a day — preferably quality kibble.
Danes aren’t the healthiest of breeds. Some physical problems are caused by their sheer size. The dogs are known for digestive “bloating” and cardiac problems. Because of their thin skin, they don’t do well in extreme weather or in environments in which they can cut themselves easily.
They are definitely house dogs. In fact, the rescue requires adoptive owners to sign a contract agreeing to keep the animals inside, along with other provisions designed to protect the dogs. The program charges $250 for most of its adoptions. The fee allows the organization to recover some of the funds invested in saving the animal.
As Marshall so readily points out, the money is a small price to pay to find a loving owner who is willing to provide a safe, healthy home for a loyal friend like a Great Dane. ••
For more information about Great Dane adoption, call the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League at 610-983-9445 or visit the Web site (www.padanerescue.com).
Reporter William Kenny can be reached at 215-354-3031 or bkenny@phillynews.com