WHAT IT TAKES
TO BE APPROVED FOR ADOPTION OF A GREAT DANE
You need to know that not everyone will be approved for adoption. That is not necessarily a comment on your worth or reputation as a human being, so please do not take it as an insult. Our goal is to find a good home for a Great Dane that has been abandoned by its former owners, sometimes due to an owners death or incapacity, economic necessity, behavioral problems, or ignorance. Some of our dogs have been found wandering the streets and some have simply been lost by owners who for whatever reason could not navigate the bureaucratic minefields that exist at some (but fortunately not all) animal shelters. So, while every Great Dane we offer for adoption is ready to give all of its love and loyalty to you, it is our responsibility to place the Great Dane in a home where the lifestyle of the owners meets the needs of the dog.
| Our job is not to find you a Great Dane.
Let me repeat that. OUR JOB IS NOT TO FIND YOU A GREAT DANE. Our job is to find a home for a Great Dane-and we strongly believe that the needs of the Great Dane come first. |
FAQ: Can I come pick out a Great Dane as a gift for my (choose one) wife, husband, girlfriend, boyfriend, child, aunt, grandmother, uncle best friend? |
ANSWER: No. Each dog has an individual personality, and may not be well matched to the person you want to find a gift for. Additionally, remember that a Great Dane is not just a gift, it is a responsibility. Bringing a pet into your home is a commitment to care for that pet through its lifetime, and that is a promise that you really cannot make for someone else. |
| So we have some rules and some qualifications that you must meet. In most cases, it is not difficult for good people to meet the qualifications, or to obey these rules, because if you want to have a good dog (especially a Great Dane!) to be your companion, most of these rules are going to conform to your notion of common sense. Each of the Great Dane Rescue groups accessible through this page may have slightly different rules or policies, but the following information covers most of the important points. |
Daro, from a death sentence in San Bernardino to a family home. |
 |
|
|
Jack, from a stray in Oceanside to a happy home with the guys in Orange County.
Sadie, from a "kill" shelter to a new family in Imperial County. |
 |
Here are the rules:
-
You must have a securely fenced yard. That does not mean that all of your property must be fenced. If you have 20 acres of land, it is not reasonable to expect that all 20 acres are fenced, but the Great Dane must be provided with a fenced yard, water, shade and shelter if the dog is going to be outside during the day. Note, we occasionally make exceptions to this rule for apartment dwellers and others with unfenced yards, subject to additional requirements. Under no circumstances will we allow an adopted Great Dane to be chained in a yard or confined solely with "invisible fencing".
-
You must provide indoor sleeping accommodations for your Great Dane. These dogs (especially the Harlequins and the Blues) have very thin coats. The utility room or a heated space in the garage is the minimal standard, although most Great Danes are very happy to suffer the indignity of sleeping at the foot of your bed (since Great Danes are convinced that they actually should be sleeping IN the bed). If sharing the inside of your house with a Great Dane is not your idea of an acceptable arrangement, you should reconsider whether or not a Great Dane is a good choice for you. There are many breeds of dogs who like to be outside. Great Danes are not one of those breeds.
-
You must agree to allow us to do a "home check" prior to adoption. Don't worry, we are not checking on whether or not you dust your furniture or vacuum your carpet. We are just making sure that Item Nos. 1 and 2 are taken care of.
-
You must agree to take the dog to your vet when he or she is ill, and to maintain the required vaccinations.
-
You must agree that if for any reason you can no longer provide a home for your Great Dane, that you will return the Great Dane to the Rescue Group you adopted the dog from or a Great Dane Rescue group that they designate. You will agree not to surrender the Great Dane to an animal shelter or to your animal control office, or to give it away to a "good home". If you cannot keep the dog for some reason, every reputable rescue group (including all of the groups listed on these pages) will agree to take the dog back or help in the placement of the dog into an approved home.
-
You must pay an adoption fee to the rescue group. This fee will vary from group to group and each group may have different fees for different dogs. The fee may be higher for a young Great Dane who has just had expensive orthopedic surgery after being hit by a car, or lower for an older Great Dane for which the owner is going to have to spend more on vet bills in the near future. In most cases, you should be prepared for a fee of $350 to $450, although there are exceptions above and below this amount. You should be aware that the adoption fee generally does not cover all of the costs associated with the rescue of your new Great Dane. Our average cost per dog is over $500. In addition, almost all rescues have taken responsibility for Great Danes who are not adoptable due to health or behavior reasons. Your adoption fee helps to maintain a home for a Great Dane who cannot be placed in an adoptive home. Additional donations are always welcomed! For the adoption fee, your Great Dane will be neutered and current on shots, will have been checked by a veterinarian, and will be ready to provide all the love you care to receive (and then some!).
-
Each of the rescue groups will generally do placements only within a certain area close to their location. We strongly suggest that you deal with a Great Dane rescue group in your area. See our "links" page for directories of other Great Dane rescue groups around the country.