my first experience with a Dane came over 20 yrs ago when my son adopted one from a shelter, realized he didn't have the time, money, or space to keep him, so "gifted" him to me. The next day, i left him in the backyard while i ran to the store.
When i came home he was asleep on my bed with his head on my pillow. Amazing trick? Not really - all he had to do was remove the window screen, break the glass, pull down the miniblinds and drapes, and climb in. Any breed that resourceful had my heart, and I was never without a Dane until I lost my precious Cash to bone cancer in Feb. '07. Not feeling ready for another "forever" Dane, I joined this wonderful organization early this year as a foster. Garbo has been with me for about 4 weeks now, and made herself comfortable right away as you can see from the photo below (hopefully!). The naming of a dog by the person transporting him/her is a great idea, but my grandchildren have never heard of Greta Garbo and thought I was calling her Garbage - eeek! So in my home, she is respectfully known as GiGi. She is such a delight! That she is deaf and has vision anomalies has not been a problem at all. She will do whatever is asked of her - get in the car, get out of the car, get in her cage - but not until she is ready to do so....usually a minute or less. Patience is a virtue I needed some practice with anyway. Gigi's clown side came out when one of my other dogs went into Gigi's 52"x42" cage to look around. Gigi went immediately and got into the 24"x36" cage belonging to the other dog. No, I don't know how she did it; just happy she didn't get stuck!
I always take my Danes everywhere with me - not just in the car but into the store, shop, or whatever. (Well, ok, not the grocery store;-). Most shop owners or employees are delighted to see a dog. If they aren't, well, there's another store of the same variety just down the street who will be. We went to the jewelry store today to pick up a repaired necklace and the store owner, John, fell in love with Gigi. I said she was available for adoption and explained the process, beginning with the application. He wants her! The hair on the back of my neck stood up as my brain said to me, "No, he can't have her! I want her!." I don't recall the member who wrote, "We don't foster because we could never give up a dog who lived in our home", and am now afraid the same thing is happening here. When we got home, I walked around the house, looking for a place to squeeze in another cage or crate, so I can adopt GiGi and foster another Dane - haha. As I also have two other rescue dogs, my bedroom already has 3 dog cages in it, leaving me about 4 or 5 sq. ft. to walk around. Life is truly never dull - it should be interesting to see how things work out.
Doris
i know this is a tad off topic but...
GiGi's face looks almost identical to Lilly...and they both are hearing impaired (as my sister likes to say).
Tayyaba
Garbo
Thanks to everyone for the feedback and comments. It's made me take the time to think about adopting GiGi vs having her adopted by someone else. I've had other rescue dogs that other members of my family have fallen in love with after getting to know them, and i've given two dogs to them knowing they would be well cared for, so do feel i could foster and then give up another Dane.....but i've been wrong before.. Not even sure how many dogs i've had in my lifetime (so far!) but "dozens" should cover it. Seldom has a dog come into my home and fit in as well and as rapidly as GiGi has. True, the first few days were rocky, as Heather can attest, but once the little girl, Vala, decided that the new big girl, GiGi, was going to be the boss, all the growling, snarling, and snapping stopped and all has been great since then. Vala cleans Gigi's face and ears by licking and licking several times a day and dries off GiGi's mouth after a drink of water.... and yes, Vala is a dog and not a cat;-) She did the same with my previous Dane. My vet used to remark about how clean Cash's ears were! Seems this must be Vala's way of showing submission...?
I think about how many different places GiGi has lived in her 2 years - at least 4 or 5, and it seems a shame to ask her to move again. She's learned where things are, and no longer bangs her head on the breakfast bar, glass door, etc., unless i forget and leave a drawer open or something similar, so we are both learning to keep her safe and uninjured as she has no direct forward vision and limited peripheral vision; it's getting to be second nature now. There is also a question with possible hip dysplasia as she cannot stand on one hind leg when i pick up the other one during the "Foot Washing Ceremony". (Don't we all just love all the rain and resultant mud, mud, mud ;-) None of these things matter or would keep me from adopting her unless there will be major vet bills anytime soon as I'm still recovering from the five figure bill for Cash. My vet has met and examined GiGi (with an unasked for but very nice discount). He's steered me in the right direction for many years, so will determine the course we take this time.
Thanks to you, Nova, for transporting this dear, sweet girl; i certainly understand why you would have kept her if possible.
I'll post more pix soon. And no, Sara, that's not me but my 16 y/o granddaughter in the photo with GiGi. I never looked that good; not even when i was 16 - hehee!
Doris
Garbo
Hello Doris,
Was so glad to hear about Garbo's progress. I live in Houston so fostering is out for me, but I admire each of our foster homes for what they do for each dog. It is amazing. Thank you for Garbo's picture and her progress. These stories are what makes the rescue part so wonderful - please keep these updates coming and a big thank you for making a difference in Garbo's life.
Judy, Scooby, and Daphne
I was Garbo's transporter
I was Garbo's transporter and namer. I am so glad you provided an update on her. She is such a love. At the time I picked her up I was unable to foster, but if I had fostered her I am sure I would have failed.
As far as calling her Gigi, I understand. My foster Nanette, goes by Nan because everyone seems to hear Numbnut and that is just sad. (Or it could be my nasal+Midwest annunciation which seems to transform Nova to Melba--who knows.)
Anyway, if you are feeling like this, Gigi is yours....http://icanhascheezburger.com/category/bunnehs/
Welcome!
Welcome to the boards and to fostering! You just have to search your heart on making the decision regarding GiGi.
I adopted my last foster, reaching my max of 2 Danes and so can't foster right now...and it's killing me. I really miss it. On the other hand, I am so happy to have added Shammy to my house permanently it kind of helps. It's a tough call.
Anyway, we are glad to see you on here! Is that YOU in the picture? You don't look old enough to have a son that adopted a dog 20 years ago!!!
Sara (Bubba Chad's and Shammy's mom)
Welcome
Welcome to the boards! Your story is truly a captivating one... I enjoyed reading all about Gigi. It does take a very special person to be a foster parent. And so many of the folks on here are just amazing people who give so much to these Danes and selflessly pass them on to their forever homes. I admire those people and goodness knows what GDRNT would be without them! Deciding to foster or deciding to adopt your foster (aka foster failure) is something only you know from within. It is a difficult decision, but the beauty of it is that whichever way you decide to go, you can't go wrong! Your foster will end up in a loving home.
Keep us posted please and send more pics... :-)
Cristina
Jack & Sydney's mum
Hi Doris
I met you at Dirty Dawgz the other day. I am sooo glad you got on here to give the update on Garbo. It is really awesome to get on here and and talk about your fosters and your foster failures...
I love the picture of GiGi, and I am not suprised that you want to keep her. Fostering is really the hardest thing, when you get a certain bond with them... and I think Great Danes make it particularly hard because of the personalities.
Anyways, Glad to see you on the boards. Look forward to chatting with you some more later on.
Courtney
hard one
Before we had kids we fostered for another organization... after Baily left I cried for 3 days and Steve said NO MORE! Now that we have kids and 2 dogs (one with a tude) I don't know how we could do it...... I am sure we could find someone Mo wouldn't try to eat but any animal that is here more than 2 hours is named fed and given bed pillows... my son cried for a day and a half when the City came to collect the baby possums the neighbors Golden Retriever brought me.... 3 in her mouth dropped at my feet......
all that being said...... Foster families are such a vital part of what this group does and imagine the joy inyour heart in knowing she is going to a loving fabulous forever home..... so those who foster all the time will tell you .. yes it is hard but the joy of watching these guys blossum in your care and go to happy forever homes is an AWSOME feeling