My dear friend, who I have known since high school in Northern Michigan, now lives in the country outside Dallas, Texas. We have compassionate hearts for animals, particularly cats, and dogs, and she has always had dogs in her life. She and her husband work with SPIN (Saving Pyrenees in need), a non-profit group in Texas that rescues these gentle giants. The two of them are active foster parents to these rescued dogs. Together, they provided a loving home to 50 dogs and puppies. That foster care often requires helping the dogs recover from wounds, mange, starvation, and abandonment, rehabilitating them for adoption to new owners.


Great Pyrenees (often referred to as Pyrs) are large dogs with thick coats, usually white, and bred originally to protect goats, sheep, and cattle herds from predators. Powerful stature and gentle personality, male Pyrs can grow more than 100 pounds (40 kg).


Dana, an intake specialist with SPIN, explained that SPIN does not operate using a shelter, office, or kennels. The organization runs solely by phone and volunteer foster homes. SPIN receives calls from rescue shelters that have received a Pyr. Someone found a dog walking in a ditch along a road. The shelter often rescues dogs from 'puppy mills,' places that breed dogs strictly for money and often in squalid conditions. Or, the shelter may receive rescued Pyrs from local government animal control facilities. Sometimes ranchers bring in Pyrs that don't work out with their operation or are too old to work anymore. The reasons for turning a Great Pyrenees dog into local shelters are many. Sadly, too many people view dogs and cats as disposable. When the need for their existence in your life ends, you simply dispose of them.


My friend's most recent foster experience was a female Great Pyr picked up as a stray. SPIN called her, and she picked the dog up and took her to the veterinarian. The dog was underweight, pregnant with an estimated 8-10 puppies, and due to deliver soon. My friend created a bed in her warm laundry room with sheets and towels and provided lots of food and water and love, as only she can do. Within a week or so, the dog delivered her puppies. The dog gave birth a few puppies at a time, but quickly. Nine puppies were born. Surprisingly, the dog gave birth to one more, a 10th puppy the next day. All the pups are healthy and learned to nurse right away.


SPIN is always looking for prospective new owners for the dogs when they are ready to be adopted. SPIN volunteers are on the phones a lot, and Dana said most dogs are adopted outside of Texas. They have established relationships with adoption and placement agencies in Oregon, Washington, California, Idaho, Colorado, Arizona, and even Vancouver, Canada. This organization's work with no facilities, only a phone, and volunteers who care profoundly is genuinely inspiring.


There are so many ways to translate the work done in this story to your hometown. It doesn't have to be on a grand scale. The need to help rescue animals is everywhere—volunteer at your local animal shelters and rescue groups. You can start by feeding, loving, checking in on the animals at first. Do it with friends or your family. This volunteer work is a great way to teach children real-time lessons in compassion, love, and goodwill. Or you may decide you are ready to go further and become a foster parent. You never know when something will turn into a passion for you and others. Anything that puts love and compassion back into our communities can only make us better human beings.


To learn more about SPIN, visit their website at the link listed below.