Steve Shaw brought Max to us and he walked in the door with apprehension. We met him with affection. He immediately went to Nancy, bedridden, and the

friendship started there as he only tolerated me in those first few minutes. From that moment, Max had a home of his own, but with a new name: Zeus.

Every day brings out a new little bit of his personality to the point that he comes to me in the office, while I am doing things like writing this letter and he will

sit next to me and “talk” to me until I give him some rubs. I’ll talk back, too, and the other day I had him howling. It was a real hoot!

But as that personality unfolds, it is plain to see that we have here a very intelligent and kind individual in our midst. He learns well and all he wants is love

and he returns that in large measure. I am sure reading this that you have read and heard many times the same kind of story. We question how we could receive such a sweet animal from a rescue agency in the first place. When someone purchases a Mastiff puppy, they know they are buying a big dog and in terms of weight, the largest, I believe. With that comes a large, rambunctious puppy that eats a lot and requires the same thing that all puppies do:

Discipline, feeding, defecation and urination training and family assimilation. All of this takes work and all of this takes dedication to make the transition. Yet it appears that people don’t commit to be dedicated to these things and these dogs suffer neglect in one area or another that leads to an abuse of the animal. This abuse may not be physical but often is.

It is very likely to be mental and emotional as well. I submit that success in raising a giant breed dog comes in the commitment to meeting the needs of that dog. Only then will the personality really come out and one can really know the dog. If one fails to meet those needs, a price will be paid. That price will be truly enormous piles of stool and large pools of urine, just like any dog but amplified in size.

It may be the destruction of objects, some large and expensive and perhaps even house fixtures like tables and cabinets. If one neglects his or her obligation, one will pay. It is not the fault of the animal as they are being themselves. It is the fault of the owner whom ultimately retains control. It is not fair to the dog or the owner when that owner fails to commit to the needs of the dog. I would contend that most of the dogs entering the Mastiff Rescue system have

come from such a background. The owner failed to meet the needs of the animal and the animal becomes a problem to the owner and the dog must go. Let’s take Zeus for a moment.

When Zeus came to us, we started treating him as if he were a puppy. When he rises, he is taken out. When he eats or drinks, he is taken out. When he goes to the door, he is taken out. Voila. No messes in the house. Easy enough. He is supervised around our cat, a geriatric fellow, and that is working out

nicely. Just last night, the cat was on the bed and Zeus’ head was on the bed right next to the cat. The cat would gently swat at Zeus and he would dodge and move, then come back for a sniff and get swatted again. This was all in play as the cat has all of his claws and has been through this drill before. They both benefit from a play partner and both have a heightened interest these days. If I had a word to say to anyone buying a Mastiff, I would say to them to know

what they are getting. A little research will yield a whole lot of information on temperament, size and requirements. One would know about the intense loyalty these dogs have and the love they need to receive and the larger portion that they will provide. They will know that these dogs are happy in a palace or in an apartment if they receive appropriate care. They will also know that these dogs produce a lot of waste and that they will require more care in cleanup as they drool sometimes (usually when you are in a suit and ready to leave - that large drool spot on your pant leg is to be expected - it is not the dog’s fault). If one knows what to expect, it is no big thing. If one is unprepared, it can lead to personal disaster that will become a disaster to the dog. DON’T LET THAT HAPPEN!

Zeus has a lot of scars. Some are on his body. Most of the mental ones he overlooks. He is a well adjusted, sweet soul that only wants to be with us. He really

doesn’t want much more than that. Food. A walk once or twice a day. A little play time with us. For that he is now “talking” to us and showing us in his own creative ways

how happy he is in his new life. He is still adjusting to his surroundings but each day we see a little more of who he is and I must say, he is a truly wonderful soul.

Michael and Nancy Spawr