Drs. Mitch Kolker and Julie Abrahamson and their daughter, Elena, snuggle with Ollie, whom they adopted after he was nursed back to health. Photos provided
By Arden Moore
Hannah Caldwell, Stuart and Crystal Shanefield, plus the wife-husband duo of Drs. Julie Abrahamson and Mitch Kolker do not know one another, but they share a special bond: They all love big dogs and they cannot lie.
All have adopted large dogs and encourage others to do the same.
Sure, puppies are cute. And small breeds can put the “A” in adorable, but large dogs deserve consideration to be adopted.
Before we share the happy adoption tales, let’s separate facts from fiction about big dogs.
Fact: Big dogs have tougher times getting adopted than Chihuahuas and other pint-sized dogs in animal shelters. Large dogs often spend three to four times longer at shelters waiting for adoption than small dogs, according to local and national shelter experts.
To motivate people to consider adopting large dogs, Peggy Adams Rescue League in West Palm Beach conducts monthly big-dog adoption promotions.
“Our adoption fee for large dogs is $150 compared to $300 to adopt a small dog,” says Alex Serrano, director of operations. “We also occasionally waive the adoption fees for large breeds, such as pit bulls.”
Fiction: Big dogs don’t do well in apartments or small dwellings.
“The truth is that many large dogs tend to be couch loungers and spend a lot of time during the day napping,” says Sandra Dezelan, founder of Dezzy’s Second Chance Animal Rescue in Lake Worth Beach. She has rescued and successfully found homes for more than 9,000 dogs, with most of them weighing more than 40 pounds.
“Some of these dogs come to us in horrific shape, but we make sure they get the medical care they need and now these dogs are living incredible lives in loving homes,” says Dezelan. “They don’t tend to possess that high energy found in many small dogs.”
Serrano adds that she wishes pet policies at housing developments were based more on the temperament of the dog and not the size.
Fact: Large dogs tend to be quieter and less easily rattled than small dogs.
Serrano’s own dogs include a Chihuahua named Tuna Tar Tar and a pit bull named Kiwi.
“When someone knocks on my door, my Chihuahua will go off with high-pitched yips, but my pittie will just deliver a deep bark or two,” she says.
Fiction: All dogs are four-legged athletes.
If you love to run, hike or swim, large dogs are better built for these activities.
Fact: Big dogs take bigger bites out of your wallet for food, but usually not for the adoption fee.
“Sure, with big dogs comes the need for more food and of course, they produce bigger poop, but they are definitely worth being adopted,” Serrano says.
Red found a home and a pal when Hannah Caldwell adopted him and introduced him to Rusty.
Adoption success stories
Hannah Caldwell, of Boca Raton, recently adopted a senior large dog from Peggy Adams to join her 13-year-old rescued dog named Rusty.
“Red is about 11 years old, about 50 pounds and we think he may be a chow/Labrador retriever mix,” says Hannah. “Red had a rough past, being found as a stray multiple times, but he bonded immediately with Rusty. They’ve quickly become good friends and I am grateful they both get to spend their senior years being loved and spoiled by me.”
Dino is happy that Stuart and Crystal Shanefield adopted him.
Another success: a nearly hairless, full-of-mange Dutch shepherd dog found living in the streets of Miami. Dezelan’s rescue found him and worked with veterinarians to save his life. Then she reached out to Stuart and Crystal Shanefield, of Boca Raton, to tell them about this dog.
“When he was rescued off the streets, he looked like a dinosaur, so we named him Dino,” says Stuart. “He was left for dead, but Sandra saved his life. And today, Dino sports a beautiful brindle-colored coat, is very athletic and very lovable to us.”
He continues, “Dino now sleeps in our bed with his head on the pillow. We bring him on vacation in Pensacola because he loves dipping his paws in the ocean. Yes, our world now revolves around him and we couldn’t be happier.”
Dezelan also alerted Dr. Julie Abrahamson, a dentist, and her husband, Mitch Kolker, a surgeon, of Wellington, about an emaciated and matted rescue she nursed back to health.
This dog turned out to be 100% poodle, now named Ollie, who sports a beautiful white coat and is enjoying a full life.
“Ollie is great,” says Julie. “We were looking for a hypoallergenic dog because our daughter, Elena, is allergic. Ollie is so affectionate, a real sweet dog.”
Arden Moore is an author, pet podcast show host and master certified pet first aid instructor. Check out her sites: petfirstaid4u.com and ardenmoore.com.
Where to adopt
Looking to adopt an adult dog, especially a large one? Reach out to these local groups:
• Dezzy’s Second Chance: Located in Lake Worth Beach; visit dezzyssecondchance.com
• Peggy Adams Rescue League: Based in West Palm Beach; visit peggyadams.org
• Tri-County Animal Rescue: Located in Boca Raton; visit tricountyanimalrescue.org
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