After the Rescue: What it Takes to Care for 84 Great Dane Rescue Dogs

While we are often moved by pet stories of puppy mill rescues, it’s not very common that these involve solely large breed dogs.

In this notably rare case, the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), with the help of the Wolfeboro Police Department, rescued 84 Great Danes from a suspected puppy mill last June. Though housed in a 15,000-square foot mansion in an affluent neighborhood in New Hampshire, an unimaginable situation existed inside this grandeur home. Rescuers found these large breed dogs subjected to horrendous conditions, surrounded by their own waste, with little access to food or water; a harrowing situation for these majestic animals.

Since this rescue operation, a temporary dog shelter has been set up for the dogs to accommodate their larger-than-usual needs. With the help of generous animal lovers, they have received an influx of donations to supply these pups with everything they need for their rehabilitation. Here they have the space to house and provide them much-needed treatment.

It comes as no surprise that feeding 84 Great Danes is not an easy task. Rescue workers at the dog shelter said they go through close to 200 pounds of dog food per day.

After hearing about the dog rescue, we couldn’t help but send in as much aid as possible. With our donation of 40,000 pounds of American Journey Grain-Free Dog Food to the Humane Society of the United States in New Hampshire, the staff now has enough kibble to feed 400 dogs for an entire year. Hillary Hutchens, Senior Manager of Corporate Giving from HSUS, says, “The donation from Chewy was such a huge cost savings for us as a non-profit. This helped us provide all of the rescue dogs involved with proper and consistent nutrition.” With the rescue dogs being at a range of different life stages, the ability to provide them with consistent nutrition plays a most pivotal role in their journey to recovery. The donation also allowed HSUS to direct more funds towards medical care for the pups, some of which needed eye surgery.

Since the rescue dogs are considered part of a criminal investigation, they are not currently available for adoption until (and only if) the courts determine that they should be surrendered, according to the group’s Facebook page. Pending a favorable outcome, they will be able to go up for adoption. However, these pups are now in better conditions, and have the food, medical care and attention that they need to grow up happy and healthy until they find their forever homes.

Adopting a dog is a great way to add a new furry member to your family. While there are many things to take into consideration when adopting any size breed, here are some suggested dog supplies to prepare you to bring your own large breed dogs home.

• Frisco XX-Large Heavy Duty Double Door Dog Crate
• Frisco Quilted Fleece Pet Bed & Crate Mat
• American Journey Large Breed Chicken & Sweet Potato Recipe Dog Food
• Greenies Large Dental Dog Treats
• Kong Extreme Dog Toy X-Large
• American Journey Wild Alaskan Salmon Oil
• Nutramax Cosequin Joint Health Supplements

Remember that with education, adoption or responsible buying, dog lovers have the power to end the misery of puppy mills and create our own pet stories with happy endings. If you’d like to help the rescued Great Danes, and other rescue dogs and animals, the Humane Society of the United States is accepting donations.