Bring Something Great Home for the Holidays: Adopt a Dane!

The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League is looking for loving homes to adopt or foster one of their "Gentle Giants."

Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League

news release

For Immediate Release
Contact: Laurie Zoock , Public Relations (201) 919-3199 laurie@nac.net
        Rebecca Watson, Public Relations (732) 549-8828, rwatson1@firstconcern.org

Bring Something Great Home for the Holidays: Adopt a Dane

December 1, 2003 -- Thousands of people will be bringing a dog home this holiday season and the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League (MAGDRL) encourages people to consider adopting an orphaned Great Dane, giving it a 'forever home.
Believe it or not, we actually discourage people from giving animals as holiday gifts," says Debra Rahl, president of the Great Dane rescue organization. We see this all the time: people get a new pet and are excited about it, but then they get busy and the animal is ignored. This is a problem especially for our Danes."
Rahl says despite the warning, she knows people are going to want to give a pet as a gift. We hope people who thinking of adding a pet to their families take a look at the many Danes MAGDRL has available," she says. Great Danes are big dogs with big hearts and I know theres one out there that suits each family and their lifestyle."
The Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, Inc. (MAGDRL) was organized in 1979 to serve the seven states of the Mid-Atlantic region. MAGDRL is staffed completely by volunteers. Like all humane groups, MAGDRL is in the unique position of helping both humans and pets, specializing in Great Danes and mixed Dane dogs.

Adopting a Great Dane is quite easy, although there are some important things to be checked and questions to be answered before everyone can sign the adoption papers.

There are background checks and home checks, and your vet will also be interviewed. MAGDRL wants to make sure that the 'child they are placing will be in a safe, secure home, with all the support he or she is going to need," explains Rahl. When it comes to the Danes, we just want to make sure that the new home is going to be right for them and right for you."

Rahl also suggests waiting until after the hectic holidays to welcome your Great Dane into your home. We stop placing Danes during the holidays -- its a crazy time for people, and we want both the dog and the owners to have time to bond." She suggests the holidays are a good time to prepare your family for its new member by having the kids place gifts, such as new dog dishes and toys under the tree. Its also a great time to purchase some books on dog behavior and training, and share them with the family," she says.

If you are not quite ready to adopt, but would like to help homeless MAGDRL in their efforts, Rahl says you can make a holiday donation to the organization. Gifts of money are always appreciated, and you might benefit tax-wise from this year-end donation," she says. But cash and goods aren't the only way to help. A few yours of your time spent socializing our Danes can make a huge difference in their quality of life -- and yours."

For more information on adoption or to make a donation to the Mid-Atlantic Great Dane Rescue League, visit the MAGDRL website at www.mid-atlanticdanerescue.com. or call 201-919-3199.