About Us

Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love was born in 2009 to meet a major need in the world of rescue: the emphasis of quality of rescues instead of just quantity. We believe that our handling of each case should be top quality, even at the expense of time or money, so that in the long run we are able to make a larger dent in the quantity of dogs we successfully save. This translates into happier dogs and adopters. We have rescued over 725 dogs! We are an extension of Ruff Love Rescue, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit based in Thomasville, NC.

Great Dane Friends helps people to:

  • Determine the right breed for their lifestyle.
  • Find healthy, compatible dogs who fit their wants and needs.
  • Find new homes for dogs whose families can no longer keep them.
  • Provide all necessary medical care to return the Dane to good health.

Our Principles

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All dogs should be in foster homes, not kennels, so they are socialized and learn basic manners while we learn about their personalities by integrating them into our own families. This allows an easier transition for the Danes and their adopters, creating a higher success rate when matching dogs with adopters so they are not frequently returned.

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All dogs deserve a chance, regardless of age or medical condition. When we see a dog in need, we help it. We choose to count wags and kisses instead of pennies. Puppies get adopted faster, and healthy dogs have lower vet bills, but all dogs deserve healing and love.

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We believe in transparency. We will never adopt out a dog with a medical issue or behavioral trait that we know about without disclosing it to the adopter. We do complete medical care PRIOR to adoption and work with professional trainers as needed.

We Need Your Help

As a nonprofit, we rely on volunteers and donations. We have a waiting list of adopters who are waiting for a dog that suits their family structure to come into rescue. We hear about Danes who need to be rescued every day but can only take in as many as our foster homes can handle.