The Great Dane Rescue, Inc. (GDRI) has divisions throughout the United States and for good reason. Great Danes, according to the AKC page are majestic dogs, bred to be nothing short of majestic. They are even referred to as the “king of dogs.” This does not stop some individuals from overbreeding them, causing medical issues and creating deafness in these beautiful dogs though. Some are also severely abused simply because they are born white (typical coat colors are brindle, fawn, blue, black, harlequin and mantle).
Enter GDRI. This group of volunteers does not distinguish between full-bred dogs and those bred in less than desirable circumstances. Most breed rescues follow the rule that they do not have standards for the Danes that they rescue. They simply want to help homeless, unwanted and neglected Great Danes.
So to set apart some of their awesome volunteers, the Great Dane Rescue, Inc. features a volunteer of the month. This month, January 2013, that volunteer is Sandy Suarez. Sandy is a co-founder of GDRI. She selflessly dedicates her time and energy making sure that these regal dogs are treated like they should be treated.
In 1993, Sandy Suarez and Linda Dalton began GDRI. For 20 years, GDRI has gathered volunteers to foster, transport, perform home visits and help at fundraising events. Due to their love and support, many dogs have found their forever homes.
In the past 20 years, Suarez has not only co-founded the rescue but has worked as a fundraiser, volunteer manager, marketer, adopter, foster home provider and treasurer. She considers her greatest accomplishment in that time as bringing deaf Great Danes into the rescue world.
She figures that the hardest part of volunteering is seeing the animals that are abused. The unexpected part she has gained from volunteering is the experience that she has gained from getting involved with running a non-profit organization and developing skills that she otherwise may not have gained.
You can tell what type of individual that someone like Sandy Suarez is by looking at the other parts of her life. Would it surprise you very much if you were to hear that Ms. Suarez is a Hospice Nurse? Love is all an individual like her knows! Animal lovers are ordinarily people caretakers, too.
Respect is the name of the game where the Great Dane Rescue, Inc. is concerned. It is no wonder that one of their co-founders has been named as January, 2013’s volunteer of the month for when you consider what she has given over the past 20 years, you, too, will realize that she deserves the recognition!
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