Gentle Giants Rescue and Adoption. What to believe?

[Camilla and Darwin]

I hope this is appropriate to post here... I just really want to know
other people's opinions on this. I found it pertinent to post here
because, well, they do breed "doodle" mixes.

Gentle Giants Rescue in California. I looked into them initially when I
was looking for a giant breed. I have read VERY different opinions on
this rescue. On one side, that it is the most amazing wonderful
sanctuary on the planet. On the other, that it is a dirty disgusting
puppy mill. I have done a lot of research on this... and I think
perhaps it is somewhere in the middle?

They claim to be a rescue of giant breed dogs. It is a REALLY popular
rescue and their listings pop up all over petfinder. There are a few
things I think are fishy however.

-They ALWAYS have available litters of puppies. More than one. Irish
Wolfhounds, Newfoundlands, Saint Bernards, Borzois, and lots and lots
of "doodles" such as Poodle/wolfhound Poodle/borzoi etc. It seems odd
that a rescue would have SO many purebred or designer puppies
available.

-They have dogs listed on petfinder that have already been adopted. Like, adopted two years earlier.

-They charge around 900 dollars for certain breeds, and raise the price for "rare" colors and such. (merle great danes, etc.)

-They make you commit to buying a dog, (giving a 200 or so deposit at the gate) before you are allowed to come inside the facility)

I have read so many horror stories, but on the other hand I have read
that they are the most amazing rescue ever... do any of you have
opinions on this matter? Do you know anyone with first hand experience
from this rescue?

For me personally, I will avoid any place that has that big of a
difference in descriptions. If it really was amazing... there simply
wouldn't be that much negativity. Am I judging them too harshly?

[Amanda <3's Titus]

I would judge them just as harshly. it does seem very fishy. All those breeds listed above are not easily found, I know because before I bought a goldendoodle, I looked everywhere for a Borzoi and Wolfhound. Why would a "rescue" make you commit to buy a dog before you walked in the doors? why would so many people have bad experiences there, while so many others had good ones? I've worked at a couple humane societies, and we would get the occasional litter of puppies, but we would never constantly have them. And is it a coincidence that the only litters would be the "poodle mixes" or the "hard to find" dogs? If they were concerned with finding all those dogs a loving home, why would they charge you extra for "rare colors?" I don't know, sorry for the long reply, but, I'm with you on this so called rescue. Something definitely seems to be wrong.

[Lynne B]

I have seen their listings but never really considered what you are saying- that they have way too many purebreds and puppies to be a legit rescue. Here's one complaint about them:
http://www.ripoffreport.com/Non-Profit-Charities/Gentle-Giants-Resc...

[Lynne B]

Here's more complaints

http://www.gentlegiantnews.com/index.php

http://www.ripoffreport.com/animal-abuse/gentle-giant-rescue/gentle...

This one has mixed reviews:
http://www.tribe.net/recommendation/Gentle-Giants-Rescue/79bced76-3...

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Gentle Giants is not a rescue; many of the dogs they have listed on Petfinder have been listed for several years and do not in fact exist. You cannot get close to the place and it is almost impossible to get any information from them. Many of us who are involved in doodle rescue have tried repeatedly to contact them without success. At the DRC we no longer include their Petfinder listings. I cannot say for a fact that they are actually breeding themselves, but that is what I believe. Their "adoption" contracts are also filled with restrictions and conditions which no sane person would agree to when purchasing a dog.
G.G. is owned by Burt Ward, the former actor from the old Batman TV series, and his heiress wife Tracy. They are extremely well-connected, and the only people who are known to have actually "adopted" from them are other celebrities and well-connected people.
You are not judging them too harshly, you are not judging them harshly enough, IMO.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I have read all the bad reviews, etc. and I have read a lot complaints about specific breed rescue's complaints. I know the mastiff rescues hate her because she always pulls the mastiffs from the shelters before they can get there, even if the mastiff rescue has already "claimed" the dogs so to speak. I just wasn't sure if it was really as bad as some people say. I wonder how they can still be operating... why nobody has done anything? I don't really have a great understanding of this sort of thing, but I wish someone would shut them down, or at least not let them list as a "shelter".

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

"Well-connected" means exactly what you think it means, and that's the answer to your last two sentences.
I don't know about the mastiff rescue, I sincerely doubt that GG is pulling any dogs from anywhere.

[Camilla and Darwin]

What I was trying to say is that I have heard from a mastiff rescue representative that they have had problems with her taking dogs out of local kill animal shelters that they had already spoken for. So, if a mastiff goes into a local shelter, the mastiff rescue will contact the rescue and say they want the mastiff. But before they can get there, One of the people from Gentle Giants comes and takes the dog. I don't know for a fact this is true, I just heard from one of the people in charge of a mastiff rescue that this happens... anyways it seems fishy to me. I wish there was some way people wouldn't be fooled by all of their propaganda. I guess it shows the importance of being well informed.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I knew what you meant, Camilla. I just don't think that GG is pulling any dogs from kill shelters, which is what private rescues normally do. We do it at the DRC. But I don't think GG is interested in saving dogs lives, unless it benefits them. I guess it would depend on the individual mastiff, and whether the kill shelter has already desexed them.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

They are not reputable!!!! When there was a post on dk about the same dogs being listed over and over again, I tried to contact them and visit. I live locally and made up a very good e=mail about wanting to get a dog and pick it out etc. They would NOT let me come. They also require you to buy their food etc.

[Camilla and Darwin]

I think perhaps they might pull a dog from a shelter, if it meant making a 800 dollar profit off that dog. Considering they sell their dogs for 900 dollars + people buying their food forever, they stand to benefit from pulling purebred dogs.