According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA), approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year.
Data says that it is mostly cats and dogs that are dropped in an animal shelter, but when three Saint Bernard brothers arrived at an animal shelter in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the staff knew that they had a huge responsibility in their hands.
Gasket, Gunther, and Goliath are two-year-old Saint Bernards that were dropped off at the Edmonton Humane Society from another animal welfare agency. Aside from being slightly underweight, the giant dogs arrived at the shelter in perfect health. In fact, they were friendly, playful, and didn’t show any signs of distress at all – that’s until the shelter tried to separate them.
It was later discovered that the brothers shared an exceptional bond – a connection so powerful that they would constantly look for each other when they are apart. Furthermore, when the others were absent, all three would pant nervously and pace around – both of which are classic signs of anxiety.
As a result, the Humane Society knew that to separate the three brothers would be unthinkable. The shelter is now faced with the challenging task of finding someone who would be willing to adopt all three giant dogs. The shelter knew that no matter how big of a dog lover someone is, to take in three Saint Bernards all at once is far from easy, and would require a lot from the adopter.
To get the word out, the shelter decided to publish a news release on their website about the adoption needs of Gasket, Gunther, and Goliath.
“These three gentle giants have won over the hearts of staff and volunteers – even with the excessive drool,” said Jamey Blair, Manager of Animal Health & Protection at EHS. “While their status as bonded pets creates a unique challenge to find a home that can care for all 350 pounds of them, we are confident that there is a family out there who will give these three dogs their second chance.”
The Edmonton Humane Society is recommending interested adopters to first consider the significant expenses that adopting three giant-breed dogs would entail before they make a commitment.
Saint Bernards have a life expectancy of 8-10 years. Their food cost alone is estimated to be around $300 a month. On top of that, potential veterinary expenses must also be taken into consideration. Because of their large size, the EHS is also recommending they go to a home with a large outdoor area and those with older or no children.
To spread the word further, the shelter also shared their story on Facebook. To the staff’s surprise, the response they received was a lot greater than expected. The story went viral, and applications to adopt the dogs poured in, with offers coming from people in Canada, the U.S., and even Australia! After a time, the Humane Society had to stop accepting offers since it became too much for them to handle.
“It’s been overwhelming the amount of people who have reached out,” Blair said. “At this point, we’ve received over 200 emails from interested adopters from outside the province and even outside the country, so we’re very confident we’ll be able to find a great home for them.”
After a week-long, meticulous evaluation of numerous profiles, the Humane Society chose to hand over the dogs to a family from Edmonton. The society deemed them capable of providing the perfect home for Goliath, Gunther, and Gasket.
Our hearts are brimming with happiness now that the brothers have found a forever home! The family who adopted them are extremely lucky for they will experience triple the love and happiness that this giant trio has to give!
Watch Yahoo Canada’s feature on Gasket, Gunther, and Goliath below.
Did this story make you smile? Share it now with your friends and family!