Mastiffs dogs are big in size, and have a big heart
"What is the largest dog?," asked Megan Thompson, 11, a sixth-grader at West Oak Middle School in Mundelein.
The largest dog breed is the English mastiff. These pooches pack on the pounds -- about 120 to 290 pounds for a female, 160 to 230 pounds for a male. The largest of all is Zorba, a male English mastiff weighing in at 343 pounds.
Not only are these dogs the biggest in size, but Mastiff owner Kim DePalma, Midwest regional coordinator for Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue, would say Mastiffs have the biggest hearts. "They give their family unconditional love in the fullest and serve as their protector. They are gentle in nature and good with children and adults."
DePalma, who lives in Gurnee, researched different breeds when she wanted to adopt a family dog. She and her family fell in love with Roxy, a 2-year-old, 130-pound Mastiff. DePalma liked the breed so much that she decided to help out with Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue. She interviews and selects adoptive families for the 60 or so dogs the organization places into new homes in the Midwest each year. The best part of the breed, according to DePalma, is their loving and loyal personality. Their funniest trait? They snore.
Headquartered in West Branch, Mich., Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue is a not-for-profit organization that takes Mastiffs into foster care and matches them with a suitable owner. Some are found in animal shelters, others are placed there by owners. The organization spays or neuters the foster dogs and vaccinates them prior to placing them in new homes. You can find out more about the breed, adoption policies, adoption fees and was you can help the organization on the Great Lakes Mastiff Rescue Web site at www.glmr.org.
For more information
The Vernon Area Library in Lincolnshire suggests these titles on dog breeds:
• "The Mastiff," by John M. Becknell
• "A Dog's Body," by Joanna Cole
• "A Dog's Best Friend," by Lisa Rosenthal
• "How the Wolf Became the Dog," by John Zeaman
• "Paws to Consider: Choosing the Right Dog," by Brian Kilcommons
• "Eyewitness Books: Dog," by Juliet Clutton-Brock
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