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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
FOREVER HOME FOUND FOR TRIO OF BONDED SAINT BERNARD DOGS
Gasket, Gunther and Goliath have now been adopted from the Edmonton Humane Society and are settling in to their new home in Calgary.
EDMONTON, AB (October 18, 2018) – The three Saint Bernard dogs who won the hearts of people worldwide are now in the comfort of their forever home with their newly adopted family.
Gasket, Gunther and Goliath’s adoption was finalized at the Edmonton Humane Society (EHS) on October 17. Their new family was chosen after EHS received hundreds of inquiries to adopt the dogs, which resulted in a week-long process of reviewing applications to narrow down potential adopters for both phone and in-person interviews.
The family chosen is from Calgary and first saw the dogs’ story from a local media outlet online and said they immediately knew they would be a perfect fit. The couple are devoted proponents of adoption, having previously adopted numerous pets as well as one of their two children, who are ages 10 and 16. Gasket, Gunther and Goliath, along with the family’s other dog, will have plenty of room to run and play in their one-acre fenced yard.
“We are beyond excited to be giving these three dogs their forever home,” said the family, who wishes to remain anonymous while they adjust to their new family members and while the dogs get used to their new surroundings. “When we found out that we were getting the opportunity to meet them, we cried tears of joy. Pets add so much to the family, and we’re so happy we can give back to them by providing a loving home for the rest of their lives.”
The dogs gained international attention after EHS put the call out on October 9 to find an adopter for them. The three dogs, who collectively weigh over 350 pounds, had been deemed bonded by the EHS behaviour team, requiring them to go to the same home. Their story was viewed by tens of millions of people in over 40 countries around the world. EHS closed applications after receiving over 200 inquiries from all over the world in the first day.
“The response to the story of these gentle giants, from the thousands who helped share our call for help to those who offered their homes to these dogs, was truly astounding,” said Jamey Blair, Manager of Animal Health & Protection. “At the end of the day we could only choose one family for them, but there are thousands of other homeless pets who are all as deserving of a forever home. We hope this story inspires people to adopt from their local shelters and rescues.”
While there were many loving families that came forward, one of the challenges in adopting three large dogs together were the animal control bylaws. Many cities and counties specify a maximum of three or four dogs per household. Calgary however, the dogs’ new hometown, has bylaws focusing on responsible pet ownership but does not currently have a limit on dogs. Offers were also received from other provinces and even other countries, but EHS prioritized homes that were in Alberta to minimize stress on the dogs, who have been through a lot of change in recent months.
The dogs first came into EHS’s care on September 22 after being transferred from another animal welfare agency. An extensive assessment upon their arrival showed that all three were bonded and experienced stress and anxiety when separated. Thanks to the story being shared widely on social media, people who previously knew the dogs came forward to EHS and confirmed that the three were littermates and have been together since birth.
EHS is now hosting an adoption event in an effort to find forever homes for the more than 250 other animals they currently have at their shelter. The event runs until Sunday, October 21 and the adoption fees for all animals will be reduced during this time. For people who are not ready to adopt, the charity will also accept donations to support the care of animals like Gasket, Gunther and Goliath.
To view all of the Edmonton Humane Society’s adoptable pets click here, or to make a donation towards our shelter animals’ care, click here.
