Sugar had to undergo a similar misfortune. This gorgeous Great Pyrenees was in a horrible state before rescue in Southern California, FurryTail Endings stepped in and saved her from an unfortunate ending. They got her from one of the worst high-kill shelters in the country, Riverside Shelter. (watch the video below)

The dog had swollen nipples and bloody wounds on her back when she came to the rescue. This clearly indicated that Sugar was a victim of backyard breeding’s unethical practices. In addition, she had severely matted fur and was covered in tick and flea infestation. 

Depressed After Losing Her Pups

While the dog was clearly suffering physically, she was also likely going through a lot of mental trauma. 

When the rescue got hold of her notes from the shelter, they got to know that her previous owner had surrendered Sugar with her four puppies. Unfortunately, the rescue couldn’t glean any information about the whereabouts of her puppies even after multiple requests at the shelter. Are they even alive, or have they found homes? — They have no idea. 

All they know is that even though Sugar was saved from possible euthanasia, she was still distressed. She was scared, exhausted, and crying for her puppies. After two years of neglect and forced breeding, it was natural for the poor canine to act this way. 

However, FurryTail Endings placed Sugar with an amazing foster family, where she received much adoration. Soon, she started feeling safe, and the family realized that she had an apt name because she really was as sweet as sugar. 

New Lease On Life

Sugar may have lost all her pups, but the furry dog now got to love and play with children and two little dogs at her foster home. She even began cheering on the kids’ baseball games and giving them hugs later on. It’s safe to say that the lovely dog became a cherished part of the foster family.

After a few months of falling in love with the dog, the family decided to keep Sugar permanently. On July 9, Sugar was adopted, and she officially became a Guglielmo family member. Now, she has many, many hugs, cuddles, and kisses to look forward to.

When the rescue posted the good news, many Instagrammers couldn’t contain their excitement. A user, Maria Ceccorulli commented, “Wonderful news! Congratulations to Sugar and her forever humans🥳💕”

Sugar’s story is a reminder of why dogs with rough history deserve a second chance. They can make wonderful additions to loving and caring families. 

Here are 8 Great Pyrenees dogs currently looking for loving homes. All they need is a kind, patient pet parent to help them thrive—and in return, they’ll offer endless love and loyalty. If you’re ready to open your heart (and home), come meet them. Once you do, it won’t be long before one of them steals your heart.

1. Yeti: 1-year-old Sweet & Calm Great Pyrenees

Meet Yeti, a sweet and gentle Great Pyrenees mix who’s undergone an incredible transformation. When he arrived at the shelter as a stray, he was covered in mats and burrs—earning the temporary name “Scruffy.” But underneath that tangled coat was a truly beautiful boy. Now in loving foster care, Yeti is thriving—clean, confident, and absolutely charming.

Weighing just 62 lbs, Yeti is a petite Pyr mix, perfect for anyone seeking the breed’s loyalty and gentle spirit in a smaller package. With his plush white coat and kind eyes, he’s a heart-stealer who’s ready to be someone’s devoted adventure buddy and indoor snuggle companion. Learn More

2. Chandler: Adorable Little Puppy

Meet Chandler, one of the charming and confident Great Pyrenees mix puppies from the “Victorian Litter.” Born in foster care to their sweet mama Angel (a full Pyrenees who was an owner surrender), Chandler and his siblings have been raised in a loving, social environment. With playful energy and a confident, curious nature, Chandler is the first to greet you and the last to leave your side. Whether he’s chasing a broom or mastering the art of napping, Chandler is all in! Learn More

3. Cupid: 2-year-old Gentle Giant

Meet Cupid, a 2-year-old Great Pyrenees whose name couldn’t be more perfect. Weighing around 65 lbs, this loving girl is housebroken, spayed, and ready to begin a new chapter with a family who will treasure her as much as she deserves. Though she can be a bit shy with new people, once she trusts you, she’s incredibly affectionate, loyal, and gentle—true to her breed’s protective but calm nature.

Cupid is a survivor with a heart full of love. She’s sweet, calm, and more than ready to become someone’s cherished companion. Learn More

4. Brock: 1-year-old Beautiful Great Pyrenees

Meet Brock, a majestic Great Pyrenees looking for a loving family to call his own. With his calm demeanor and noble presence, Brock is the kind of companion who brings quiet strength and loyal devotion into your life. Now he just needs a family who understands what a treasure he truly is. Learn More

5. Izzy: 3-year-old Affectionate Great Pyrenees Mix

Meet Izzy, a 51-pound Great Pyrenees/Yellow Labrador Retriever mix with a heart as golden as her coat. This sweet, smart girl is searching for a forever home where she can continue to shine. She loves car rides, long walks, and soaking up affection wherever she goes. With her calm nature and eagerness to please, Izzy is sure to be the perfect match for an active, loving family. Learn More

6. Abby: Lover of Car Rides

Meet Abby, a bright and adventurous Great Pyrenees puppy with a big heart and an even bigger future. At just 18 weeks old (as of May 2025), Abby is thriving in her foster home, soaking up life lessons from her humans, the other dogs, and even the household cats. She’s equally happy splashing in creeks with the kids, tagging along to the barn, or watching the world go by while on “guard duty” with her calm, watchful gaze.

Abby is looking for a forever home with a secure 5-foot visible fence, and ideally a large yard or farm to stretch her legs and feel useful. She would thrive in a home with other confident dogs, but could also do well as an only pup with an active family who is home most of the time. Learn More

7. Patrick: Friendly Pupper

Meet Patrick, an estimated 4–5-month-old Great Pyrenees mix puppy with a soft, wavy coat and a heart full of love. At around 35–40 lbs, Patrick is still growing into his big paws and already showing the sweet, loyal personality his breed is known for.

Patrick was rescued from a rural family that could no longer care for him. To prevent him from ending up in a high-kill shelter, local rescue partners stepped in and gave him a second chance. Now, he’s hoping for a ride to Wisconsin and a forever home where he can play, grow, and be part of a loving family. Learn More

8. Hillary: 5-month-old Fluffy Puppy

Hillary is a beautiful, gentle 5-month-old Great Pyrenees mix who was rescued from a rural high-kill shelter in Texas alongside her sister, Kamala. With her soft white coat and affectionate personality, Hillary is ready to be someone’s best friend forever. This sweet pup loves people and is soaking up every opportunity to learn how to be a happy, well-loved dog.

To complete her journey to safety in Wisconsin, Hillary needs both a sponsor and a foster or adopter before she can board the transport on April 25th. She’s currently in a temporary place, but time is running out. Learn More

Unfortunately, none of the homes that have applied to adopt Spinach have been a good fit for one particular reason: Spinach resource guards. 

Resource guarding can be a complex behavioral issue, and dog owners managing a dog who resource guards need the right skills to approach the problem. When managed incorrectly, dogs who resource guard can become reactive and a risk to your family’s and other animals’ safety. Dogs who resource guard are not bad dogs, they just need a patient, understanding family that gives them the space they need while still doing the work to address the behavior. 

@austinpetsalive Spinach was in a kennel all last summer – just a puppy back then. Today, as temps hit triple digits, he’s still in that kennel, once again exposed to the dangerous heat.  We need your help to give #greatpyrenees Spinach some relief in this scorching weather. This week, we need to replace fans like the one above Spinach’s kennel, put up shade cloths, and make repairs to our HVAC system and other parts of our worn-out facilities.  Could you help? Thanks to generous anonymous donors, your gift today will be DOUBLED up to $28,000 to help us buy cooling supplies like… 🐶 Kennel fans – $150 each ❄️ Kennel mister compressors – $2,500 each 🌳 Shade cloths – $30 each 🧊 Bagged ice (15 bags/day) – $45 per day 💧 Gatorade/other items to support people in the heat – $25 per day To help pets like Spinach now, visit the link in our bio.  🐾 Can’t donate but want to help? Sign up to foster or adopt today! #austinpetsalive #austintx #texasheat #shelterdog #beforeandafter ♬ оригинальный звук – Bah Rouz

Let’s learn more about what Spinach and other dogs who resource guard need from their owners.

Get To Know Spinach the Great Pyrenees

Spinach is a big boy, weighing in at around 76 pounds thanks to his Great Pyrenees ancestry. Spinach has the classic thick white coat of a Great Pyrenees, and his love of the outdoors helps to confirm that this boy comes from working dog stock. 

One of Spinach’s most unique features is that he is missing an eye, but that doesn’t slow him down at all. Spinach is “full of energy and loves to play tug of war and chase flies in the great outdoors,” says Austin Pets Alive! about Spinach’s personality. “His goofiness is sure to keep you entertained, especially when he tries to clumsily jump on the couch or shows his excitement through hilarious facial expressions.”

House-trained and good at basic commands, Spinach responds well to positive reinforcement and lots of treats. He has lots of potential to be a super well-behaved dog, and he pays excellent attention to his humans.

Because of his resource guarding, Spinach is not recommended for a home with young children or children who cannot understand the need to give a dog space at certain times. With the right people, Spinach will make a loving and loyal companion, and an excellent buddy to play in the yard or go on long walks with. 

@austinpetsalive Replying to @Mary🍃 ♬ original sound – Austin Pets Alive!

What Is Resource Guarding?

Resource guarding in dogs is an aggressive behavior used to claim or protect “resources” like food bowls, treats, and furniture, and can even look like a dog resource guarding a favorite human being or animal. Dogs resource guarding might growl, bark, lunge, or even bite at people or other animals they feel might be trying to claim their items/family members. 

Resource-guarding behaviors typically stem from anxiety, and it’s important to remember that dogs can feel intense emotions. To keep yourself and your pup safe during these high-stress moments of resource guarding, it’s important to learn how to approach your dog appropriately. 

Warning Signs of Resource Guarding

Some misguided dog owners accidentally cause resource guarding in their own dogs by trying to assert dominance over food or toys—for example, taking a dog’s bowl while they are eating or taking a toy out of a dog’s mouth to try to show them that you are in charge. When your dog learns that humans approaching their food often means it will be taken from them, it’s only natural that they will respond with aggression or reactivity. Other dogs develop resource guarding behaviors because they have experienced being hungry, have been punished for enjoying toys or treats, etc. 

Resource guarding is more than just when dogs growl—warning signs can be subtle, and you need to be familiar with canine body language to pick up on your dog’s state of mind. Some signals your dog is resource guarding include:

• Lip licking
• Whale eyeing
• Flattened or lowered ears
• Stiff body language/posture or freezing in place
• Slow or stiff movements
• Lowered head
• Hyper-awareness of other animals or humans when they get near a “resource”

How To Stop Resource Guarding In Dogs

If you’re at a loss for how to stop a dog from resource guarding a person or item, don’t panic. It is entirely possible to teach your dog to stop resource guarding humans, food, toys, or anything else—it will just take a little time and patience. 

With methods like positive reinforcement and clicker training, resource guarding can be reduced and sometimes eliminated completely. What is most important is safety. Never try to take an item from a dog who is resource guarding, and make separating animals the top priority in cases of resource guarding between dogs. Using tools like baby gates to separate animals from other animals or resources is a great place to start. 

To start learning how to prevent resource guarding or how to manage a dog who resource guards, I recommend speaking with a canine behaviorist, a dog trainer, or your local shelter. Rescues like Austin Pets Alive! offer dog behavioral programs and other training resources. If you are currently dealing with a dog that is resource guarding, follow this advice from the Austin Pets Alive! introduction to resource guarding: 

“DO NOT try to take the item directly from your dog. This may be a tempting option, especially if the item is something they shouldn’t have or could be dangerous for them. Taking an item away could trigger a worse reaction and reinforce the unwanted behavior. 

DO trade the item for treats. To do this, grab some high value treats (cheese, chicken, hot dog) and toss them to the dog while standing at a distance far enough away that they are not actively showing guarding behaviors. Start tossing treats close to the dog, then as the dog starts leaving the item to get the treats, toss treats farther and farther away from the item. 

Eventually, toss treats far enough away that you can lead the dog to another room or outside. Do not try to get the item they were guarding until your pup is safely secured in a different area”

Spinach has had many adoption applications but the hunt for his perfect family is still on—learn more about how to adopt a dog from Austin Pets Alive!

Sugar had to undergo a similar misfortune. This gorgeous Great Pyrenees was in a horrible state before rescue in Southern California, FurryTail Endings stepped in and saved her from an unfortunate ending. They got her from one of the worst high-kill shelters in the country, Riverside Shelter. (watch the video below)

The dog had swollen nipples and bloody wounds on her back when she came to the rescue. This clearly indicated that Sugar was a victim of backyard breeding’s unethical practices. In addition, she had severely matted fur and was covered in tick and flea infestation. 

Depressed After Losing Her Pups

While the dog was clearly suffering physically, she was also likely going through a lot of mental trauma. 

When the rescue got hold of her notes from the shelter, they got to know that her previous owner had surrendered Sugar with her four puppies. Unfortunately, the rescue couldn’t glean any information about the whereabouts of her puppies even after multiple requests at the shelter. Are they even alive, or have they found homes? — They have no idea. 

All they know is that even though Sugar was saved from possible euthanasia, she was still distressed. She was scared, exhausted, and crying for her puppies. After two years of neglect and forced breeding, it was natural for the poor canine to act this way. 

However, FurryTail Endings placed Sugar with an amazing foster family, where she received much adoration. Soon, she started feeling safe, and the family realized that she had an apt name because she really was as sweet as sugar. 

New Lease On Life

Sugar may have lost all her pups, but the furry dog now got to love and play with children and two little dogs at her foster home. She even began cheering on the kids’ baseball games and giving them hugs later on. It’s safe to say that the lovely dog became a cherished part of the foster family.

After a few months of falling in love with the dog, the family decided to keep Sugar permanently. On July 9, Sugar was adopted, and she officially became a Guglielmo family member. Now, she has many, many hugs, cuddles, and kisses to look forward to.

When the rescue posted the good news, many Instagrammers couldn’t contain their excitement. A user, Maria Ceccorulli commented, “Wonderful news! Congratulations to Sugar and her forever humans🥳💕”

Sugar’s story is a reminder of why dogs with rough history deserve a second chance. They can make wonderful additions to loving and caring families. 

The first time I laid eyes on Chiquita, I was taken aback by how frail she looked. “Oh, you are so skinny,” I whispered, reaching out to comfort her. Every bone in her body seemed to protrude, and her eyes held a depth of sadness that words couldn’t describe. “What have you been through?” I wondered aloud, feeling an overwhelming sense of sorrow. It was as if her spirit had been broken, and all she yearned for was a touch of kindness.

Yearning for Affection

As I sat with her, trying to offer some solace, I couldn’t help but notice how she clung to every bit of affection. The moment I stopped petting her, she’d whine, yearning for more. Her paw, as large as my hand, reached out, silently pleading for more love. “Do you know what her story is?” I asked the staff, hoping to understand the pain behind those eyes.

The Harsh Reality of Chiquita’s Past

The truth was heartbreaking. Chiquita had been used as a breeding dog, a mere tool for profit. She had been neglected, abused, and then discarded when she was no longer deemed useful. The signs were all there: her emaciated frame, her hesitance to take treats, and her desperate need for affection. It was clear she had been deprived of the basic joys of life.

A Glimmer of Hope

But amidst the despair, there was a glimmer of hope. A sticker on her cage indicated a temporary hold. My heart soared at the thought of her finding a forever home. But as fate would have it, the hold fell through. Chiquita was once again left waiting for a family.

Chiquita’s Second Chance

Determined to change her fate, I went live, sharing her story with the world. The response was overwhelming. Thanks to the kindness of strangers and the power of social media, Chiquita found her forever home. A place where she would be cherished, loved, and never abandoned again.

Reflecting on a Journey of Resilience and Love

As I reflect on Chiquita’s journey, I’m reminded of the resilience of the canine spirit and the transformative power of love. Her story is a testament to the difference one person can make in the life of an animal. And I’m grateful to have played a part in her journey to happiness.

Related Articles

• Shelter Dog Frozen From Fear – Until THIS Heartwarming Moment!
• Huddled Together in Hope: The Heartfelt Tale of Two Shelter Dogs
• Pit Bull Abandoned at Truck Stop, For 5 Months. Then This Happens…
• Sonic’s Heartbreaking Return to the Shelter…and the Unexpected Miracle That Followed