Pet Tracks
ZWHEN THE SAINTS COME MARCHING IN
Jan

Jaeger


Asaint is a holy person. A saint is

also a patient, unselfish person. To those in the dog world, the word Saint means something completely different: a Saint Bernard.

But the holy connection persists. These dogs, descended from the Molossian Mastiff, are named for the Hospice du Grand St. Bernard, high in the Swiss Alps, where monks began breeding them in the 17th century.

Because the Hospice offered refuge to travelers in the avalancheprone mountains, it was natural their dogs would develop a talent for rescuing those in peril.

The huge, lumbering dog with a benevolent expression carrying a brandy keg around its neck is a commonly held impression of this breed. In fact, Saint Bernard dogs are credited with saving more than 2,500 lost or injured travelers.

It is surprising, then, that today these gentle giants are often the ones that need saving. Trina Souza, a Saint Bernard rescuer, is here on Nantucket to help out in the family business. But her heart is firmly anchored to the volunteer work she does in her home state of Virginia, necessitating frequent travel back to the Hampton Roads area.

Trina began rescuing Saints four years ago. She explains how she got started. “Years ago, we did have a Saint Bernard. In 2001, when we moved to Virginia, I was shocked to see so many big dogs chained up in people’s back yards. I thought, ‘This is crazy!’ So I decided to get into rescue work and I began research in the local shelters.”

It quickly became apparent that in shelters with space issues, the largest dogs were the ones euthanized first. So, Trina focused on Newfoundlands and Saint Bernards. Because there weren’t many Newfies needing rescue, Trina turned to the Saints.

“I think there are two main contributors to the problems with this breed. First, the movies popularized it. This leads to overbreeding, which in turn creates temperament and health issues for many of these dogs,” she explains. “The second problem, particularly in more rural areas, is that people are just not educated about spaying or neutering their dogs. There is a different mentality. Many family pets are not altered, contributing to overpopulation.”

Trina estimates the average age of a Saint surrendered to a shelter or relinquished to a rescue organization is between one and two years.

“At about 14 months of age, a Saint starts to act up. They are stubborn and they get very large quickly. If they haven’t been properly trained and socialized, people just don’t know how to handle them.”

A genetically sound Saint is a mellow, cheerful dog. However, a 150pound dog with attitude is a different matter. Trina adds, “People also don’t count on how messy these dogs can be. They drool. They are hairy with huge paws that track in mud and water. They are high maintenance, especially when they blow their coat two to three times a year. They also need lots of exercise to keep their hips and heart healthy.”

From her extensive experience in fostering and evaluating, Trina has a good sense of the type of home that will work out best for this unique breed.

“These are dogs that need to be with the family. They were bred to work closely with their master and they crave a strong bond. This is not a breed you can stick out in the back yard,” she said. “And many do have the proper temperament; it’s the upkeep and size that become problematic.”

Trina has two Saints as her personal pets. Faith was not considered optimum placement material because of a very shy demeanor and a high cat aggression instinct. Her second, Simba, a seven month-old male, was surrendered with a litter. Trina had been looking for a “poster” dog she could take with her to events, so she was delighted to get this puppy at a young age to properly train and socialize.

Acommitted volunteer, Trina started out fostering, but moved as quickly as permitted by the national organization to become Rescue Coordinator for the state of Virginia. She travels the entire state to evaluate dogs and potential homes.

She has also been instrumental in recruiting a volunteer organization to assist with fostering. “The demand is increasing,” she explains. “In 2003, 15 dogs were surrendered. The next year, we had 19, and so far this year, we have taken in 30 dogs.”

For anyone with an interest in this breed, visit the national Web site at www.saintrescue.org. State organizations develop their own policies consistent with national guidelines and also have their own Web sites. Applications, which are available from the national page, take one to two weeks to process.

The adoption process is strictly controlled, references are checked, with home visits and evaluations required.

“I know I’m always going to do Saint Bernard rescue,” Trina firmly states. It appears the Virginia Saints have found their very own saint.

Jan Jaeger is owner of Geronimo’s, Ltd., Nantucket’s pet supply and gift shop and is a member pf DWAA and CWA (Dog and Cat Writer’s Associations of America). Her pets at home are Junior, a Chesapeake Bay Retriever and three cats. At the shop are the cats Messrs. Fish and Chips, Flower bunny, Millie guinea pig and three budgies. Send email to jan@geronimos.com.

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