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Dane Outreach officially discontinued all business activities effective July 1, 2024.  This website will close down in March 2025.

Several years ago, Dane Outreach made the difficult decision to discontinue fostering and adoptions and instead focus on education. The decision to discontinue offering rescue services was due to several factors: a lack of qualified foster homes, a lack of sufficient funding, and the nature of the dogs coming into the program.

An educational event was in the works when COVID hit, forcing it to be put on the back burner. About the time it was decided to move forward with this event again, Dane Outreach was hit with extremely high insurance premiums and decided to cease all operations as it was no longer feasible to continue to operate.

Dane Outreach encourages those considering adding a Great Dane to their household to do very careful research. They are a wonderful breed, but not for everyone. We also encourage you to work only with established rescues or, if purchasing, reputable breeders. Good rescues and breeders always take their dogs back in the event the home can not keep them. Giving your business to anything else only adds to the rescue program.

Choose wisely and own responsibility.

If you seek to add a Great Dane to your family, we recommend the following local resources:

For Adoptions:

There are also other reputable rescues that may be able to help you, including your local county/city shelters. To be sure you are dealing with a reputable one, please see our “FAQ” below and our website for things to look for – and avoid. (For example: Absent a medical reason not to spay/neuter, no reputable rescue will adopt out an intact adult. Also, unless a litter was born from a female pregnant when surrendered, reputable rescues would rarely have puppies for adoption.)

For Breeder Referral:

Great Dane Club of America - http://www.gdca.org/great-dane-breeders.html

If you seek to buy a Great Dane puppy, please be very careful when choosing a breeder! Go to our website under the “Resources” tab (www.DaneOutreach.org) to find detailed information on how to find a responsible breeder who will offer healthy, stable, socialized puppies; who works to support the breed (and not their bank account); and who will be there to support you for the life of your Dane.

Thank you from the volunteers of Dane Outreach.

FAQs

Q: I have some questions about Danes. Where can I find the information that Dane Outreach used to offer about buying, owning and caring for a Dane? 
 A: Click the Resources tab on our website to find all our brochures, and links to other resources. Also watch our social media pages for updates, especially for news on progress with Dane health problems and treatments. During the transition, our website will be a work in progress. Please be sure to check back regularly for updates.

Q: Where do I go if I need to surrender my Dane?
A: Seattle Purebred Dog Rescue (SPDR) assists many breeds by referring to "breed representatives". We have coordinated with SPDR for appointment of a Great Dane representative. This "breed rep" will handle surrenders and arrange fostering. You can reach SPDR at: (206) 654-1117
In addition to SPDR, you can also contact any of the following rescues which Dane Outreach recommends:
Northwest Great Dane Rescue - http://www.northwestgreatdanerescue.com/
Alternative Humane Society - https://www.alternativehumanesociety.com/
Valhalla Rescue - http://www.valhallarescue.org/
(You might also contact your local animal shelter for recommendations.)

Q: Where do I go if I want to adopt a rescue, Dane? 
A: Call SPDR (above) or one of the rescues we recommend: 
 Northwest Great Dane Rescue - http://www.northwestgreatdanerescue.com/
Alternative Humane Society - https://www.alternativehumanesociety.com/
Valhalla Rescue - http://www.valhallarescue.org/
MEOW Canine Rescue - http://meowcatrescue.org/dogs/
We will also still be sending emails to our referral list advising when other rescues and shelters have Danes available. We won’t be handling applications or adoptions, so you’ll need to meet these Danes by contacting the rescue or shelter that is fostering a posted Dane.

Q: What is wrong with the rescues that you do not list as “recommended”? 
 A: Quite possibly nothing. There are certainly other reputable rescues in the area. But we couldn’t list them all, so we selected those that we knew have had Dane experience, are valid non-profits, and maintain the high standards we require. If you are interested in a dog another rescue has, you should screen the rescue group carefully.

You WANT to see: Adoption of only a spayed/neutered Dane; an application and a fenced yard is required; your home is visited and a “home check” is done before placement; and the Adoption Contract requires return of an adopted Dane to them, if you cannot keep the Dane. 
Also, check how long they have been in operation, and if they have IRS 501(c)(3) charitable status. (Some rescues just file as a nonprofit corporation with the State, then call themselves a “nonprofit” to imply they are a 501(c)(3) while they are not.) You can check 501(c)(3) status through the IRS or the Washington Secretary of State’s Charity Division. Age and charitable status are not absolute guarantees of a good rescue, but they are a good indicator of stability and responsibility.

Q: I still want to help the Danes, but I’d rather donate to a rescue that needs the money to actively foster and place Great Danes. What groups will Dane Outreach be working with? 
A: We’ve listed the rescue groups we recommend. You can also donate to the Great Dane Club of America (GDCA) Charitable Trust and designate your donation to Dane Rescue at http://ctstore.gdca.org/ 
 The Charitable Trust offers grants to approved rescue groups to promote and assist Dane rescue nationwide (including donating funds to local rescues burdened with a large group of Danes, such as puppy mill closures.)

A "gentle giant," the Great Dane is nothing short of majestic. Sometimes referred to as the "Apollo of dogs," this extremely large dog breed is known for being strong yet elegant, with a friendly, energetic personality. – The American Kennel Club