Coming Soon: Meet Deb GPMR President

Meet Erin-Vice President and OK Events Coordinator:

Hi, I'm Erin. I became involved with GPMR after I ran into a former volunteer at an emergency vet clinic in the area. There I met Hercules, an elderly HW+ mastiff, and decided right then and there that I wanted to help dogs like him. I started out helping at events and then began fostering. In November of 2008 I took in a very nervous, terrified, and neglected mastiff named Lyra who came from an abhorrent breeding facility in Texas (Thanks Dawn, their guardian angel, for taking them away from that place!). She was only supposed to stay with me for the weekend until a more permanent foster could be found, however it didn't take long for her to steal my heart. She never left and has become my adored GPMR rescue who I have watched blossom into a beautiful and happy dog. She still mistrusts strangers and new surroundings, but when she is around her family she is a well-adjusted and loving girl. She also has a doberman brother and boxer-mix sister who love her and teach her how to play and have fun everyday.

Meet Dawn -Treasurer and Intake Coordinator

Hi, My name is Dawn Cook and I have been volunteering to help rescue animals since I was a child. I was the kid on the way home from school picking up strays and birds that had fallen from a nest. I have had a love for all animals as far back as I could remember. I have volunteered with many different organizations such as the North Shore Animal League, The ASPCA & the Bide A Wee Foundation. I currently reside in Texas with my husband and our 2-F-English Mastiffs- Abby & Samantha and our M-Mastiff/Dane--Baxter and a lil dachshund mix Chawhee. My hubby & I own & run a mobile plumbing company and that allows me to hang & spoil our furkids all day long. Everyone loves a little small fluffy dog but Mastiffs in general are misunderstood and I like to be able to educate people about the breed and I also love to hear stories and learn more about all Mastiffs. I have a love for this breed and a passion to help them get healthy mentally & physically and also to find them forever homes. I am also the organizer of the Mid-City Mastiff Meet-Up in DFW TX.

Meet Melinda- Volunteer Coordinator

Hi I'm Melinda and I am GPMR's current Volunteer Coordinator and former Co-Adoption Coordinator. I enjoy volunteering for GPMR because of the fun people and animals I get to meet. My love for English Mastiffs began when my husband, Eric, insisted on getting our mastiff, Ellie Mae, and changed my view on what a "big dog" really is! I love the breed due to their devotion to their family, lazy attitude and their big, floppy, squish-able jowls. My family and I enjoy attending doggie events that GPMR is involved with and fostering mastiffs for GPMR as well. I also do portrait photography, graphic design work and screenprinting in my free time that is not spent with GPMR. Ellie Mae shares her home with two brothers - Chance, a Boxer, and Truman, a scruffy lil' mutt. She also has to live with two cats - Niles and Meesha - which she tolerates with a snobby attitude. Ellie Mae's hobbies include: trying to squeeze in between Melinda and Eric while they try to sleep, sunbathing and being a pillow for her 22month old human sister, Annalise.

Meet Laura - CoFounder, Webmaster

Hi I'm Laura. I've been with GPMR since the beginning in 2005! I was one of the co-founders and absolutely love that we can save this wonderful breed. I started volunteering when I was looking for my own Mastiff and during that time my family had the opportunity to meet Ranger. He stole our hearts immediately. He is a Mastiff/ Great Dane mix who came into GPMR as a shelter rescue who was very underweight and suffering from heartworms. He shares his home with his buddy Boomer, a 7 month old German shepherd mutt-mix of some sort and an African Grey named Sinbad. (Believe it or not, Boomer and Angela's Charlie are brothers-even though they look nothing alike) I am fortunate to be able to be a stay at home mom to my two little girls ages 5 and 8. I am also married to my best friend who is so very patient and listens to all of my dog stories which sometimes can go on forever! I started out doing anything and everything I could and have found my passion with GPMR's website. I love to update it and keep everyone informed on what we are up to and what we are all about. I also volunteer with Heartland Lab Rescue as their website coordinator / bio updater, and Heartland Great Dane Rescue as their Petfinder poster. I have a true love for this breed and hope to continue to help them for many years to come.

Hey, my name is Angela. I am formerly the Secretary and have volunteered in a variety of roles. I just finished my Master's in Nursing Education and work as a Registered Nurse and Nursing Professor but in my spare time I keep up with hordes of paperwork and records! My husband, Jimmy, and I fostered a beautiful but excessively shy brindle female, Mia for 6 months until her fear of people and her environment made it clear she couldn't stay with us. We adopted our Princess Paige in August 2006 and she has spent the last 3 years sleeping between us in our bed and as a much loved addition to our family. Paige weighed just 90 pounds when she came in to rescue and currently weighs a healthy 146 pounds! I enjoy being part of an organization that saves animals like Paige and Mia who need help, both with physical illness or poor health or many times with the mental issues that abused, neglected, and abandoned animals face. It is very rewarding for me to give my time to help with this process. Paige shares her home with Charlie, our German shephard mix pup, and 3 cats who tolerate them both.

Meet Keri- Adoption Coordinator

Hello, my name is Keri Morton and I am honored to be on the board and the adoption coordinator for Great Plains Mastiff Rescue. My mastiff journey started when I sadly had to say goodbye to my Rotti and dearest friend Zoey. I couldn't imagine getting another Rott after her so I started researching other breeds. A friend of mine had an English Mastiff years ago and I loved his temperment, so I started looking into the breed. Soon after starting my research I knew that an OEM was the dog for me. I wasn't ready to adopt but I did want to help out mastiffs in need so I applied to foster for Great Plains Mastiff Rescue, and as they say, the rest is history! I am now proudly owned by two and soon to be three wonderful mastiffs. My first foster and my true love, Hanna wasn't going anywhere once we got her home. She came from a rough situation and isn't the most social of mastiffs, which fits my personality quite well...she would rather hang out at home with the family. My next baby was Goliath, my puppy and the sweetest dog ever. He came to me by way of a friend of a friend and I couldn't let him go. Now our sweet foster Jinx has latched onto our hearts and we are unable to say goodbye, he will become a permanent part of our family very soon. I am married to a wonderful man and have two beautiful children, all of which love to take this crazy journey with me. We are mastiff people...what can I say.

Meet Mallori-

Hi! I'm Mallori! I am a fine arts student at the University of Oklahoma, a trainer at K9 University, and have a pet sitting business of my own. I have one lab-mutt named Roxxi who helps out during my basic obedience classes. She is a Canine Good Citizen and we are working toward therapy certificiation with Paws for Friendship. Roxxi has already been a reading assistance dog for Hawthorne Elementary's Reading Rover's program and a volunteer at Temple B'nai's Camp Chaverim. I got involved with GPMR in October of 2007 after falling in love with a brindle female named Molly, who has since found a loving forever home. (Below is Mallori with her good buddy Simba)

Meet Ava - Secretary and Foster Coordinator

I am a hospice director by vocation. I always tell people that my two passions are advocating for end of life care and animal welfare. I am fortunate enough to work in the former and volunteer in the latter. My Mastiff addiction started a few years ago when my husband decided we needed a "big dog." Little did I know what that meant! After applying to adopt with rescue, we met Maximus (aka Max). He had a horrendous life as a breeder dog prior to going into rescue and was a pitiful sight, but had the most awesome personality. We did a foster to adopt situation with him and decided after 3 weeks that he belonged in our family. The big lug (as we call him) worked his way into our hearts and has become my pride and joy. I knew quickly that I wanted to help these dogs, as they are misunderstood and hard to place, due to their size. Max is my inspiration for all I do in rescue. After volunteering with a couple of other organizations, I became involved with GPMR a little over a year ago. I was impressed with their dedication, organization and passion for these dogs. Max and I are proud to volunteer our time and resources. He goes to every home visit and event with me. All I have to say is, "let's go to work, Max and help your brothers and sisters." He wags his tail all the way to the car. We have since fostered and he just loves every other Mastiff he meets. He helps me assure them that all will be well now. Max is joined by his siblings; Brodie the Schnauzer, who was a rescue from one of my hospice patients, Tink the Chiwiener, another hospice rescue and Liddy the Kitty to was found as a stray and given to us.