Mastiff Rescue of Florida, Inc

06/04/2026

What Everyone Needs to WAKE-UP to BEFORE getting a DOG!!!

From a Rescuer
“This is totally my experience and what I have been subject to in the FRONT LINES OF A FOSTER BASED BIG DOG RESCUE!!!”

FIRST OFF before getting a dog EVERYONE NEEDS TO HAVE A PLAN….(What happens to the dog IF I get married-new partner, baby-kids, move, sick, or worse Die) please ask yourself these questions BEFORE you get a puppy or dog!!
I have heard every excuse under the sun…. Literally worse than the old school “the dog ate my homework!”
I have seen every breed of dog be dumped or owner surrendered ( as we get emails multiple times a day with lists from shelters, owners and other rescues….) I have to say it is truly disheartening that all these dogs in the shelters live in cages for days, months and some years… which I would not wish on my worst enemy to live that life!!
THE Backyard breeders & lack of protection and inspections to insure the Actual Professional Breeders are just that Breeding For The Breed Standards NOT THE BUCK are so far and few in between… It’s again Disheartening and ONLY THE DOGS SUFFER!
I am choosing to post this as I have and seen and heard it all in the past 5 years of 24/7 living it and understand why and how people get burned out and so many close….
PEOPLE /. The Human race needs to do better!!! Do not tell me you love your dog and want to dump it!!! Yo got the dog as a puppy and have done nothing to leash train, socialize properly around other dogs, cats, kids etc….and you get mad at the rescuer that can not take the dog as they are foster based and barely hanging on because the cost of a basic Wellness Exam just to get a Rabies runs anywhere from $300 to $500 …. Ohhh yeah and you failed to spay or neuter the dog and want us to have to do it which is another $500 to $1800 depending on which part of the state the dog is in….
And the people who share these dogs and continuously tag the rescues and bad mouth the rescues for not taking the dog ( which are people that only see a picture and have no clue to the background of the dog) need to turn the tables on the owner and at best sign up to foster for a local CHARITY Rescue .
But the sooner we can get the Hordes of Back Yard Breeders stuck with as my gram used to say “ Hand in the cookie jar” the better we will all be and stop buying from the because as soon as you do the force another litter… if they get stuck with them they might begin to wake up!!!
I am sorry I do not understand because as my dog is no different than my child and I got the dog so MY RESPONSIBILITY….. which means I FIQURE it out for his life & yes have a plan in place no matter what happens to me!!
MRF is a charity and donations have come to a halt , if anyone is interested please every dollar goes to the dogs.🐶

06/02/2026

This is Hoorah, or (Hootie Bo**ie Beans) as we like to call him he is 8 years old almost 9. Part of what makes him so special is that he is part of Mastiff Rescue of Florida “oldies but goodies” program so he will get to live out the rest of his golden years sponsored and getting the love he needs and should have had all along. We’re so grateful for the rescues, fosters, shelters and everyone else who advocate for all the dog.
From his Foster: (Fostering the stinkiest, sickest, fart filled English mastiffs is something we choose to do over and over again ✨)

MRF NEEDS FOSTERS.....PLEASE GO TO THE WEBSITE......If you cannot foster please consider a gift off one of our wishlists that help support these "Oldies But Goodies" (Chewy or Amazon)

06/02/2026

Meet Zoey! (Looking for her Forever Home)
Zoey is a 7‑year‑young Spayed Brindle English Mastiff being fostered in the Tampa/Gulf Coast area, and she is pure joy wrapped in a big, beautiful body.

Zoey’s favorite pastime is fetch… fetch… and fetch! She’s incredibly fast for her size and a delight to watch as she leaps and dives for the ball. Best of all, she’s trained to happily bring it back and drop that slobbery treasure right into your hand for the next throw. After four months in foster care, Zoey has learned that 5 a.m., before/after meals, bedtime, and 95‑degree Florida heat are not appropriate times for fetch—progress!

Before coming to rescue, Zoey was very loved but spent too many hours alone due to family circumstances. She hasn’t let that affect her spirit at all and truly lives with a grateful heart.

Zoey is smart and knows her basic commands: sit, down, and go to kennel. She can get very excited—especially when her people come home or at mealtime—but she responds well to structure and enjoys having a job to do. Repetition with sit and down has been very successful, and she genuinely aims to please.

She walks well on leash and is learning that walks are not a race where she needs to lead. Outdoor stimuli like cars, golf carts, or bicycles can still startle her, and she may dart unexpectedly, so supervision and continued exposure are important.

Zoey gets along well with the two large dogs in her foster home, though she’s a little disappointed that the 7‑year‑old male prefers a more refined, laid‑back lifestyle than playtime. Cats are not advised—not because of aggression, but because Zoey only wants to do one thing with them… you guessed it—play!

Zoey would thrive in a home that appreciates her playful spirit, continues her training, and enjoys a big dog with an even bigger heart.

If interested in Fostering to Adopt and live in Florida please fill out an application www.mastiffrescuefl.org

05/31/2026

Please don't forget our Amazon Wish list . MRF appreciates everything. Many in our Oldie but Goodie Foster program benefit from this list.... these donations are so important. Thank you! https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/UCOZE640T15R?

05/31/2026

Memorial Day, MRF was contacted that our longtime Oldies but Goodies Foster had been found deceased and that we had only hours to move her beloved dog, FatFat, as there was no one able or willing to care for him. During the police investigation, poor FatFat had been placed outside in the heat while everything was sorted out.

FatFat is approximately 12 years old and had been with our foster for about four years. She loved him deeply, cared for him faithfully, and worried about him constantly. Our foster had been part of MRF since 2013, opening her home to several MRF dogs over the years. Learning of her sudden passing in her mid-40s was a tremendous shock to all of us.

Patty and I immediately started making calls, hoping someone could help this senior boy. We reached out to a foster family that had recently lost their own Oldie but Goodie. When we say MRF has the best people, we truly mean it. Their response was simply, “Where and when?” We answered, “Now,” and they drove over an hour to rescue FatFat.

When they arrived, FatFat smelled strongly of death and neglect, but once he sat down in their car, there was a sense of calm in his eyes. He was extremely weak, and no one knew when he had last eaten. They tried to bring his bed, but it was soaked in urine. No one knew how long he had been trapped inside the home. Thankfully, they were able to bring a blanket from the couch that still carried his foster mom’s scent — something familiar and comforting for him to hold onto during such a heartbreaking transition.

Our fosters gave FatFat exactly what he needed: patience, quiet, and space to decompress. He slept on that special blanket and ate very little at first. But after a few days of kindness, safety, and love, FatFat slowly began coming out of his shell. He started eating better, took a walk around the property, and even showed a little spring in his step again.

He has a veterinary appointment scheduled in early June to make sure he is doing well physically.

These dogs grieve deeply when they lose their humans. MRF has witnessed it over and over again. Thankfully, we have volunteers who understand that emotional loss and are willing to help these dogs.

FatFat's new Foster says.."Poor little FatFat has been through so much lately. He is physically and mentally so tired. He has spent most of his time sleeping since we picked him up. It breaks my heart when I see him curled up on his blanket. It’s the only thing he has left from his home that has her scent on it. I’m so thankful the police allowed us to bring it with us. He feels safe enough to get the good healing sleep he needs. His village is surrounding him" a couple of days later_
He just kissed me!
That’s the first time he’s given kisses

05/29/2026

Adoption Announcements.
All are wonderful Foster Fails.. each of these mastiffs has a wonderful home .
Moose aka Buddy -Thank you to Tori and family
Remi- Thank you to Vikki
Otis- Thank you to Kathy and Shane

We look forward to hearing about their new adventures. Thank you for loving them and giving them a last name!

05/25/2026

MRF wishes you a SAFE Memorial Day!

05/10/2026

05/09/2026

Ben aka Houdini crossed the Rainbow Bridge on May 7, 2026.
His story is one that those of us involved will never forget. Drones, python hunters, and so many dedicated volunteers searched the Everglades for this very special mastiff who somehow defied all odds of survival.
When we finally rescued him, he came to me to heal and wait for his special forever home. What an imprint he left on my heart. Houdini had an inner soul that seemed to speak to all of us. We somehow always knew what he needed and what he wanted. He was incredibly intelligent, deeply compassionate, and unlike any rescue many of us had ever known.
When the time came for him to move into a new home, something extraordinary happened. Out of the blue, Noelle contacted me because she felt an unexplained bond with him. I invited her to visit, and the moment she and Houdini met, they immediately connected. It truly felt as though a higher power had arranged their meeting. It was simply incredible to witness.
Never in all my years of rescue have I seen a dog create such a powerful emotional impact on every person whose life he touched. Houdini’s journey reminded us all about survival, trust, love, and the deep connection that can exist between humans and animals.
Run free, sweet Ben.
You will always be close in our hearts!
His new name would be Ben
His Mom and soulmate Noelle writes: Ben, the mastiff who defied all odds and survived the Florida Everglades and blessed my home by sharing his days with me.
This rescued mastiff rehabbed more human hearts than I can count, to include mine. He raised Gracie and taught her what little manners she has. Ben has snuggled the sick, comforted the weary and sat lovingly alongside the brokenhearted, and did his butt wiggle dance with the joyous. He had an innate knack for meeting people right where they are. It sounds to me Ben, you might be what the good book is referring to in Hebrews 13:2…. You have certainly been an angel to us, Ben.
From the day I brought you home, I promised you and myself that your days of hardship and suffering were over. My pain for your peace, Ben is my last gift I can give you. I love you and I will always miss you. When you get up to heaven, go find grandpa and a sun spot to lay in, until someday I get there.

05/03/2026

Happy Spring: 💐🐾
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