You are cordially invited to participate in Southern States Mastiff Rescue (SSMR) and to become a volunteer!

A common misconception is that people who are unable foster a Mastiff cannot help with rescue. 

Foster homes are very important and highly necessary, but they are only a part of what volunteers can do to help. 

Other areas where needs are great include:

• Conducting Home Visits to potential adoptive families.  Home visits are vital for matching Mastiffs and families to assure the best outcome.  They are also part of follow up after placement to assure the dog is thriving.

• Transportation might include moving a Mastiff from a shelter to a foster home;  from a foster home to its new family  or to a veterinarian for medical treatment.

• Identification  when SSMR is notified there is a Mastiff in a shelter the volunteer would go to the shelter to identify it as a Mastiff.  Often it turns out the animal is not a Mastiff and cannot  be taken into the SSMR system. 

• Evaluation one of the most critical steps is to evaluate a Mastiffs temperament for owner surrendered dogs, shelter dogs, strays and others to assure the Mastiff can be placed safely with a new family.

• Communications  are very important jobs and would include contacting shelters, humane societies, fire and police personnel to assure they know who to contact if a mastiff is turned into their system or found by fire or police.

• Advising families who want to surrender their dog. A volunteer might offer suggestions for training techniques or other methods that better integrate the Mastiff into the family situation. If successful this might avoid the Mastiff ever reaching the rescue system.

• Mentoring new adoptive families by explaining the responsibilities and rewards of owning a mastiff.  This might include referring new owners to special types of training classes, helping understand and suggesting good diet plans, answering basic questions and offering general support.

And finally...

Foster homes are badly needed in all areas.

If you have the means to separate a rescue from your other dogs and animals, and if you have room in your heart to help a homeless Mastiff find love, fostering just might be right for you.  Foster homes are temporary (see Volunteer Questionnaire) and are given first priority to adopt the dog they have fostered.

If you can give even just an hour or two per month to help rescue in any of these roles, please fill out and mail the Volunteer Application in the forms section of this website.  The application will be sent directly to the state coordinator in your area.  Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions.

Thank you very much for your consideration and for enabling us to help this wonderful breed!