You can fill out an adoption application online on our official website.

Currently being fostered in Illinois

Grazia is a 10-month-old, AKC-registered Neapolitan Mastiff girl who comes to us as an owner surrender. Unfortunately, Grazia was set up for failure from the very beginning when she was sold at just SIX weeks old by a backyard breeder in Tennessee, who the owners found on the AKC website ( just because a breeder is listed on the AKC website does not mean they are ethical or responsible!). Six weeks old is much too young for a puppy to be separated from its mother and littermates, since at this age, a puppy is still learning from them and developing some valuable life skills, and early separation can cause lifelong behavioral issues.

With good intentions, Grazias owners sent her to a board and train program when she was 3.5 months old, but we suspect something happened to Grazia while she was in boarding since she returned home displaying some troublesome behavior. She had severe resource guarding, guarding everything from her water bowl to her human. She also started going after the other dog in the house, and also the neighbors dog. The last fight with the familys other dog was so bad that they had to get Grazia out of the house immediately or she would have had to have been euthanized.

When the owners contacted the breeder to take the dog back, the breeder refused.Since coming to Mastino Rescue, Grazia has made progress working with a Neo-experienced behaviorist and living in a highly structured environment. She is also being conditioned to wearing a muzzle. Medically, she is healthy and up to date on all her shots but will have to have umbilical hernia repair when she is eventually spayed.

Grazia needs a foster-to-adopt home with Neo experience, no other dogs, and someone who will continue her training and confidence building. Since she is a jumper, she requires a 10 privacy fence--no exceptions. If you are the home Grazia needs, please submit a Family Profile application on our website: https://www.mastino-rescue-inc.org/adopt