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 Welcome to Ataboc Mastiffs
Rescue Mastiff Rescue
Why Rescue?
I became involed with rescue because I eventually wanted to breed. I felt the need to learn the downside of what is happening to our breed. This really hit home the importance of lnowing who you are selling to and what they know before they buy a pup. It is a lifetime commitment.
I truly feel that if you make more- you should give more. Rescue needs support in so many ways: fundraisers, help with paperwork, home visits, transportation, fostering, mentoring of new owners- it goes on and on.... If you can spare time or money, the mastiffs will benefit. Most of the dogs that find their way into rescue are not show quality dogs, but have hearts big as any. These are a few of the gems I have had in my home.
Austin
 Austin was dumped on Valentine's Day; he was too big. He was 13 months old. His back leg had been broken and the growth plate had been damaged. I drove 4 hours to pick him up and found a very happy, wiggly boy witha very twisted back leg. He rode back to my house with his head in my lap.
Austin was taken to the University of IllinoisVet Clinic for his exam. The leg was bent to the inside and toe twisted in toward the body. They determined the leg could be repaired but it was going to cost several thousand dollars and many months of recovery.
The MCOA has a Specialty every year and I planned on attending with my two mastiffs and Austin. We packed up and headed to Oklahoma City. Austin was the center of attention at times as people hear his story. With his outstanding personality, he recieved approval to be fixed up! Many people who met him at pulled out money right there to help donate to his operation.
Austin's operation was a success and he stayed with me for 6 months. The road to recovery was long and we had a set back with a deep tissue infection. But it wasn't too much longer and Austin was placed with a wonderful couple. He still had to be careful for the next several months nd they got an entrie laudry list of do's and don't for him. Austin got a couple of new buddies and last I heard he has even gottne another mastiff buddy adopted from rescue too.
Austin was by far the toughest rescue dog to give up. He was my first and had stayed for so long, I had really grown attached to him. We spent an incredible amount of time together and I bawled like a baby at the hand over. Heck of an impression to make, but I knew that I couldn't keep him and still have room to help another mastiff. Still didn't make it any easier.
Racing
Racing was taken to the vet to be euthanized. Arrangements were made to have her placed with rescue. At first they thought she was a Great Dane, then she came to us. She was a sightly thing- skinny and had been hit by a car and never treated. MCOA again paid for her to be examined by the University of Illinois Vet Clinic. They determined that anything they did would simply make her body breakdown faster. Her rear leg toed out at 45 degrees and her chest was wider on the right side by about 2 inches. None of this slowed her down! She had a real zest for life and having fun. She was still able to get to the counter and I will forever remember the sight of her running down the hall with the roasted whole chicken in her mouth- yep she was tough to catch!
Racing adjusted very well to indoor life and Jack and Spoon. It became more ideal that she spend time at another foster home so I could work with another dog. The hand-off was made and I prepared for the "problem" child, Maya.
Rawling
Rawling was only an overnight guest. I was helping transport but Rawling was signifgant in the fact that he had been one of the first dogs purchased by the Old English Mastiff Trust Foundation. The OEMTF purchsed him from a dog auction and turned him over to MCOA rescue.
I was very happy to help with him transport. He now has a great life ahead of him now that he is free from the puppymill! Rawling was only 10 months old.
Maya aka MIA
 Maya was 23 months old when taken into rescue. Maya was extremely well taken care of and loved but she was extremely shy. When I first met Maya for her evaluation, she ran away to the bedroom and barked at me froma a safe distance. After a period of time, she would come and sniff, then run away. The oweners said she wasn't friendly with strangers and it might take a while to warm up. Eventually, I was honored with being barked at from the same room. I tried to walk her but she literally threw herself over backwards trying to get away from me. A choke chain made no difference. I finally just let go (we were in the fenced yard) since she had no regard for her well being. This was going to be a tough one.
A week later, I picked up Maya and she stayed as far back in the van as she could. Home was a bit more eventful. It took several days to get near her. She wanted nothing to do with me. Finally, she settled down in her own room and I was feeding her by hand. Eventually, she figured out I was her source of food and I became "okay". Maya stayed tethered to me by a leash and we went everywhere together. She was afraid of the dark, sudden noises and quick movements. She had many fears to overcome.
I would bunny hop through the yard with her, drop thing unexpectedly and sing for no reason.
Maya was introduced to the rest of the gang: Jack, Spoon and Mo. She was thrilled to have buddies and figured out that everyone could fit on one bed.
I noticed that her eyes looked different than Jack and Spoon's. We went to Purdue University Vet Clinic to have her eyes examined. We found out that Maya had PRA- progreesive retnal atrophy. She was going blind- no wonder she was so scared of everything. They guessed she had about 12 more months of vison.
There was a lot of work that needed to be done before she went blind. She had to socialized and a VERY special home had to be found. Special needs homes are tricky to find. Not everyone is willing to work with a dog that is going to have conditions. Through some super luck- we found a great home for Maya. The new owners had done research and were very excited about Maya. She was also going to have her own seeing eye dog; the couple had a lab that wold be her buddy when she could no longer see. I couldn't hoped for a better home.
MCOA PRA
Hannah
Hannah was about 3 years old when I picked her up. She was wonderful and sweet and dumped because they didn't think she was a "real" mastiffs. She was and she was a fluffy mastiff! She was a true long-haired mastiff
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