Available

Max

Degu · Unknown · Young · 1 year

We all knew it would happen!! In April, we returned from another Big Greek Shelter Restoration trip (2026) having made a promise; to get another special dog out. His name is Max and he won the heart of Amanda, one of our Trustees. “I didn’t choose Max, he chose me when we visited the public shelter in Nafpaktos where a 100 or more stray dogs are currently kept. As we entered the noisy, abandoned abattoir Max stepped forward and gently put his paws on my shoulders before nuzzling his head against mine. As we wandered around the filthy concrete pens, Max stayed by my side, quietly watching until just as I turned to leave, he got animated, leading me to one of the darkest corners of the building. There I saw 13 puppies being kept in the most filthy and dangerous conditions. Max sniffed and licked the babies through the rusty, sharp wire fence as I tried to pick them up and handle them. In that moment we made a plan to remove the youngest, 4 week old pups to relative safety. But we didn’t have the money to help all the dogs, and I knew that in funding the puppies we would be leaving Max behind. As I drove away, this beautiful boy did not break eye contact. And in that moment I made Max a promise that I would raise the funds, come back and get him out too.” After vowing to save him, Max’s pre-travel health check came as a blow – showing he had very early-stage heartworm and leishmaniasis - not unusual for shelter dogs but so sad for such a young boy. For the last 6 months, we have funded Max’s treatment using £360 kindly raised through donations. Max is responding very well to the medication and stands a great chance of making a full recovery. But the money we hoped would pay for his travel has now been spent, meaning we still need to raise another £1000 to save him, pay for his ongoing treatment and bring him to the UK. Amy his lovely fosterer is on the case and is busy raising money for his transport to the UK. Please donate what you can and ask us about adopting Max.

Size

Large

Age

Young · 1 year

Location

🇬🇧United Kingdom

Shelter

Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare)

Cared for by Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare) · United Kingdom Learn about Degu →

More dogs in United Kingdom →

Listed 6 months ago

Bringing Max home

What you'll need for Max in week one.

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About Max

What life with Max looks like

Max is a large young adult degu dog waiting at Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare) in United Kingdom.

A young adult dog fits most household rhythms once the first couple of weeks of adjustment pass. A larger dog like this one needs daily off-leash time when possible — a fenced yard or regular access to safe walking trails. Plan a "decompression fortnight" — quiet routine, no visitors, no off-leash adventures — to let them settle.

🇬🇧Adopting from United Kingdom

UK shelters work under the Pet Travel Scheme (post-Brexit, the EU pet passport is not valid; a UK Animal Health Certificate is required for travel into the EU). Most UK rescues focus on domestic placements but some work with EU partners.

United Kingdom, United Kingdom — browse more dogs in United Kingdom.

Frequently asked

Adopting Max, answered.

How do I contact the shelter about Max?: Use the phone, email, or website link in the sidebar of this page. Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare) handles screening and the adoption contract directly — TailHarbor doesn't broker the conversation. When you reach out, mention you saw Max on TailHarbor so they know which animal you're asking about.
Can I adopt Max if I live in another country?: Yes, in most cases. Rescues across Europe routinely place animals abroad — Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare) will tell you what they need (EU pet passport, rabies titer, transport coordination) and whether they handle transport themselves or refer you to a partner. UK adopters: post-Brexit travel into the EU requires an Animal Health Certificate. Transport is usually a separate cost, so ask for the exact figure before you commit.
Is Max already vetted, vaccinated, and chipped?: Most dogs on TailHarbor leave their shelter with sterilization, current vaccinations, microchip ID, and an EU pet passport included in the adoption fee. The vet status on this page reflects what the shelter has reported — ask them directly if you need details on specific vaccines, recent bloodwork, or chronic conditions.
What happens if Max isn't the right fit?: Every reputable rescue accepts an animal back if the adoption genuinely doesn't work — that's part of the standard contract. Talk it through with Saving Saints Rescue UK (Big Paws Welfare) early rather than rehoming privately; they know Max and can place them more successfully than a second-hand listing can.
Why does the description sometimes read awkwardly?: TailHarbor translates shelter descriptions into English from the source language (EN). Translation is imperfect — names of streets, donors, and shelter-specific terms occasionally slip through unidiomatically. For the cleanest read, click the source link to see the shelter's original page.