The Great Dame of Danes

Lake Norman Currents | July 2019

By Aaron Garcia

Denver's Cinnamon Ellison realizes that for some folks, the application, guidelines, requirements and phone interview don't always make the point as effectively as actually seeing a Great Dane lumber around their valuables. So, she likes to bring one with her during the home visit whenever possible.

"It's a whole different perspective when they can walk up to your counters and put their chin on your counters, or drink out of your sink, or sit on your couch with all four feet still on the floor," says Ellison.

Ellison is the director of Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, an organization that helps rescue and relocate large- and giant-breed dogs. Ellison estimates that 50 percent of the dogs that enter her organization's network come from families that simply didn't know what to expect when adopting or purchasing a breed such as a Great Dane or a Mastiff.

"People see them and think, 'oh, that's what I want,'" says Ellison, "and they don't do their research."

Ellison began working at giant-breed shelters after adopting her first Great Dane. After a few years she contacted Ruff Love, a well-established rescue shelter out of Thomasville, and agreed to open a giant-breed chapter. In the 10 years since she's helped countless dogs find new homes, while also establishing a trusted network of foster homes that she says is the "backbone" of the entire operation.

What truly makes it all work, however, is Ellison's firsthand knowledge of just how giant breeds are different; how they can't stop their momentum on hardwood stairs or how they shouldn't be placed with first-time owners if they're under a year old — the ins and outs that can make the difference between a dog finding a happy home and a stressful one.

That, explains Ellison, is why she's entering her 10th year with Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love. "I want these dogs to land in a home that's going to be forever and is better than where they were before," says Ellison.