GPRA Update 6/17/2018 - Jenkins
Jenkins


Dear Great Pyrenees Friends,

People think I founded Great Pyrenees Rescue of Atlanta - GPRA - but Jenkins, my big 13 year old male, is the real founder. Almost 13 years ago, after one of my golden retrievers passed away, we visited Atlanta Pet Rescue on their adoption day. Our family included my wife, six young daughters, a 3 legged golden and a golden/chow mix we discovered abandoned at a construction site.

Upon entering the facility, we were stunned to observe a big white polar bear calmly sitting in the middle of 40-50 small and medium sized dogs. We asked the question that has now been asked of us literally hundreds of times since - "what kind of dog is that"? Of course the answer was "he is called a Great Pyrenees". So that is where our story begins.

We adopted Jenkins that day and were totally enamored, as we drove up I-85, with his ability to stick his head up through the sun roof of our old suburban in order to get a better view of his surroundings. We named him Jenkins after Jenkinson's Boardwalk in Point Pleasant, NJ where our kids experienced many a cotton candy, funnel cake, pizza and roller coaster ride. When we arrived at our home in Dunwoody, he immediately did a perimeter of our property and never stopped doing the perimeter many times a day for years. Upon each perimeter completion, he would ALWAYS come back to me and report - "ALL SAFE".

Jenkins was a prototypical Great Pyrenees. He was the ultimate protector and since he did not have a herd to protect, the family became his herd. He protected with his size and bark yet always remained gentle with family and friends. He was truly a gentle giant and was an enormous presence in our family as he was ALWAYS kind, loving and tolerant. Very tolerant with six little girls! 

Jenkins became the spokes PYR for the GPRA website and all our commentary is presented through his eyes. Soon after we started GPRA in February of 2010, the mother superior of a cloistered monastery in Snellville, called inquiring about adopting two PYRS after reading an article about GPRA in the newspaper. Her only reservation was one of the nuns was deathly afraid of dogs. I recommended a visit with my two big PYRS, Jenkins and Journey, to orient the group to the breed before they made a decision. After my arrival, the mother superior escorted us to a room where 17 nuns were sitting in a circle. We stood in the middle and as I started to explain the characteristics of the breed as Jenkins slowly walked over to one of the nuns, sat in front of her, and gently put his paw in her lap. She was the nun that was so afraid of dogs. It was all over when she broke into a grin and gave Jenkins a big hug. The rest is history as the nuns adopted brothers Peter and Paul soon thereafter.

At 4 o'clock sharp every day, Jenkins came to me and gave me the PYR paw, ready for the trip to the dog park. With head hanging out the window for the entire trip, he hopped out of the car upon our arrival. While the other dogs were running and playing in the center of the park, Jenkins methodically walked the fence line, doing his job. When completed, he came to me to report - "ALL SAFE". Upon our return to the house, we used to have a stand off as he insisted I go in first. He wanted to be sure I was in safe and he trained ME years ago to always enter first. As a result, I always called him Jenky good boy so I think he thought his last name was actually Good Boy.

We have all experienced the loss of a beloved companion but for me, Jenkins will always have a spe cial place in my heart. After I retired from the business world, he made me realize that my purpose now in life,  with the help of many passionate and selfless volunteers,  is to save as many of these majestic, loyal, resilient and unique creatures as I can. Had we never discovered Jenkins, the 1,400 PYRS to date placed in wonderful forever families, probably just wouldn't exist.

Jenkins was KING DOG and if there is a heaven, Jenkins is now walking it's perimeter. And if there is a God, Jenkins is reporting "ALL SAFE".

Thank you,
John
GPRA President and Founder
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