SIMON

He is a 2 and 1/2 year old mantle colored dane.  He was rescued at 8 months  of age from an apparent drug addict who was harboring his mom and dad and  other danes, to breed and make money from selling the puppies.  They were  kept in very filthy conditions in the backyard together with no contact with  the outside world.  Thankfully, a good Samaritan reported the abusive and  neglectful conditions and he was surrendered to the Great Dane Angel Network  rescue folks.

He was scared of everything including the nice rescue angels that came to  get him.  He had to be carried out of this backyard, which was the only  world he knew, because he was too afraid to walk on his own.  Because of his  irresponsible breeding, he had to endure two very expensive and painful  surgeries on his shoulders to correct a joint abnormality called OCD.  But  as you can see, he is fully recovered now, thanks to his mom and dad and the  wonderful rescue angels!  He has learned confidence from being loved.

He has earned his AKC Canine Good Citizen Certificate and also his first leg  of his Companion Dog obedience title.  He recently passed the Delta Society  Pet Partners test with his mom so they can start volunteering as a therapy  dog team.

We are so lucky that Simon came into our lives!  He is such a sweet and  gentle boy!

Mandy and Jeff Hall
 

Simon Says....McKinney Dog a finalist in online show
 Simon Hall is an upstanding citizen. He volunteers at the Flower Mound library helping dyslexic children improve their reading skills and has earned several certificates and awards honoring his stature in the community.
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Simon Says....McKinney Dog a finalist in online show
By KRYSTAL DELOSSANTOS McKinney Courier-Gazette

Simon Hall is an upstanding citizen. He volunteers at the Flower Mound library helping dyslexic children improve their reading skills and has earned several certificates and awards honoring his stature in the community.

And Simon is one of two finalists for another award: Best of Show in the working dog category in NBC Universal's Dog Show USA, an online dog show of real pets owned by everyday people, presented by Purina.

But the five-year-old black and white great Dane had a troubled puppyhood. He was born a product of a backyard breeder who abused him and his sister until he was nine months old, when the Great Dane Angel Network out of Fort Worth rescued him.

McKinney resident and veterinary technician Mandy Hall soon adopted him and he has lived with her ever since.

"I think Simon is a good example of how a wonderful dog can come out of a bad situation and make a difference in the community," she said. "I'm so proud of him."

In addition to participating in the Sit, Stay, Read program, Simon is a certified companion dog, a certified American Kennel Club good citizen, an AKC Rally Novice, a Delta Society Pet Partner therapy dog and has earned four badges as a Dog Scout of America. He volunteers regularly at Jonathan's place, a shelter in Garland for neglected children.

He also won Best in Show at the Great Dane Club of Greater Dallas' Dog Show of Texas.

Hall decided to enter Simon in Dog Show USA after seeing a commercial for the online competition on NBC.

The show includes both mutts and purebreds who are competing in categories such as

Best in Show, Owner Look Alike, Best Trick and Cutest Face. Simon is one of 17 overall finalists. Eight, including Simon, are vying for Best in Show.

The virtual dog show was open to every dog in America and generated over 14,000 entries with owners mailing or uploading pictures and videos at www.dogshowusa.com.  The judging panel of Seinfeld and Dancing with the Stars favorite John O'Hurley, Westminster and National Dog Show Presented by Purina analyst David Frei and Bash Dibra, "Dog Trainer to The Stars" narrowed the field for the competitive "Best in Show" honors in early January.

"I love my dog, so I thought I'd enter him. He's a good, sweet, happy loving boy," Hall said. "We don't really care about the prizes. It's just been fun."

Hall attended high school in Flower Mound. She received her bachelor's in biomedical science at Texas A&M University and lived in Dallas before moving to McKinney with her husband, Jeff.

Hall has other dogs, but admits that Simon is her favorite. After adopting him, she learned that he had a genetic bone disorder that was affecting his shoulders. IN addition to suffering from physical pain, Simon had a deep fear of men, resulting from his treatment by his first abusive owner.

"Simon also is a testament to the benefits of responsible pet ownership," Hall said. "It's important to know what any dog can accomplish if treated right.

Two surgeries and plenty of TLC later, Simon is helping build the confidence of children across the Metroplex, the disabled and the elderly. He is trained to be well behaved around strangers and is calm and affectionate.

"I know I put him in these situations where he gets to do all of this, but it takes a special dog to enjoy doing it," Hall said. "I know a lot of times, he doesn't realize what's going on, but I think in some cases, he knows."

But becoming a finalist for Dog Show USA's Best in Show title hasn't changed his demeanor, Hall said.

"He's always had a big head. He thinks everything we do is for him. The Plano Balloon Festival is the Simon Balloon Festival. He walks in like he owns the place," she added. "Who knew coming from a backyard breeder, he'd come to live in the lap of luxury. He's even got his own couch."

Anyone can vote for Simon until 2 p.m. Monday. Visit www.dogshowusa.com to cast a ballot.

Votes will be tabulated following the January 18-23 balloting with the winners to be announced online at www.dogshowusa.com on Tuesday, Jan. 31 following an announcement ceremony at Purina's Checkerboard Square headquarters in St. Louis.  The winning dogs get $500 cash, a lifetime supply of dog food and a chance for their owners to attend a live dog show in Philadelphia. The winners will also be introduced to a national audience on NBC Sports Saturday, Feb. 4.

Voters also are entered to win an I-pod in a random drawing.

Contact Krystal De Los Santos at krystal.delossantos@scntx.com.