Ellie was surrendered to the shelter for killing some chickens. She is a sweet and friendly dog.  

Ellie is a beautiful purebred AKC registered Great Pyrenees that would rather be a family dog, we think, than a livestock guardian. That said, please research the breed.  Great Pyrenees are not for everyone.

I highly recommend a fenced yard if Ellie is to be turned outside off leash and you live in town.  Ellie needs/enjoys a long daily walk/romp.  We walk her off leash on our property.  She ranges, but is good about coming back when called.  

Ellie strikes me as a dog that needs some space.

Great Pyrenees like to ramble. If you don't take them for a walk daily, they are inclined to take themselves for a walk. 

Ellie is very affectionate.  She loves to lean up against you and get petted.  She is also fond of my daughter.  She appears to have been well socialized as a puppy, because she interacts well with people, especially women and kids from what I've seen of her.

Now for the things easy to overlook in a beautiful dog, but very important to consider up front.  Great Pyrenees hear things in the dark and bark at them.  It's in their nature, I would say.  The bark is deep and resonant.  Ellie doesn't bark pointlessly or endlessly, but if you live in town, I think it is well worth considering how this will play with your neighbors.

There is a great description on www.dogtime.com/dog-breeds/great-pyrenees 

If you are interested in Ellie or a Great Pyrenees please copy/paste this link into your browser and read it.  It seems very accurate to me.

Ellie chewed her way out of her 10x10 kennel almost daily at the shelter, because she didn't like it there and she wasn't getting enough exercise.  There is little doubt in my mind that she would not tolerate being crated for long periods of time, such as during a normal work day.  Ellie is going to take time and commitment or she will just be destructive if caged up too much or in too small of an enclosure. 

We are trying very hard to place her in what will be her forever home and share as much information with potential adopters ahead of time.  Ellie is a very special dog. 

Clay County Animal Rescue & Shelter is located at 375 Water Elm Lane, Flora, IL. Our phone number is 618-665-3005.  We are renovating our shelter so hours are by appointment only. 

The typical adoption fee for dogs is $150.  It includes vaccination, deworming , spay/neuter, heartworm testing on dogs of age and microchipping, which is now mandatory by state law.  Some dogs we discount to as little as $50 due to sponsorship.  Some dogs we ask a higher adoption fee, which helps us recoup expenses on heartworm treatment on other dogs.

All cats are spayed/neutered/vaccinated/flea treated/dewormed and microchipped prior to adoption.  Cat adoption fees range from $60-$100.  We spay/neuter/microchip/vaccinate and deworm all kittens and cats, prior to adoption.  Our shyer/less adoptable cats are classed as "barn cats" and are free with a completed/approved barn cat application, which can be found on our website.

For updates on adoption events and more pics of pets available, go to our website, www.claycountyshelter.com or look for us on Facebook.