Zeus and Odin, gods of tenderness

They came into our care but luckily didn’t stay long.

Despite sharing the names of two wrathful gods of mythology, Odin and Zeus couldn’t be more even-tempered and loving. Their original owners had to make the heartbreaking decision of surrender them after struggling to find rental accommodation that allowed their dogs.

The two French Mastiffs were quick to steal hearts, with the RSPCA dog team warming to their “big, beautiful, slobbery faces”.

RSPCA staff recall how difficult the two canine friends were to move from the yards back to their kennels, saying that they would dig the claws right in. “They just wanted to spend all day in the yards with one another. Moving them was an absolute challenge,” laughed Animal Care Officer Carley.

Life at Lonsdale was destined to be short, with the two gentle giants finding a new family within only weeks of being at the shelter.

Who said finding a new family was difficult?

Katie is the type of person who never shies away from a challenge – she has always loved owning bigger dogs and couldn’t wait to introduce Odin and Zeus to the family. Katie and her partner had been looking to bring a dog into their lives, they were hoping to get a Great Dane puppy and were on some waiting lists for one, but destiny had something different in store for them.

“We originally were planning to buy two puppies but our circumstances changed and we decided to browse RSPCA’s adoption pages. Even though we weren’t looking for older dogs, something just stood out about Odin and Zeus. I knew I wanted to make them part of the family,” said Katie.

“I wanted them to feel loved on the way home so I sat in the back with them in our MG3. Boy, did I need a shower after that! It was a long drive to get them back to their forever home and as soon as we pulled up in the driveway and let them out they were eager to try out their brand new beds,” she laughed.

At first, Katie’s partner wasn’t fully on board. He was concerned about adopting a bonded pair, particularly ones of Odin and Zeus size. Happily, that all instantly changed when they met for the first time.

Looks can be deceiving

For the first couple of days, Odin and Zeus were exhausted, opting to laze about in the sun or in the lounge. The two trotted through the house, surveying their new surroundings with caution. They were taking their new home in at their own pace. The pair had problems with resource guarding and were taking time to learn that there were ample amounts of food and toys available for them both.

“You could tell they were quite nervous. We eventually earned their love with toys and I was soon able to dress them in nice warm PJs when the nights started to cool off.”

“Now they share their bowls of food and Zeus will allow Odin to play with ‘his’ toys sometimes and will even ‘tuck’ Odin into bed occasionally, it’s adorable. Zeus loves playing with tennis balls, although they don’t last very long,” smiled Katie.

If you are ready to get a special someone into your life, check our adoption site, Katie can attest that you won’t regret it. “If our story can encourage others to adopt adult dogs, especially bonded ones, then we’re more than happy to share it.”

/Public Release. View in full here.