Kara Cope and Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue

On the cover of this month’s issue is Cookie, Kara Cope’s grand dog. He was a Rocky Mountain Great Dane Rescue Ambassador who passed suddenly at the age of five. Great Danes have a shorter lifespan than most smaller dog breeds, averaging between seven and ten years.

Cope is passionate about Great Danes, and is a volunteer fundraising coordinator with the organization. You will often find her at the Matrons of Mayhem Third Friday Bingo, which does an annual fundraiser for RMGDR — usually the largest of the year for the Matrons.

Born and raised in Millcreek, Utah, she has lived in the same house since she was four years old. She’s married to her “perfect partner” of 24 years and has a successful housekeeping business.

She is a local social justice activist and fights the good fight for those who are marginalized. She says dogs are her answer to life’s mystery.

We asked Cope about the organization, her passion for Great Danes, and what makes her tick.

Hey Kara! I guess I’ll start with the obvious question. Why the Great Danes?

I’ve always had an obsession with giant dogs; Great Danes, especially. As a child I was quite small in stature; short, petite and always the smallest one in class. This led to people wanting to bully me. I knew if I had a BIG dog then I’d have the security of personal safety. My mom, however, declined to give in to my desire for a giant breed.

How did you first become an evangelist for Great Danes?

I’ve been involved with animal rescue my entire life. For my 50th birthday my wife encouraged me to adopt  6-year-old Rose, our first Dane, through RMGDRI. The rescue spent time at Wheeler Farm and I stalked them for a year before our first adoption through them. There were so many Danes needing fosters that I had to get involved.

How did you first get involved with RMGDRI?

After adopting Rose, my heart filled with compassion for these enormous, mostly gentle beasts. I signed up as a volunteer and took the volunteer Fundraising Coordinator position with no experience, really. We have wonderful volunteers in all areas with the rescue and, with some guidance, I took on the task of raising money for the Danes in foster care with RMGDRI. It fills my heart to plan events and raise funds for these magnificent dogs in need.

Tell us a bit more about RMGDRI and what they do.

Rocky Mtn Great Dane Rescue is a 501c3 charity that rescues Great Danes and Dane mixes that are abandoned, neglected, abused and in need of a forever home. We bring these dogs in from shelters and when owners surrender them for whatever reason.

We provide medical help and foster homes along with training and behavioral health so these pups can reach their final destination of their forever home.

We are solely run by volunteers, so we have no overhead, and every penny we raise goes straight to the dogs in need. We cover 13 states: Utah, Wyoming, Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Nebraska, Kansas, Idaho, Montana, Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, and South Dakota.

Our volunteers make it all possible, from intake to medical, transport, and approving fosters. We come together as a team and make it work for the Danes. We all have the same goal — to save as many as possible.

How can people become involved with the organization?

You can become a foster, donor, volunteer, or adopt a Dane at RMGreatdane.org

Our website shows available Danes and info regarding their specific needs. The dogs available change often so check them out!