Meet Apollo

It’s wild to think this is where it all began for Luna and Apollo—just a couple months ago.

On January 12th, Luna gave birth to a litter of Great Pyrenees puppies. Her owners knew they weren’t equipped to raise a litter, and they asked for help. But by the time we arrived, it was already too late for the full power of a mama’s love to take root. The babies had been taken from Luna almost immediately and fed baby goat formula instead of nursing from their mother—denying them the warmth, immunity, and nourishment only she could provide.

We met Luna and her 3 surviving newborns 12 hours after they came into the world. Fragile, vulnerable, and in need of round-the-clock care. We called our friend Meredith from Roffka Raised Golden Retrievers, desperate for guidance. As she calmly listed everything we’d need to care for them, Randy and I looked at each other with the same sinking feeling in our hearts: these babies wouldn’t survive with us. Not without someone with real neonatal experience.

And that’s when Meredith did what very few would. She didn’t just guide us—she showed up. Despite a snowstorm 2 hours away in the Georgia mountains, she met us halfway, braving the storm to save lives.

From the moment Luna stepped into Meredith’s car, something shifted. There was a connection—maternal, intuitive, immediate. Meredith didn’t just become a foster. She became a safe place for a grieving mama and her newborns. She gave them everything: warmth, love, vigilance, sleepless nights, and quiet strength. She even spent nights away from her husband James, sleeping beside Luna and her babies so they were never alone.

Meredith also stood by Luna’s side through heartbreak, losing two more of her babies—Artemis and Juno. She didn’t shield Luna from the grief. She walked through it with her. Loved her through it. And in doing so, something even more beautiful blossomed.

Meredith adopted Luna.

No more litters. No more struggling to keep her babies alive. Just love, rest, safety—and forever.

Apollo, the last surviving puppy, is now fully weaned and has joined our Squad family. He didn’t get to grow up with his littermates, which means he missed out on the natural socialization and emotional learning that happens during those early weeks. But don’t worry—our Squad Mentors are ready. He’ll get everything he needs to thrive and become the confident, joyful pup he’s meant to be.

We will never be able to fully express our gratitude to Meredith. Her devotion, her heart, her selflessness—it’s the kind of love that changes lives. That saved lives.

Thank you, Meredith. For being everything Luna and her babies needed. And more. ❤️

We met Apollo when he was just 12 hours old—barely the size of a hand, eyes still sealed shut, fighting to survive in a world that had already failed him.

Apollo was one of three newborn puppies surrendered to us along with their mother, Luna. But what should have been a tender beginning for this little family was anything but. Luna was left outside in the cold while her babies were brought inside and placed in a cardboard box. Separated from their mother, the puppies were fed goat’s milk and kept without proper warmth. Luna wasn’t even given the chance to try.

Thankfully, our incredible friend Meredith stepped up immediately. She brought the entire family into her home and, with patience and love, did what their original owner didn’t. Twenty-four hours after their birth—thanks to Meredith’s gentle, persistent guidance—Apollo and his siblings finally latched onto their mama. Luna, it turned out, was a natural. She was loving and attentive and never once turned away from her babies. All she needed was the opportunity to be the mother she was meant to be.

But fate had other plans. Despite Luna’s devotion and Meredith’s tireless care, Apollo’s siblings—Artemis and Juno—passed away from fading puppy syndrome. We’ll never know exactly why. Maybe it was the damage already done in those first crucial hours. Maybe it was the lack of prenatal care. Maybe it was just the cruel unpredictability of nature.

And yet, Apollo—tiny, weak, and the most fragile of the three—survived. He fought. He hung on. He grew. And the fire that kept him alive in those early days is the same spark that fuels his personality today.

Apollo’s will to live is matched only by his willful streak. At 7 months old, he’s goofy, curious, independent, and full of life. He’s got the stubbornness and boldness that make Great Pyrenees so special—and he wears it like a badge of honor.

When it came time for weaning and further socialization, Apollo came to our home, while Meredith officially adopted Luna. Watching Apollo grow over the past several months has been a gift. He reminds us that second chances matter, that the right people can rewrite a story, and that sometimes, the tiniest pup in the litter turns out to have the biggest heart.