PANAMA CITY — Most places “Maximus” goes he gets looks.
A large, albino Great Dane, deaf and blind, he tends to stand out in the crowd. Other than his distinct features, Maximus is probably most recognizable from the attention he and numerous other Great Danes, that became known as the “Bay County 13,” received after being rescued from what authorities called a Youngstown “puppy mill.”
Maximus, named for sharing mannerisms with a spirited horse in Disney’s movie “Tangled,” has settled down in a forever home back in Bay County.
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“He’s so well mannered, so well behaved,” said Dan Broadstreet, Maximus’ new owner, alongside his wife, LaDonna Broadstreet. “He’s really a social dog, and that is surprising because he has the scars to prove that he has been through hell.”
The Broadstreets said after hearing of the “Bay County 13,” shortly after the death of their previous Great Dane, who also was disabled, they began the adoption process with the Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue, where the dogs had been taken to recover.
“He’s as good as a dog without disabilities,” LaDonna Broadstreet said. “You just have to have patience.”
Maximus can’t go anywhere without garnering a comment of recognition from his January rescue. He was discovered at a 7010 Troy Road home in Youngstown. At the time, he was emaciated, weighing only about 50 lbs. Now, nearly a half-year later, the almost 2-year-old is at a little more than 100 lbs with a hefty appetite.
People still recognize him from the disturbing images in the newspaper and on TV, the Broadstreets said.
Although the group of Great Danes originally were known as the “Bay County 13,” charges later were amended. Lindsay R. Sanders, 33, owner of the dogs, was charged with 17 felony counts of animal cruelty following the raid on the Youngtown property, where officers found two dead puppies within the home and 15 malnourished Great Danes outside. Sanders’ and her husband, 38-year-old Mark Tyus, said they were honeymooning at the time of the mistreatment but officers said it would take much longer to subject the dogs to that amount of neglect, according to arrest reports.
Sanders’ case in Bay County is pending. Tyus remains in custody at the Hillsborough County Jail on unrelated charges. Authorities said they expect to extradite him to Bay County to face animal cruelty charges once he is released from Hillsborough County.
Needing homes: Despite Maximus’ storied past and local recognition, several other deaf and blind Great Danes in Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue cannot find a permanent home.
Many of what are called “lethal whites,” similarly disabled albino Great Danes, are put down at birth in puppy mills because they lack profitability. The Great Dane Rescue has had trouble finding people to adopt and keep blind and deaf dogs because of the additional effort that goes into their care and training.
“It takes more patience, more work,” Dan Broadstreet said. “It takes someone willing to … be their eyes and ear, watching for trees holes in the ground and even parked cars.
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“We’ve had to learn in life not to move our furniture,” LaDonna Broadstreet said.
Unlike dogs without disabilities, dogs with hearing or seeing difficulties depend much more on their caregivers to provide them stability and with a constant reassurance that the surrounding environment is safe and that they are nearby. In the Broadstreets’ history with disabled dogs, the desire manifests itself as an increased desire to nuzzle and be affectionate. That reward far outweighs all the additional efforts, LaDonna Broadstreet said.
“At the end of the day, laying in bed all they want to do is cuddle and hug,” she added. “They’re such an appreciative dog because they know they’re with someone who will take care of them forever.”