"Saints Among Us", Illinois Saint Bernard Rescue, affiliated with the National Saint Bernard Rescue Foundation, Inc., is a non-profit organization dedicated to helping abandoned, abused, homeless, and relinquished Saints find a "forever home". ISBR is run solely by volunteers who have a great love for the breed and the dedication to help save them. Our volunteers put in countless hours and travel great distances, to ensure that these wonderful Saints find loving forever homes and are not destroyed. We also have an Approved Humane Investigator on our staff. We are able to investigate complaints and allegations of improper animal care to ensure compliance with the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act.

Because we are a rescue group, we do not have "shelter" where the animals are housed. We provide temporary, loving foster homes for all of our dogs until they are placed in their new homes. The dogs are fully vaccinated, sterilized, micro-chipped, parasite, and heartworm free. They are also temperament tested in a variety of situations. Most dogs are 18 months and older. We occasionally get puppies under one year of age. Some of our dogs may require special needs while others just require a lifetime of love.

So you’re thinking about adding a Saint Bernard to your home--or maybe you’ve just gotten your first Saint.
Congratulations! Those of us who own Saint Bernard’s know what wonderful companions they can be. These gentle giants really become part of the family. But, as much as we love and enjoy our Saints, we have to admit they are not the dog for everyone. We don’t want to discourage you from considering a Saint Bernard as your family pet, but we do want you to know a little about what’s involved.

First, they are big dogs. Sure, you know that, but do you know how big they really are? The most common reason the Saint Bernard Club hears from people who want to find a new home for their Saint is “I didn’t know it would get so big”. It’s one thing to pick up a cuddly twenty-five pound ball of fur, but you’re really buying a dog that will be as big as you are. When you go to look at a Saint puppy, be sure to take a close look at the parents. Ask the breeder to put them on a leash for you, and take them for a short walk. Try putting a grown one in the back seat of a car. And, if you can arrange it, spend some time helping to groom a Saint.

Next, they do shed. And because they’re so big, they shed a lot! Although regular grooming will help minimize the problem, if some dog hair around the house bothers you a Saint is probably not the breed for you.

And, they do drool. There is no such thing as a “dry mouth” Saint Bernard. While some may drool less than others, all Saints produce saliva in varying amounts. Once again, if you’re turned off by the drool, you may want to consider another breed.

For more information about Saint Bernard breed, please feel free to visit our "Frequently Asked Question" page.