CATAWBA COUNTY, N.C. – Because of their white and fluffy fur, Great Pyrenees puppies are a popular breed for Christmas gifts.

• Great Pyrenees puppies are popular for Christmas gifts
• Pyrenees can grow to be 160 pounds and aggressive
• The dogs are not comfortable in a warm climate

However, Pyrenees owners may not know there could be issues when their puppies grow up.

A Catawba County man started a Pyrenees dog rescue to save the dogs.

“They have no idea this little, 12-pound puppy is going to be a 150-pound…and aggressive dog,” Charlie Fisher says.

Fisher started the rescue when he realized the breed, which originates from the Pyrenees Mountains in France needed help.

“They were bred to live in cold weather, extremely cold, mountainous weather,” Fisher says. “Can you imagine wearing a fur coat in the middle of August…in Georgia?”

When he began the rescue, he was saving one to two dogs a month, “now it’s one to two a week,” he says. Fisher has rescued 80 dogs this year.

“If you go on Craigslist and look for puppies for Great Pyrenees, there’s probably 25 litters right now…and they even have the nerve to put...‘Just in time for Christmas’,” Fisher says.

He says potential owners should think twice about owning one, particularly since they can weigh 160 pounds as adults and can be aggressive. They also need to consider the climate.