When Roxy’s owner called us and asked that we take Roxy into GSRNE, she also sent us a photo; it was obvious that this poor dog was in severe pain.  The owner told us that Roxy had been urinating blood for several months, was missing fur and scratching all the time.  She had gotten Roxy from a co-worker who had had her for about two years, was moving and didn’t want her.  This owner had had her for two more years and had been keeping Roxy on a chain outside all the time because she didn’t want her spreading sickness in the house.  She had never taken the dog to a vet and couldn’t afford to do that.

We asked her to take Roxy to a veterinarian IMMEDIATELY, and GSRNE would talk with the vet about what she would need.  She did drop her off with a vet and said she would not be able to return to take her back.  The vet called us and said that Roxy had an ear infection, would need a skin scraping and bloodwork and had a large bladder stone that would need to be removed surgically.  Roxy was malnourished and too sick to undergo the surgery yet, and the vet said, in spite of everything, she was a sweetheart.

After the initial treatment and medication, we had to board Roxy while we called our members to find a foster home.  One of our previous adopters stepped up right away, and soon had Roxy well enough to have that bladder stone removed.  After the surgery, the stone was sent out for analysis, and we were told that it probably was the result of an untreated UTI.  There were no residual stones, and Roxy is now a happy, healthy German Shepherd girl.

She bonded quickly with her foster parents, and they report that she loves toys, especially the squeaky ones; her tail is always wagging, and she loves to cuddle.  She wants to be near at least one of her foster parents at all times but will settle in her crate when they both have to be out.  Her energy level is normal, and she’ll get excited and do sprints around the kitchen island and family room couches.  She meets neighbors on the daily walks and will back away a little at first before slowly going up to the person.  Once she does that, she’ll lean against them and look for more attention.

At home, she’ll burrow her face into her foster Dad’s or Mom’s lap and whine loudly as they give her attention.  Roxy knows she is very much loved and freely gives her love in return.  After all they’ve been through together, her foster parents are now her adopters, and Roxy is in her forever home.