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#090 Sheba
Sheba was placed into a special foster home that was used to dealing with behavioral problems and issues. In time, using love and tenderness, Sheba learned about rules and how to “win”. She was able to romp with other dogs and take her time learning about humans.
Sheba now lives in a wonderful home where she is doted on. She is obedience trained and loves her cat friends. She will never have to suffer again.
Update:
Sheba and I celebrated our tenth anniversary together in 2010, and it’s truly been a “happy tail.” Others had written her off as not savable, but GSRNE did their miracles and turned Sheba’s life around.
In December 1999, she was found on the street in Massachusetts–young, very frightened, and badly abused. Her paws were covered with blood, and her face, according to the Animal Control Officer, “looked like raw hamburger meat.” The pound had no funds to treat her for her injuries. Another rescue stepped in and had Sheba (as the ACO named her) transferred to the vet. The vet thought she might be an escapee from a backyard breeder who kept her dogs locked in rabbit cages. Sheba was clearly unsocialized with people. She recovered quickly physically, but her behavior issues meant she could not be placed. People frightened her, and any change in her environment paralyzed her with fear.
GSRNE stepped in and found a foster home willing to take on a “project dog” (a dog that requires a lot of work to be adoptable). I adopted her a few months later in July 2000. I had years of German Shepherd experience, but Sheba demanded new skills and tremendous patience. I had to learn an entirely new body language. Using Turid Rugaas’ “Calming Signals,” I was gradually able to rehabilitate Sheba. A quiet life here in Vermont was just what she needed.
People who see her today would never believe how she started out. Sheba is now the calm, stable dog in the pack. She holds office hours with me on campus, and the students love her. She visits the nursing home where my mother lives, and has her own fan club there. She’s always been a dream in the house, and gets along great with the cats who have shared her space.
Sheba is one of the most affectionate GSDs I’ve seen. Right from the start, when everything else scared her, the bed was a safe place. She would jump up beside me and bury her nose under my arm. We start every morning with “bed cuddles” and spooning. I’m lucky enough to work at home about half time, and she’s always by my side. Every day we walk in the woods, off leash on my twenty acres, and Sheba gets to swim in rivers and splash in the beaver pond next door. She’s a happy, happy girl.
I’ve been blessed to have Sheba in my life, and I’ll always be grateful to GSRNE for giving her the chance that brought her to me.
Reina Pennington
#093 Tai Bo
#150 Bailey
GSRNE worked with Bailey for a very, very long time. Eventually, we were able to build in other coping mechanisms as well as teaching Bailey to trust. In time, she learned to get along with some other dogs and play nicely with the cats in foster care.
Bailey now lives with a family of her own. She is loved and cared for and doesn’t have to worry about sitting at the end of a short chain anymore.
#102 Kelly
Kelly GSRNE #102
Kelly’s Pillows
Kelly was purchased by her previous owner as a puppy and then tied outside for 3 years. The owner bred her, then left her to have her puppies outside, alone in the winter elements. The puppies all died of exposure. Eight weeks later, the owner dumped Kelly at a shelter and told them to have her put to sleep. The shelter workers walked her down the hall to have her PTS but she was such a happy girl that wagged her tail and gave everyone kisses that they just couldn’t euthanize her, so they called GSRNE. Kelly was loaded with whip worms, had a urinary tract infection, a uterine infection, a rotten tooth, frost bitten ears and to top it all off after she got into foster care, we found she had severe hip dysplasia in both hips. GSRNE’s Abby’s “Leg”acy Fund helped to pay for Kelly’s surgery.
Dad Loving Kelly
GSRNE was happy to be able to help this lovely girl to heal and after spending 6 months helping her through recovery we decided she was already home. Besides loving parents, Kelly lives with a number of other dogs to keep her company.
Because GSRNE fixed both of her hips, Kelly is able to run and take part in her favorite activity…chasing one of her balls! When she is done, she is happy to find a nice soft blanket, with a pillow please, to lay down on. Kelly has been a foster sister to many, many of GSRNE’s adoptive dogs. She teaches them manners and shares her blankets, toys and home with them until they can find one of their own.
Screening Applicants As Potential Homes
Step 1. Interviewing Callers.
“First come, first served” does not apply here. You are under no obligation to give your dog to the first person who says he wants him or her. You have every right to ask questions and choose the person you think will make the best new owner. Don’t let anyone rush you or intimidate you.
To help you along, the following are questions that rescuers ask potential applicants. You can print copies of this page to use as a guide when you speak to people who contact you about your dog. Get out the list you made with your requirements for a new home and compare it to the answers the applicants give.
1. Get the applicant’s name, address and phone number. Deceitful people may call you from a disguised number or give you a fake address. Ask for information you can verify.
2. Does the applicant’s family know about and approve of their plans to get a German Shepherd? If not, suggest they talk it over with their spouse and call you back. The same applies to people living with a companion or roommate. When one person adopts a dog without the full approval of the rest of the family, the adoption often fails.
3. Do they own or rent their home? If renting, does their landlord approve? You’d be surprised how many people haven’t checked with their landlord before contacting you. If you have doubts, ask for the landlord’s name and number, then call him yourself. Be cautious about renters – they’re quicker to move than people who own their homes and movers often leave their pets behind. Remember, you’re looking for a permanent home for your dog.
4. Does the caller have children? How many? How old are they? If your dog isn’t good with kids, say so up front. How many children can make a difference depending on your dog’s personality. A shy dog may not be able to cope with several children and their friends. Very young children may not be old enough to treat the dog properly. If the applicant doesn’t have children, ask if they’re thinking of having any in the near future. Many people get rid of their dogs when they start a family.
5. Have they had dogs, especially German Shepherds, before? If yes, how long did they keep them? How they treated the pets they’ve had in the past will tell you how they might treat your dog. The following answers should raise a red flag and make you suspicious:
“We gave him away when we moved.” Unless they had to because of unavoidable problems, moving is a poor excuse for giving up a pet. Almost everyone can find a place that will allow dogs if they try hard enough. If they gave up their last dog that easily, there’s a good chance they’ll give yours up someday, too. “We gave him away because he had behavior problems.” Most behavior problems poor housebreaking, chewing, barking, digging, running away – result from a lack of training and attention. If the applicant wasn’t willing to solve the problems he had with his last dog, he probably won’t try very hard with your dog either. “Oh, we’ve had lots of dogs!” Watch out for people who’ve had several different dogs in just a few years’ time. They have never kept any of them for very long.
6. Do they have pets now? What kinds? If your dog isn’t good with cats or other animals and your applicant has them, the adoption’s not going to work out. Be up front. Better to turn people away now than have to take the dog back later. The sex of their other dogs is an important consideration too. For German Shepherds, dog-aggression issues can arise in both male and female dogs. Dog fights can be serious problems and one dog can hurt or even kill the other.
7. Do they have a yard? Is it fenced? How high is the fence? Your dog will need daily exercise. Without a yard, how will he get it? Can the applicant provide it with regular walks? If the yard isn’t fenced, ask how he plans to keep the dog from leaving his property? Did the applicant’s last dog wander off or get hit by a car? If so, how will he keep this from happening to his next dog? Does he understand that our adventurous German Shepherds may wander off if left unsupervised? Does he know that keeping a German Shepherd tied up can have a bad effect on the dog’s temperament?
8. Where will the dog spend most of its time? Although most German Shepherds don’t mind spending time outside unless it’s too hot or too cold, a whole life outdoors probably isn’t what you have in mind for your dog. Dogs always kept outside are sometimes neglected, lonely and may develop behavior problems.
9. Why is the caller interested in a German Shepherd? Find out what kind of dog “personality” they’re looking for. Many people are attracted by the German Shepherd’s beauty but don’t know anything else about them. They might not have the slightest idea what a German Shepherd is all about and might not like its temperament and characteristics. If their expectations don’t match your dog’s disposition, the adoption’s not going to work. Be honest about our breed’s good and bad points. Is a German Shepherd really what they’re looking for or would they do better with another breed?
10. Ask for references: Get the phone number of their vet (if they have had pets before) and ask them to let the vet know that you will be calling. Also ask for three personal references. Call those references. Explain that the person is interested in adopting your dog and you want to know about how they are with animals. For the vet, ask if their animals had annual vaccinations and took heartworm preventative. Ask how long have they known this person? If they were placing a pet, would they feel comfortable giving it to this person? If they have owned a pet before, call animal control in their town and inquire whether there have been any complaints about their dogs. If they have had to pay fines for “dog at large”, do not adopt your dog to them.
Step 2: The In-Person Interview
Once you’ve chosen a family (or families) that you feel are good candidates, make an appointment for them to meet the dog, and another one for you to see their home. Going to their house lets you see whether their home and yard are truly what they said they are and whether your dog will do well there. It also gives you an opportunity to call off the adoption and take the dog back home with you if things aren’t as represented, if you think there’ll be problems or if you just get a bad feeling about the whole thing.
If they already have a dog, make plans to introduce the dogs on “neutral” territory, like a park. Most dogs resent meeting a strange dog at home. They may be hostile toward the new dog or even start a fight. It is best to first introduce two dogs through a chain link fence where they will be off leash and can’t harm each other. In this situation, they can act naturally as if they were in the wild.
If the family has children, ask them to bring them to the interview. You need to see how the dog will react to them and how the children treat the dog. Some allowance should be made for kids’ natural enthusiasm but if these children are undisciplined, disrespectful to your dog and not kept in hand by their parents, your dog could be mistreated in its new home and someone could get bitten.
Do you like these people? Are you comfortable having them as guests in your home? Would they make good friends? If not, don’t give them your dog. Trust your instincts. If something about them doesn’t seem quite right, even if you can’t explain what it is, don’t take a chance on your dog’s future. Wait for another family!
On a final note: Ask the potential adopters if you can visit with your dog on occasion. If they say “no”, be very leery and reevaluate this person’s potential for being a good owner.
Step 3. Saying Good-bye
After the interviews are over, give the new family a day or two to decide if they really want to adopt your dog. Make sure they have a chance to think over the commitment they’re making. While they’re deciding, get a package ready to send along with your dog. This package should include:
- Your dog’s medical records and the name, address & phone number of your vet.
- Your name, address & phone (new address if you’re moving)
- Your dog’s toys and belongings (dog bed, blanket, etc.), a supply of dog food & special treats he loves
- An instruction sheet on feeding, special needs, etc.; some reading material about the German Shepherd breed.
- Collar and leash;
- ID and rabies tags.
Set aside a special time for you and your dog to take a last walk together and say good-bye. This may be an emotional time for you but try not to show emotion in front of your dog. He may be confused about being left with strangers and you won’t want your emotions to upset him even more.
There are some things you need to explain to the new family before they take your dog home: The dog will go through an adjustment period as he gets to know his new people, learns new rules and mourns the loss of his old family. Most dogs adjust within a few days, but others may take longer. During this time, they should avoid forcing the dog to do anything stressful – taking a bath, obedience training classes, meeting too many strangers at once, etc. – until he’s had a chance to settle in. Tell them take things easy at first and give the dog time to bond to them. The dog might not eat for the first day or two. Not to worry – he’ll eat when he’s ready. Some dogs temporarily forget their training. A well-housebroken dog may have an accident during the first day in his new home. This isn’t unusual and rarely happens more than once.
Step 4. Paperwork
Have the new owner sign an adoption contract with a waiver of liability. Keep a copy for your records. A contract will help to protect the dog and the waiver of liability helps to protect you. You don’t have a crystal ball to predict what your dog might do in the future. Remember – a waiver of liability will likely not protect you if you have lied or misrepresented the dog to his new owners.
Tell the family they should call you if the adoption doesn’t work out. Let them know you want to keep in touch and will call them in a few days to see how things are going. Tell them to call you if they have questions or problems. Be willing to take the dog back home if things don’t work out the way you both expected.
If you still want to go along with the adoption and find a new home for you dog, please take the time to carefully read the following guidelines:
Where to Start – Tips for Adoption
Do You Really Have To Re-home Your Dog?
The Reality of German Shepherd Adoption
Used with permission. Adapted by German Shepherd Rescue and Adoptions, Inc from “When You Can’t Keep Your Chow Chow” written by Karen Privitello, Lisa Hrico & Barbara Malone, Chow Chow Welfare League of NPD, Inc. Reproduction other than for personal home use is prohibited without permission of the Chow Chow Club, Inc.’s Welfare Committee. For additional copies or permission to reprint, contact: The Chow Chow Club Inc.’s Welfare Committee 9828 E. County A Janesville, WI 53546 Chow Chow Welfare Hotline 608-756-2008
Before You Adopt -old
#000 Wayde
Wayde before
Although all the dogs are loved who come into our rescue, Wayde is special in all that he has endured in the time he has been with us. Wayde needs a buddy and after reading this story, perhaps you will want it to be you.
Months ago, GSRNE was called about a dog being held at a vet’s office. This boy had been there for some time, and he had no chance of being adopted out from there as they are a holding facility and not a shelter. The white Shepherd, who was known as Stray 06-22 had been there for weeks and was not doing well mentally or physically. They called us for help, and we sent out evaluators to check him out.
Wayde has EPI and needs special enzymes
to digest his food correctly.
We found him to be a really nice boy, so brought him into GSRNE and boarded him while looking for a foster home. Though we usually put our dogs directly into foster homes, in Wayde’s case, he needed to get out of the shelter sooner rather than later.
When we rename our foster dogs that we get from shelters, we try to use the next letter of the alphabet, and we were up to the letter W., so he became Wayde.
Volunteers Needed
We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~Winston Churchill
All dog rescue groups need volunteers to operate successfully, and German Shepherd Rescue of New England, Inc. (GSRNE) is no exception! Volunteering a little bit of your time goes a long way in helping a needy German Shepherd. If you would like to learn more about our volunteer programs, Check out the list of potential volunteer activities page. If you would like to volunteer, please complete the Volunteer Form. We will welcome you aboard!
Working together for events!
Transporting is so rewarding!
Enjoying games at the picnic!
Walking with our dogs!
Rescue Angel
The young pup and the older dog lay on shaded sweet grass watching the reunions. Sometimes a man, sometimes a woman, sometimes a whole family would approach the Rainbow Bridge, be greeted by their loving pets and cross the bridge together.The young pup playfully nipped at the older one. “Look! Something wonderful is happening!”
The older dog stood up and barked, “Quickly — Get over to the path.”
“But that’s not my person,” whined the pup, but he did as he was told.
Thousands of pets surged forward as a figure in white walked on the path toward the bridge. After the glowing figure passed each animal, that animal bowed its head in love and respect. The figure finally approached the bridge, and was met by a menagerie of joyous animals. Together, they all walked over the bridge and disappeared.
The young pup was still in awe. “Was that an angel?” he whispered.
“No, son,” the older dog replied. “That was more than an angel. That was a person who worked in rescue.”
Volunteer Form
#225 Lex
LEX
Photos by Chris H
A Halloween Tale
by Chris Harriman
October is a month that we are used to seeing skeletons and witches, and enjoy listening to scary horror stories.
This is one horror story involving a living skeleton that we’ll never forget & would like to share it with you.
The woman knew that something was wrong. Though it was dark, she noticed that there were people in a car with a video camera and that there were two dogs running around the vicinity of the car. In hindsight, we’re not sure if they were the people that dumped the dogs, but after a short time she witnessed the car driving off.
Seeing no one else around, she called the two dogs to her. As they got closer, the woman was shocked by what she saw. Both dogs were very thin and one looked like a skeleton. Unsure of what was going on, she opened the door to her van and they jumped in. Since she was not able to bring them home with her, she dropped them off at the local pound.
Fortunately for the dogs, one of GSRNE’s trained shelter evaluator’s, Debbie, works closely with this particular shelter. The pound the dogs were taken to keeps dogs for just 10 days and their time was almost up when Debbie found out they were there. She knew that she needed to move quickly to see if she could help them. She called me to give me a heads up on the dogs and I contacted our Foster Home Coordinator, Milou, to put a preliminary plan in place for the dogs if they evaluated out okay. Debbie sent me a picture of Lex, and once I saw it, I knew I would do whatever I could to help this poor abused boy.
How could we possibly turn our backs on this poor boy.
Both dogs sounded really nice, but we knew that the male was not just thin, he was extremely emaciated. We wondered if he had EPI which would mean that he couldn’t digest his food properly (see Wayde’s story) as we just couldn’t imagine anyone doing this to a dog on purpose. There was a vet at the shelter that was doing a clinic and she looked quickly at him and didn’t think he had EPI because his stools were well formed.
Debbie did evaluations on both dogs, and their evals came out very good but often dogs that are sick/starved are shut down and don’t show their true behavior. Even so, Debbie felt that his basic personality was really sweet which we were happy to hear!
We knew that the male needed immediate vet attention and a place to stay temporarily but the vet we usually use in that area was full. Fortunately, the ACO greed to hold the dogs for a few days while we worked on a place for them to go.
Lex before coming into GSRNE
Debbie and I spent the day calling everyone we knew, looking for a place to put Lex and Kira until we could get them into foster homes. They also need to see a vet immediately so Debbie also worked on that. By the end of the day, our nerves were frazzled, but one of our members, Mark, had called in a favor and helped us find a place for Lex to stay – the Animal Rescue Foundation who had their own boarding area. We were so grateful that Kathy, who runs the rescue, was willing to help us out.
She also was able to set up an appointment for us with a local vet to get his vaccinations and additional testing done. Lex weighed in at 52 pounds which was extremely emaciated. The vet tried to get an IV into Lex, and when he fought it, four people held him down by laying on him. That freaked Lex so badly that he panicked and tore out the IV. The vet tried a second time, but finally gave up when Lex tore out that IV as well.
There was no fat or muscle left on Lex
Lex had fleas and flea Dermatitus, which we treated. He was Lyme positive so was put on Doxycycline. We did a titer because we knew anorexia is one symptom of Lyme. We also did a fecal to check for parasites, which was negative, and a urinalysis since advanced Lyme can cause protein loss which shows in the urine.
Because of the condition of the dogs, I ordered more vet work than usual. We did a Complete Blood Count (CBC) to screen for underlying infection, anemia and illness and to rule out a physical cause for Lex’s emaciation. We also did a chemistry profile. This test looks at the internal organ function to evaluate the organs to make sure there is no damage when a dog’s body has been literally eating it’s own muscles. This would help us plan how aggressively we’d need to treat Lex to have a good outcome.
We then said a prayer and crossed our fingers while we waited for the results of the tests.
When the test results finally came in, we cheered! Though there were some issues, nothing seemed critical. Lex was slightly anemic and had a slight elevation of white blood cells. He had low albumin levels and was “faintly positive for protein” in the urine which may be a reflection of inflammation or infection in the urinary bladder. We put Lex on oral Clavamox to see if it would help, and he was moved to the Animal Rescue Foundation to board. Within 3 days Lex gained 4 pounds which gave us even more hope for his recovery.
Lex after gaining 12 pounds
Lex stayed at the Animal Rescue Foundation for a few weeks, which gave us time to get to know him better. Kathy, who runs the rescue, and Darlene, the kennel manager, quickly grew fond of Lex. He was good with the other dogs there, and ignored the cats. He’d spin in his kennel though which made us wonder if he’d spent his life as a kennel dog.
The Animal Rescue Foundation was a great help with Lex
Meanwhile, Allison had decided she wanted to foster for us. She’d gone through the process, and was planning to put up a fence so she could help a dog. We approached her to see if she’d be willing to foster Lex and were thrilled when she agreed. It was decided that Lex would come and stay with me and Tomas while Allison put up her fence. I was going to be in MA at a Board meeting, so Noreen, our transport coordinator, set up a transport from CT to meet me there. A new volunteer, Jeff, brought him all the way from CT to MA. He loved Lex as did the Karen, Jeannie, Milou and I when we finally met him. Even as starved as he was, Lex’s personality shone through.
Jeff helped transport Lex
Lex came home with me to stay for a short while. He had gained 11 pounds since the first vet visit but he was still so thin I was afraid I’d hurt him when I touched him. Lex had a good amount of energy, but he’d tire easily and would curl up on a soft blanket and sleep. We took him to visit our local vet, Dr. Perkins, who retested his blood work and chemistry and to our delight, everything looked great!
Lex tired out quickly at first as he struggled to heal
A short while later, Allison and her friends had finished building her fence and Lex was ready to begin his recovery with her. Because Lex had exhibited signs of separation anxiety, we bought a special crate that was sturdy so he couldn’t break out.
Lex and his escape-proof crate
We took him over, set-up the crate and spent some time sitting next to the crate alternately feeding Lex and Allison’s female Freidl, yummy food. They thought this was wonderful and settled down next to each other to enjoy the “food dispenser.”
Lex and Friedl learn that the treat dispenser works when they both behaved
Because of Lex’s separation anxiety, it was a bumpy start in his foster home. Lex despised being crated and would chew on the crate bars when left alone. Fortunately, Freidl and Lex took to each other fairly quickly and we discovered when he was left loose in the house with her, he was happy and well behaved.
Friedl and Lex quickly became friends
Lex had a setback when he got neutered. He suffered complications from the surgery and his foster home spent many hours working hard to make him comfortable and be sure he healed successfully. Allison worked very hard with Lex. She fed him puppy food mixed with chicken broth and canned food so he’d gain weight. We then switched to a special diet that is high in fat and protein. It it more expensive than some foods, but when Working K9 Services heard Lex’s story, they gave us a discount. Seems everyone wanted to help Lex heal!
Lex needed special food because he was so emaciated
Right from the start Lex showed his outgoing personality. Every new person he met was another new friend. He gave kisses freely to each and every person he encountered. Although he had been through so much he was still a happy, friendly dog.
Lex is a happy, friendly dog
Lex is such a happy boy that his tail was always wagging and would often hit kitchen cabinets, hallway walls or the sides of his crate. This was a problem because he’d injured the end of his tail smacking it on the walls of the kennel where he had been boarded. When his tail would hit the wall, he’d leave a streak of blood. After searching the internet, we came up with an idea on how to protect his tail without causing him discomfort. We used hollow pipe insulation, taped it to the end of his tail, and dubbed it his tailpipe!
Lex’s first day in his new foster home. (note how yellow his coat is)
Close-up of the “tail pipe”
Lex has thrived in his foster home despite everything he’s been through. His foster mom, Allison, describes him as one of the friendliest dogs she has ever met. Each morning she wakes up to kisses from Lex. He gets along great with the neighbor’s dog and plays with him every chance he gets. He loves Friedl and they enjoy playing together in the fenced in yard but most of all, he loves Allison. It turns out that Allison loves Lex, too, decided that he was already home and adopted him.
The new family: Friedl, Allison and Lex
What I thought was going to be a horror story, instead turned out to be a love story. Though whoever starved Lex is certainly a monster, his story is filled with numerous caring people that loved Lex enough to help him. He went from a dog that was at death’s door, to a happy, healthy dog that is truly loved by his new mom. He is a testament to what can be done when people like those in GSRNE care.
Life is GOOD!
Lex after a few months in his foster home (with a gorgeous WHITE coat)!
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Lex “Before” Pictures
Lex “After” Pictures
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Interested in adopting this dog? Please check out our requirements for adoption page.
