Save-A-Shepherd

If you have adopted one of our GSDs into your family, we would love to put your story on this page.  Please send us your photos and stories!

Last year I felt it was time to get my new dog, with my Golden, Sam, old now and failing.  I had my list: german shep, mature, rescue and maybe special needs, or one harder to rehome as I have the time, patience and experience with sheps and living alone I only had myself to consider.  I had been looking on Pet Rescue and when I saw "Java" knew she was the one.  She had had a hard life and was stressed by having been in the pound.  She looked absolutely gorgeous and seemed to be looking straight at me! 
 
I rang Tanya and was told all the info about Java, good and not so great, and after filling in the applications, and making arrangements to have her brought down to Victoria, finally got to meet this girl I chose to rename Ava.  The first impression was that she is both smaller and darker/richer in color than her photos.  Her coat is glorious, so soft - she has champion relatives, and her breeder and I email each other now.  She panted and paced non-stop, and after checking out the front yard and the house, was introdued to both Sam and Sonny, little Maltese, which went o.k.  (well, at first!) 
 
Ava and I bonded immediately, she is loyal and protective, learns so quickly and has me laughing so often, like the time we went to my cousins, got distracted and she ate Jo's lunch, the day I was hiding her fetch toy (this her most clever thing) to find, and she managed to jump against the door and lock me out, the night I had to make a statement on a feral neighbour and she wanted to play fetch with the young cop, dumping her toy in his lap. Also, (and this is too much information) she accompanies me to the loo, and expects me to play throw the toy (while you'r just sitting there...............)

It hasn't all been easy and I have spent hours watching Ceasar Milan, the Dog Whisperer, as she is dog dominant and takes her job of protecting a little too seriously, but for me, she is the ideal dog, she loves the car and going for walks along the beach. I feel very safe with her here, so important after a couple of failed breakins.  She is good with children and likes to be fielder at the local park where the kids play cricket.  She can be wary with women (apparently had reason to be) but is a man magnet!  Large men turn to mush over her! 

I am still amazed such a dog ended up in the pound, and thank Tanya and Save-a-Shepherd every day for all the work, time and effort they do for this magnificent breed.

Thank you so much for the latest addition to our family - Keira (formerly Brandy). We have always loved German Shepherds and after the sad loss of our last dog we decided to get another girl. This was going to be a difficult task because although our Doberman x Rottweiler was lonely without his friend he has difficulty befriending other dogs. Tanya and Andrew allowed us to visit the rescue centre with him as he would have the final say on who would join our family. This is where we met Keira - the easy going girl Andrew and Tanya thought could be our "one". Right from the start we loved her gentle, easy going nature and our boy gave her a chance.

Now they are best friends. We have a truly beautiful soul in Keira. She has so much affection - even for her vet and vet nurse! She loves walks, visiting my work (where everyone shares lunch with her!), playing with her toys - especially Donkey, cuddling in front of the television and playing with Taos. When we have visitors she knows they are here to see her!

She loves her Schmackos and really does go whacko and is enjoying obedience training. She is very clever and learns fast!  She has some family members perfectly trained already!

Scheduled to be euthanized on Christmas Eve at just 3 1/2 years of age she was saved by Tanya and Andrew. We cannot thank them enough. This dog is so special and we love her dearly. Despite not been given the life she deserved in the past she has remained a loyal, loving dog that anyone would be proud to have. But Keira is taken! I recommend the Save a Shepherd program to everyone I know -  as we are often asked about our lovely dog Keira.

We would like to sincerely thank Andrew and Tanya for their valuable assistance in our adoption and highly recommend their Save a Shepherd rescue centre.

The Bailey Family - Victoria

To Save-a-Shepherd, Petrescue, and all the volunteers and shelters – a very big heartfelt THANK YOU!  I am so very happy with my newly adopted girl!

Being an interstate adoption, and never having adopted a rescue dog before, I wasn’t quite sure what I was in for. I reinforced my fences and proofed the house against an 11 month old described as “boisterous” and “in need of exercise and training” and prepared myself for the worst - how pleasantly wrong I was! She is just the most gentle and sweet natured, sensitive and so very intelligent girl.

The day I picked her up, she was hungry, tired and very stressed after her all night trailer journey, but when she nuzzled into my lap I knew I wouldn’t let her go. She wolfed down her food like a hungry crocodile and flopped, exhausted in a pile. She scrubbed up beautifully after a bath and groom and is eating extra to cover her bones. Despite the huge changes in her life, it hasn’t taken her long to settle into her new home… and for us to start bonding like araldite!

She watches me closely and anything asked of her she does more than willingly (especially if there’s a treat involved!) Being extremely eager to please as well as incredibly intelligent, she’s picking up the house rules easily. In return, she gets all the privileges of a good dog. She fetches and enjoys playing ball or retrieving her squeaky toys. She’s learning her manners inside. She walks well on lead and is a pleasure to take on long daily walks down in the river parklands. We’re learning to trust each other and she is making progress socializing with other strange new dogs – little steps with still a long way to go, but it’s inspiring to see her confidence growing every day. Whatever I give she gives back ten fold with her affection, soft brown eyes and warm waggy tail. I am absolutely delighted with my new best chum!

She loves her “Pedigree” food, which helps with the adoption drive for others as well. To anyone considering adopting a rescue dog – just because they landed in misfortune, doesn’t mean they are not well bred or beautiful natured, like my girl. They don’t deserve to be thrown away. Perhaps their crime was no more than having an irresponsible owner, through no fault of their own.

I’ll never know what happened in Czara’s past, but I have a good idea of what our future holds. She’s a keeper - my little pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, not perfect (who is), but just what I was looking for. With her eagerness and cleverness I’m looking forward to the fun that awaits us at doggy school!

I’ve added an extra letter to her name because she’s an empress and deserves to be treated as one. It also means magic in Polish, which she is too, having cast her spell on me from the first hello. I’ve found my perfect match, and she’s found her forever home. A big thank you Tanya and Andrew at Save-a-Shepherd, all the volunteers and Petrescue!

Grazyna, Victoria