German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley

FOSTER APPEAL FOR TWO 6-MONTH OLD GSDs NO LONGER WANTED BY "OWNER"--SACRAMENTO, CA.

"Nyla" & "Hunter" are two friendly, love-starved 6-mos old GSDs in urgent need of a foster home, as their "owner" no longer wants them and is on the waiting list to surrender them to the Front Street Shelter in Sacramento. Once in the shelter, there's a good chance they won't make it out alive.

Nyla & Hunter have been kept in a small kennel in their owner's backyard with minimal human interaction. A neighbor has befriended the two dogs but is not able to take them in herself.

I have yet to meet either Nyla or Hunter, but hope to do so in the next few days and will then provide feedback on their personalities.

If you're willing to foster either Nyla or Hunter (or both) for GSRSV, please text Brian Foran at 530-415-3801.

THAT LOOK OF CONTENTMENT WHEN YOU KNOW YOU'RE TRULY HOME.........

"Stormy", GSRSV 3-yo female GSD, adopted today by Lynn & Ross Heinz of Fremont!

Stormy is one of those GSDs who just couldn't wait to be back in a home to call her own. Here's an update from Lynn, only two hours after they arrived home with Stormy:

"What a sweetheart! She has been home almost 2 hours and she is already very relaxed and content. She didn't even bark at the four doggos walking past our home. We are going for a walk in a few min. All is well."

Thanks, Lynn & Ross, for adopting Stormy.

Not a religious statement!

🐵

Adoptions still so slow it hurts.

May as well have a good laugh……

NICE UPDATE ON "F***Y", ADOPTED FROM GSRSV OCTOBER 2023 BY BEVERLY SAVAGE OF CAMINO.

"Hi Brian. I thought you would enjoy seeing our girl's (F***y's) new fence. Most of our property is in the front and sides and only the back was fenced. Now we have a 6 ft galvanized steel fence around the whole property.

Our girl is so happy. She fills our heart with joy. She recently earned her AKC Good Citizen and Trick Dog certifications."

OVERNIGHT BOARD & TRANSPORT SOUGHT FOR TWO MALE GSDs (GSRSV DOGS) TO ANIMAL HOSPITAL IN PLACERVILLE ON THURSDAY, MAY 9.

Hello, everyone. I am seeking somebody to keep a couple of GSRSV's male GSDs (Buster & Rex) overnight , Wed, May 8, and deliver them to Placerville Animal Wellness Clinic *https://www.facebook.com/p/Placerville-Animal-Wellness-Clinic-100071437892577/) Thursday, May 9, by 9:00 AM. Both dogs are going in to be neutered.

Both Buster & Rex are very friendly dogs so you'll have no problem taking them into your home for the night. They both do fine in a crate.

I can drive the dogs to you Wed night if you're not too far away from Pleasant Grove (15 miles north of downtown Sacramento).

Please contact Brian Foran via e-mail ([email protected]) or text (530-415-3801).

Thanks.

PERSONAL PLEA: FOSTER CARETAKER SOUGHT FOR SWEET 3-YO SPAYED FEMALE GSD BEING RETURNED TO GSRSV THIS SATURDAY, MAY 4

"Stormy" is a sweet 3-yo spayed female GSD who will be in need of a new home as of this Saturday, May 4. Stormy is a "love bug"--good with people (including kids), other dogs, and the resident outdoor cat (for the most part). See Stormy's complete adoption profile at www.gsrsv.org/GSRSVAdoptionDogs.htm..

Stormy's people (Holly & Nick) adopted her from GSRSV in Feb 2023. Both Holly & Nick totally love Stormy, but now are seeking a new home for her due to severe health issues impacting both of them. Nick had to have one of his feet amputated and is now undergoing follow-up surgeries. Holly has diabetes and Graves' Disease (a vision disorder).

Holly & Nick have kindly fostered Stormy for GSRSV since mid-March while I've sought a new home for her. Sadly, the only two serious prospective adopters for Stormy backed out and adopted other dogs. Because Holly is so busy with work and caring for her husband, she has not even had time or energy to walk Stormy for quite some time. Finally, the time has come where she and Nick need to return Stormy to GSRSV.

I provide a lifetime safety net for all the dogs adopted through GSRSV, and Stormy is no exception. I am prepared to take Stormy in at my rescue ranch, but I honestly have my hands full and feel that Stormy would be better off in a "normal" home rather than here at my place.

Though my dogs do love the freedom of 45 acres and free reign of my house, I have to spread my love and attention thin among all the dogs here. Stormy has had the exclusive attention of Holly & Nick for over a year, and I'd like her to continue experiencing something similar.

If you are open to the idea of fostering (or adopting) Stormy, please call or text me ASAP at 530-415-3801.

Thanks.

Brian Foran
Director
German Shepherd Rescue of Sacramento Valley

URGENT FOSTER/ADOPTION APPEAL! VERY SWEET, 2-YO FEMALE GSD SCHEDULED TO BE SURRENDERED TO OVERCROWDED STANISLAUS COUNTY SHELTER ON MAY 6!

"CP" is a super-sweet 2-yo intact female GSD who was reportedly found in Patterson with eight puppies a couple months ago.

CP is good with young children and other dogs. Cats are an unknown. She is housetrained.

A rescue group helped the woman who reportedly took in the dog find homes for all eight puppies, but have been unable to find a home for the mother. Now, the finder is saying she can no longer keep CP and has scheduled to surrender CP May 6 to the Stanislaus County Shelter in Modesto, which is just bursting at the seams with dogs, including many German Shepherds,

If you are willing to foster CP for GSRSV, please contact Brian Foran at [email protected]. (Please send an e-mail message rather than a Facebook message.)

If you'd like to meet CP with the possibility of adopting her, please contact Melissa Barton at
[email protected]. There will be no adoption fee for CP, but a spay deposit and contract will apply.

AWESOME ADOPTION!

It's been a long three months without an adoption for GSRSV in 2024, but it was almost worth the wait for Dr Kathleen Fisher, DVM, to drive all the way from Carson City to adopt Nani (the dog on the right in the pic w/ Kathleen & her other dog Pi).

Nani took to Pi right away and the two of them were frolicking around GSRSV's rescue ranch together like long-time buddies. It was a heartwarming sight.

Kathleen is an avid outdoorswoman, and already took Nani & Pi on a hike (pictured by the river).

Kathleen's pets are the focus of her life, and her love for animals is what motivated her to become a veterinarian. She is an "old school" country vet (though she's not old herself) with both the animals' and peoples' welfare in mind--no corporate-driven profit motive here.

Can't do much better than this, but still hoping for more adoptions!

UPDATE 3-31: FLEX WAS ADOPTED TODAY!

Urgent! Friendly 14-mo old male GSD/Jusky needs adopter or new foster home by April 6!

"Flex" is a 14-mos old intact male GSD/Husky who is loving, playful and friendly. Flex gets along great with people of all ages. He's playful with other dogs. Don't know how he is with cats.

Flex is currently in a foster home in Fair Oaks. His foster people took him in from a very negligent situation (with the former owner's blessing) on March 26. THE FOSTER COUPLE CAN ONLY KEEP FLEX UNTIL APRIL 6 BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING ON AN EXTENDED VACATION TO CELEBRATE THEIR 30TH WEDDING ANNIVERSARY.

Let's keep Flex out of the shelter! Please contact Keli Berti at 916-616-1367 or [email protected].

See Flex's full adoption profile at www.gsrsv.org/OtherFosterDogs.htm.

UPDATE 3-31: MISSY ADOPTED TODAY!

Update 3-29: temporary foster home found for Missy while her present foster caretaker is away next week.

Button-cute, sweet 11-mos old petite female GSD mix (itsy-bitsy GSD DNA) available for adoption from Sacramento City ("Front Street") shelter. Presently in foster home.

"Hi, I’m Missy, an 11-month-old adorable female German Shepherd mix with fluffy ears that everyone at the shelter can't resist admiring! I've charmed everyone with my sweet demeanor and playful spirit. During playgroups, I've shown that I get along well with other dogs, especially those who enjoy rough and rowdy playtime just like me! (Click on the following link for a cute video of Missy playing with her foster home canine companion: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/2ag_9LI9_dQ.)

My previous home described me as a super sweet pup who is already potty trained. However, I do better with a slow introduction to new furry friends and need some time to transition and decompress when first arriving home. Missy enjoys the company of children. I'm still learning my skills, but with your guidance, I'll become the best companion you've ever had. But trust me, I'm worth the dedication and patience!

I'm known for getting the wiggles when excited, and when I look into your eyes with my big beautiful brown eyes, your heart will melt. You will be greeted in the morning by me jumping up into bed with you and snuggling. So why wait? Come meet me today and let's start our journey together!"

Missy is presently in a foster home in Sacramento, Missy's adoption fee is $50, which will include her spaying.

To inquire about adopting Missy, please click on the following link, then click on “Adopt Me”:
https://adopt.adopets.com/pet/41aeb9ff-ac83-41b7-98a4-82ba404611a7?tracking=f4c090d9-b6c8-42e7-a982-32dd2ca56c33

COMMITMENT PAYS OFF!

This is true in so many aspects of life, but especially when it comes to dogs--both for those you raise from pups and those you adopt.

Julie & Doug Anderson are living proof of commitment's rewards. Their's is also a classic example of how strongly an older adopted dog (especially GSDs) will bond if given love and guidance.

In Julie's words:

"Hi Byron...just wanted to thank you for consulting with me last year. We had just adopted a 9 yr old GSD through a shelter that was proving to be a lot of dog for us. And he was not sleeping thru the night.

At any rate, you gave me some good tips and encouragement and here we are, 8 mos later with the most wonderful boy we could ever have hoped for. Not that he is perfect, but he is pretty perfect for us. Crazy smart, a literal extension of my husband, goes everywhere with us. And sleeps thru the night (mostly.)

Thank you thank you thank you!"

Not that he is perfect, but he is pretty perfect for us. Love that.

OK, definitely not a GSD.

Still, does this photo not capture the essence of what loving a dog is all about?

😁

NEW GSRSV FEMALE GSD AVAILABLE FOR ADOPTON!

Stormy is a 3-yo spayed female GSD who is very sweet, friendly and playful.

Stormy is friendly with people of all ages. She is good with other dogs and also with cats!

Stormy is located in Brentwood, Contra Costa County.

Please see Stormy's full adoption profile at www.gsrsv.org/GSRSVAdoptionDogs.htm.

UPDATE 3-29-24: HEIDI ADOPTED! THANK YOU TO JANIS WALTERS OF SACRAMENTO FOR ADOPTING HEIDI FROM THE SHELTER!

Super-sweet 2-3 yo spayed female GSD mix available for adoption (Fremont, CA). Please share!

"Heidi" is a 2-3 yo spayed female GSD mix available for adoption at the Tri-City Animal Shelter in Fremont,. Heidi is very loving with people of all ages, and is great with other dogs AND CATS!

Heidi was cared for in a foster home for two weeks last December, during which time she showed that she's housetrained, good on leash (with a Gentle Leader), and a great driving partner.

If you would like to speak directly with the people who found and fostered Heidi, please contact Martin Huang at 513-687-8826 or [email protected].

Heidi has now been at the shelter for over two months--far too long for a dog who would easily blend right into most any household. Plus, Heidi's adoption fee is only $24!

Please see Heidi's shelter adoption listing at https://www.adoptapet.com/pet/40314825-fremont-california-german-shepherd-dog

😝

THANK YOU TO DIANNA HOLLAND FOR TRANSPORTING NANI FROM SALINAS TO SACRAMENTO!

I forgot to thank Dianna Holland of Hollister for picking up Nani (see previous post) from the Salinas shelter and driving her all the way to Sacramento last Saturday.

Dianna has a cargo van she uses specifically to transport dogs all over the Western U.S.--nearly all free of charge!

SIX-MONTH OLD "NANI" ARRIVES FROM THE SALINAS ANIMAL SHELTER!

Welcome "Nani", a six-month old spayed female GSD that GSRSV rescued from the Salinas animal shelter on Feb 24.

Nani was originally adopted from the same shelter when she was only two months old, but was returned four months later because she was "too much dog" for the adopters. All too sad and common a scenario.

Click on https://youtu.be/k9rfxqi7V3U to see Nani walking with "Bravo", another GSRSV GSD available for adoption. (See www.gsrsv.org/GSRSVAdoptionDogs.htm).

Nani is doing fantastic at GSRSV's rescue ranch and will be listed for adoption shortly.

Not much news to share here at GSRSV. Adoptions are still dreadfully slow and all of us GSD rescuers are still getting bombarded with owner surrender and "Can you take in a stray I found?" requests.

Figured I'd freshen up the FB page with this beautiful rescue "tail" of F***y, spayed female longcoat GSD rescued by GSRSV and adopted by Beverly Savage of Camino last October.

TOUCHING MEMORIES OF "ROXY", GSRSV ADOPTION CLASS OF 2015

In 2015, Joel & Sara Walker and their two young girls adopted "Roxy", an approx 5-yo spayed female black GSD, from GSRSV.

Sadly, the Walkers had to say goodbye to Roxy last week.

The stories below from Sara clearly display the loving relationship the Walkers had with Roxy. Worth sharing (with permission)--and worth reading!

"The girls showed me the paths Roxy made in the backyard. She had a routine: going to her favorite places in the yard. She looked at the girls with pride and showed them how she was digging by the shed. Ella [the older daughter] told me that she told her, "You know we have to tell on you, Roxy?"

Roxy loved showing the girls things. One spring she killed a lot of squirrels in the backyard. She was excited to show them to the girls. They are animal lovers, so they were horrified. I had to dig many deep holes for all the squirrels. We had a lot of funerals that spring. Music was played, and a lot of heartfelt words were said. I call it the Massacre of Spring 2017. While very sad, I still think of her smile when she showed me the squirrels (intruders) she captured.

Roxy was the girls' sister. Grace [the younger daughter] was a 1-year-old when we adopted Roxy. As Grace grew, Roxy still treated her like a pup. She would nudge her to get her to scoot over on the couch, and she'd steal her food. She didn't do that to the rest of us--just Grace. She was a character and fit in perfectly with the family.

The girls would play "Relaxing Music for Dogs" and "Meditation Music for Dogs" after Roxy came home after her cyst removal surgery. They would cuddle with her on her bed and tell her she was a good girl.

My husband, Joel, was her favorite. She loved looking out the window and seeing him pull into the driveway. He was her favorite person in the whole world. She would cuddle with him on the couch after he came back from a long day at work.

We have so many great memories of Roxy. I'm so thankful and glad that she came into our life. Thank you for doing the work that you do!"

WET & WARM WEATHER = LOTS OF MOSQUITOS = GREATER RISK FOR HEARTWORM. PLEASE GIVE YOUR DOG MONTHLY HEARTWORM PREVENTATIVE!

I've heard from lots of people in the Sacramento region and Bay Area that they have never heard of a dog in their locale contracting heartworm, so they don't see the need to give their dogs heartworm preventative. To this I have a few words to say:

1. You haven't had the first-hand experience with as many dogs as rescuers such as myself have had. In my 23+ yrs of rescue, I have rescued twelve dogs who tested positive for heartworm, some who HAD NEVER BEEN OUTSIDE OF THE SACRAMENTO AREA! I had eleven of the twelve dogs treated by a vet, or treated them myself with a safe, "slow kill" method. The twelfth dog died before we could treat him.

2. Our climate is changing, and mosquitoes are loving it! Not every winter/spring will be as wet as this year and last, but it's clearly getting warmer. The combination of wet & warm conditions is a perfect storm for mosquito breeding. As our weather becomes more like that in the southern states, it's inevitable that heartworm disease will become more prevalent here in California.

3. Heartworm disease is incredibly expensive to treat these days via the "textbook" protocol used by so many veterinarians, and can be really rough on your dog--especially if detected in advanced stages. Conversely, preventing heartworm is safe, easy, and can be incredibly inexpensive (see "Huge Money-Saving Tip" below). Cheap insurance, folks!

I am a staunch minimalist when it comes to medications and vaccinations, but I have no issue giving my dogs monthly heartworm preventative. That's because the agent I use to prevent heartworm--ivermectin--is virtually benign at the dosages needed to be effective. (Ivermectin is the active ingredient in the popular heartworm preventative Heartgard as well as many other brands.)

Dogs weighing between 20-40 kg (44-88 lbs) only require approx 275 MICROGRAMS of ivermectin per month to prevent heartworm disease. To give you an idea of the safety margin here, ivermectin is safely used to treat sarcoptic mange in dogs (except certain herding breeds) of the same weight range at doses 14.5 TO 25 TIMES that of the heartworm-preventative dose!

HUGE MONEY-SAVING TIP: Purchasing heartworm preventative here in CA (and perhaps all of the US) still requires a prescription, which can mean not only an expensive (and unnecessary) exam by a vet but paying a huge mark-up for the product. However, you can securely and legally purchase heartworm preventive from outside of the U.S. WITHOUT AN RX!

I have been purchasing a very inexpensive ivermectin-based heartworm preventative product called Valuheart from a great online source in Australia for many years: Discount Pet Medication (https://discountpetmedication.biz/). No Rx is required, and their delivery times are not much longer than those of US-based online sources.

Valuheart is a bare-bones heartworm preventative. It is not a chewable (try giving in ice cream!) and it does not contain any additional dewormers, which are generally unnecessary for adult dogs. (For example, the "plus" in Heartgard Plus is pyrantel pamoate, which treats roundworms--typically only found in puppies!)

Discount Pet Medication only charges about $30 for twelve Valuheart tablets (good for dogs between 20-40 kg), and that includes shipping! See https://discountpetmedication.biz/valuheart-gold-12-pack.

FINAL WORDS: Even if you live in an area where heartworm disease is virtually unheard of (like the Lake Tahoe basin), your dog can contract heartworm from JUST ONE MOSQUITO BITE when you travel to an area where heartworm-carrying mosquitoes are present. So, please keep your dog safe by having some heartworm preventative on hand and giving it to your dog AFTER you return home. Why after? Because monthly heartworm preventative is actually NOT a preventative but rather an agent that kills the heartworm larvae ("microfilaria") introduced by a heartworm-carrying mosquito AFTER THE FACT!

For a good overview of heartworm disease in dogs, see https://veterinarypartner.vin.com/default.aspx?pid=19239&catId=102899&id=4951469&ind=124&objTypeID=1007

Dealing with the grief of losing a beloved dog (or other pet) is a challenge, to say the least.

The beautiful quote below provides perhaps the best suggestion I've ever come across of finding light through the darkness of losing a best friend.

Thanks to Dr Sarah Shelton, author of the article "Understanding and Coping with the
Loss of a Pet" (see https://www.findapsychologist.org/understanding-and-coping-with-the-loss-of-a-pet-by-dr-sarah-shelton/), for sharing this quote.

“It came to me that, every time I lose a dog, they take a piece of my heart with them; and every new dog who comes into my life gifts me with a piece of their heart.

If I live long enough, all the components of my heart will be dog, and I will become as generous and loving as they are.”

(Author Anonymous)

TWO PICTURES SAY IT ALL........

What an incredible contrast! The picture on the left is of "Daisy", a female GSD/Husky who GSRSV took in on 3-21-23. A woman named Natalie Hayen found Daisy as a stray but was unable to keep her; so, she took her to the Merced County shelter, where she took that picture. Natalie kept tabs on Daisy and when it appeared her time was up she reached out to GSRSV to rescue her. I said yes, and Natalie then "adopted" Daisy and drove her to GSRSV's rescue ranch.

Fast forward to Jan 17, 2024. The picture on the right is of Daisy lying comfortably in front of the fire in the home of John & Dee Barker in Grants Pass, OR. John & Dee adopted Daisy from GSRSV on July 5, 2023.

Here's Dee's latest gushings about Daisy:
"Daisy is definitely one of the family. We love her so much; and she really has become a wonderful guard dog."

Look what love can do..........

TWO SWEET, YOUNG SPAYED FEMALE GSDs AT BERKELEY ANIMAL SHELTER RUNNING OUT OF TIME!

The Berkeley Animal Shelter recently reached out to GSRSV and other rescue groups hoping to save two sweet, young female GSDs (one a mix) who have been available for adoption at the shelter for well over a month. In the words of the shelter mgr, "Like most shelters, we are at capacity and have had to euthanize for space recently, so we are hoping to find a safe outlet for at least one of these guys."

Aspen (photo on left) is an approx 14-mos old spayed female GSD mix who is incredibly sweet but also very timid of new people and busy environments. If you have the patience to earn Aspen's trust, you will be rewarded many times over.

Mavis (photo on right) is an approx 3-yo spayed female GSD who is a wiggly, friendly, playful dog. Mavis is a favorite among volunteers and staff at the shelter and is always smiling at her kennel door, ready to go for a walk.

BOTH ASPEN & MAVIS ARE AT HIGH RISK OF EUTHANASIA DUE TO SPACE CONSTRAINTS!

For more info about Aspen, please see https://www.petfinder.com/dog/aspen-69913343/ca/berkeley/berkeley-animal-care-services-ca412/

For more info about Mavis, please see https://www.petfinder.com/dog/mavis-70065914/ca/berkeley/berkeley-animal-care-services-ca412/

Through January, adoption fees for all animals at the Berkeley are waived!

NEW KID ON THE BLOCK!

Ready for a fun-loving GSD mix with a fantastic temperament? Take a look at "Buster", a 75-lb, 10-mos old male who GSRSV rescued in December:

www.gsrsv.org/GSRSVAdoptionDogs.htm

BTW, that last video was not meant to shame or depress anyone, but rather to showcase the resilient love of older dogs.

Personally, I found the video very uplifting.

Adopt or foster an older dog and you’ll feel the same way.

MAX & WOLF, TWO SIBLING GENTLE GIANT GSDs, ADOPTED 12-27-23!

Max & Wolf, the two 5-yo neutered male brothers who GSRSV rescued on 12-22-23 (see post below from that date), were adopted two days after Christmas by John & Martel Calabretta of Antelope. John & Martel had previously adopted "Ace" from GSRSV back in 2017, and he sadly passed away in October of last year at approx 13 yrs of age.

John & Martel have six young children, and they also live with Martel's brother, his wife and their four kids. Yes, that's TEN children running around with Max & Wolf under the same roof! Yet I had no hesitation in letting the Calabrettas bring Max & Wolf into their home. Max & Wolf truly are two of the sweetest, most gentle GSDs I've ever known.

Thanks, John & Martel, for adopting both Max & Wolf. These two dogs are strongly bonded and I would have held on to them indefinitely until somebody came along to adopt them together.

Merry Christmas, everyone!