i have a full blooded gsd with papers. i got her from a rescue. she is a sweetie. the only problem i have is i was told she was a year old and after i got her i discovered she is 4 years old. i need her for search and rescue and she is too old to train. dontwant to give her to humane society. i live in n.e. ga

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), November 27, 2001

Answers

Generally rescues require that you return the dog to them if you are not going to keep it. Have you contacted them?

-- Lisa (lambrose@summitpolymers.com), November 27, 2001.

Have you had her evaluated? Is 4 years really too old? We have border collies, some rescue ones. I have trained ones even older than her by several years. Give her a chance. She might surprise you. I have found dogs that are rescued seem to know and are so grateful that they are eager to please.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), November 27, 2001.

I agree with Lisa. As someone that used to run a rescue I have to say it was in our adoption contract that the dog HAD to be returned to us if the adopter was unable to keep it for any reason.

-- Anita in NC (aholton@mindspring.com), November 27, 2001.

LET ME CLARIFY, SHE WAS RESCUED FROM THE ORIGINAL OWNER BY A INDIVIDUAL. THE INDIVIDUAL COULD NOT KEEP HER SO I TOOK HER, WITH THE UNDERSTANDING SHE WAS A YEAR OLD.THE SAR GROUP WILL NOT LET ME USE HER IN THE GROUP BECAUSE THEY SAY SHE IS TOO OLD, IT TAKES SEVERAL YEARS TO TRAIN FOR SAR AND SHE WILL NOT HAVE THE STAMINA SHE NEEDS TO DO SAR BY THE TIME SHE IS TRAINED.EVEN IF SHE DID, SHE COULDNT DO SAR FOR LONG.I KNOW THIS PERSONALY BECAUSE I HAVE A CANINE IN SAR ALREADY.OUR TERRAINE IS VERY ROUGH WITH LOTS OF MOUNTAINS AND RAPID WATER RESCUE.IT WOULD BE VERY DIFFICULT FOR HER.SOOOOOOOOO, IF ANYONE CLOSE TO ME WOULD LIKE A BEAUTIFUL SHEPARD PLEASE CONTACT ME. THANK YOU

-- CODY (URBUSTED@ALLTEL.NET), November 27, 2001.

that seems like a silly policy if you found a caring person to give the dog to. What motivates them to make you sign a contract for that?

-- Dave (something@somewhere.com), November 27, 2001.

Okay, Cody, I understand, but you needn't shout. Turn off the caps key.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), November 28, 2001.

i,m not shouting. i misplaced my glasses and couldnt see what i was typing without using large print.so sorry.

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), November 28, 2001.

Dave: To answer your question. We had people sign the contract stating that they would return the dog to us as no matter how carefully you screen a potential home some people will fall through the cracks, lie, or have their situations change.

We in fact had many dogs returned because the person was getting a divorce, moving, didn't have time etc... Even though at the time they said they understood the commitment.

Also, when people are desparate to get rid of the dog they will do things like take it to the pound, give it away to anyone that will take it just to get rid of it or just take it for a one way trip to the country. By signing a contract stating they will return the dog to the rescue we know that even if the dog is no longer wanted it will be well taken care of by the rescue until another home can be found. This policy also makes life easier on the adopter.

We also found out on one occassion that one of the rescue's dogs was being abused by the adopter and we had the local District Attorney prosecute that person.

Just consider how many people got a dog thinking that they would have it for its entire life time and ultimately did not live up to that responsibility.

-- Anita in NC (aholton@mindspring.com), November 28, 2001.

Anita's post answers it exactly. Let me add: when you take a dog in from God-knows-what kind of hell, and you pay to spay her and vaccinate her and worm her, and maybe throw in another $300 to treat her for heartworm, and if she came with puppies you vet all of them and pay to advertise for homes...and you teach 'em all to live in the house properly, and you mend their broken spirits and teach them to trust people again, and you watch the cowering wreck of a dog become a happy, loving, trusting companion...and then you weed through the losers who answer your ad ("you givin' away a free rockwalla?")...THEN, if you are so fortunate to actually find a home that seems qualified to adopt, you know that people change, circumstances change, and dogs are given up; you at LEAST want to know that the dog you have invested so much in will not be once again lost in the abyss of homeless animals. THAT is why rescuers have contracts.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), November 28, 2001.

Also, Cody, please be sure she is spayed before you do anything with her. If she has papers, someone might be inclined to take her for breeding, thinking they can make a quick buck. The world is full of homeless purebreds, trust me.

-- Shannon at Grateful Acres Animal Sanctuary (gratacres@aol.com), November 28, 2001.

too all those out there who are reading my post for a gsd: first of all i am geting a few priviate e- mails on wanting her. i am also geting a few nasty ones. so thought this is not for all of you it is for the few that are being rude. i will repeat, she did not come from a rescue organization, she had not been mistreated even with her previous owner. they were elderly and became ill and could no longer care for her. she was offered to me. if i had known her age, i wouldnot have taken her, but after driving 12 hrs to get her and finding out after i get her home she is 4 yrs old. really pissed me off.the people who had her knew her age and hid it. oh well,she is well taken care of here, as a matter of fact i cook her meals daily,we really love her, she is a sweatheart. she had become very protective of us , but she was that way when we picked her up from the poeple that were holding her. it took an hour of geting to know her before we could put her in our vehicle. she doesnt bark i had to potty train her, but that went well, she is smart and loves to play. she loves the water especially the cold trout streams here,i spend a lot of time with my other sar dog and i want another to come along with us and learn sar. because of the reasons explained above, she cannot.it would not be fair to her to just let her exist while i am training my other, as i will be training a pup in the spring. she will not go to anyone who will take her.i will be provided with references and the prospective persons vet name and number. and if i dont get a good feeling after meeting the person she will not go.her papers arent going either so she cant be sold. she is spayed,im far from an idiot thank you.so in a nut shell, i am not looking for advise or opinions, or people telling me off, what a nerve. i'm looking for a great home for my dog. or should i say another great home.thank you to all who have been kind.

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), November 28, 2001.

Cody: May I make a suggestion for you during your search for a good home for your dog. We always did a home inspection. We took the dog to the persons house to make sure that they did in fact have the fenced yard they claimed, that other animals are clean and well taken care of etc... to make sure the person was what they claimed to be. Good luck.

-- Anita in NC (aholton@mindspring.com), November 28, 2001.

oh anita, you can be sure of that. she is a wonderful girl and i will keep her if i cant find a home thats suits her and me.i realize not every home is perfect. LORD knows mine isnt!!! but when you have a gsd, most people think of using it for pure protection and no other reason. while she is protective, she also has a heart of pure gold and i wouldnt want to see her spirit broken, she will have to be a interactive part of a family. i have had some mail from people that will only take her with papers. RED FLAG...RED FLAG.... thanks anita. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND GOD BLESS YOU AND YOURS. cody

-- cody (urbusted@alltel.net), November 28, 2001.

Hey Cody, Sure wish I was closer to you as I would be interested. We have a six year old German Shepard that we got a year and a half ago from the Humane Society and we also signed a contract. Big requirement here was a fenced in back yard which we have. She had been thru many homes and even been returned. She has papers but is spayed and even has one of those chips inserted in her neck. We still haven't figured out why anyone gave her up as she is a sweetheart. Hubby and I had another shepard for 8 1/2 years before he could no longer walk from hip dyplasia. It was 9 years before I could bring myself to get another dog. I grew up with 3 shepherds as well. We have some friends that just moved back to Montgomery, Al and they have 3 shepherds, one of which is a search and rescue dog. In the spring they are going to breed their female with the s&r dog and we will be getting one of those pups. We have to come to Al to get the pup tho. All have papers but that has never been a big deal for us. Not required for a good dog. Our female needs some companionship. She is very vocal about her feelings. Could provide any references you may need. If you still have her next spring when we will be in AL would be glad to talk about her. Billie

-- Billie Sowell (bbsowell@earthlink.net), November 29, 2001.

I do want to commend you for taking her.I hope you did not misunderstand my post. And I feel from reading your posts that she will have a good home. I got my first rescue from a home where the owner in his '70's died suddenly. He had his 90 year old mother there bedridden and the health aides were afraid of ole Jake. So we took him at 8 years old. He lived with us for 6 more years. I used to take him back to visit the elderly lady until she passed away a few years after the son.

-- Kate henderson (kate@sheepyvalley.com), December 01, 2001.

i been looking for a dog for a long time

so if you give me a call at (905)548-6635 thank you

-- april lynn stout (poohebar8802000@yahoo.ca), February 15, 2002.

Do you still have the dog? My son is a police officer and is looking for a good adult female shepard.

-- timothy ramsey (teramsey@yahoo.com), April 08, 2002.