This is Rocky. He was brought into a rural animal shelter by a woman who laughed when she said that he hadn't seen a vet in over a year and who apparently felt that the stench of infection coming from his fly-infested face and ears was normal. Animal control authorities are pursuing criminal charges against the former owner. Rocky has no hair on his chest or belly. He has deep and wide lacerations on his face and neck. His ear canals are fused completely closed. We don't yet know if Rocky is entirely deaf or if that condition will be permanent. What is amazing is that this dog still loves people. He's full of kisses for everyone and he seems to know that we are trying to help him, even after he went under anesthesia for work on his ears and to close the wounds on his face. Rocky was very aptly named. He is one tough dog. Maybe it's because he's been so miserable for so long that even the minimal care and treatment he's had so far is making him feel so much better. He continues to be sweet and affectionate, but his head and face are so sore that he still can't handle a lot of hands-on loving. He's just very happy to finally be someplace cool and fly-free. Rocky will be a completely new dog in 3-4 months, and we will make sure that he lives happily ever after. Rocky still has a lot of medical needs and we are not really looking for an adopter at this time, but contributions to VGSR for his care are welcome and needed. Please check out our web site at www.shepherdrescue.org for more information about our dogs, our adoption process and to download an application. You must have a fully approved application on file prior to privately meeting our dogs. We do not have a facility, all our dogs are housed in private foster homes throughout MD/DC/VA areas. More information available on our web site, so please read through our web site before emailing questions, as it might save us both some time!

VGSR can only adopt dogs out in the Virginia/Maryland/DC area, no exceptions.

Although donations of all types are needed, our primary need is foster homes for our lovely dogs while they wait for their new family to find them. Fostering is an extremely rewarding experience. Vet care is paid for by our rescue, and we can even provide you with food. All YOU need to add is love and security.

The adoption process starts with the applicant filling out the adoption application. This can happen at any time during the process, before or after having met a GSD that might be the ideal companion. (It's an advantage to have a pre-approved application on file with VGSR. It should be stressed here that being pre-approved does not mean that any potential adopter can select any available dog at will and take that dog home immediately. VGSR will exercise its best judgement as to which GSD will be the best match for that specific adopter based on a number of qualifying criteria. Many GSDs that come to us are matched up with their new people very quickly because their people have been pre-approved.) The applicant then submits the application form with a non-refundable $10.00 processing fee. VGSR reviews the application, then schedules an interview and home visit during which a number of questions are asked and the home is reviewed to be sure there is a contained/safe yard, and to meet the family involved. Once the application is approved, the applicant is asked to submit a $250.00 donation to VGSR, and the adoption is completed.

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