Cecil, we named you, Alan and I, for the luxuriant swamps in Maryland which we pried you from. Lovely, sturdy little dog we believed you to be just a few months old and yet it turns out that you are fully grown!. You are strong, healthy, driven and highly intelligent. Cecil, you haven't seized to amaze me you, my little dog. All German Shepherd, you are devoted and protective and tough. You love the big spaces, boating and kayaking, the hard ball play, the swimming till you drop, the digging in the sand and the cuddling at night, big, oversized black paws, wrapped around my neck until you do finally fall asleep yet you are quiet and calm most the remaining time. Cecil you are good with dogs. I bet you are good with all animals. Cecil, you are very pretty dog. Pretty and tempting. We don't know what's up but there is something in you of the natural dog. A little beast, a blackened face with brilliant eyes perking thru the large green leaves of that dangerous world of yours. Sadly, your fears overwhelm you at times when people pay undue attention to you. This is your downfall. A bit snarly but all love to the one you trust. 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.