I would like to introduce you to Romeo. Romeo is a small male sable 2-3 year old GSD weighing in at maybe 70 lbs. He needs more food - really. Romeo was found by Animal Control wandering the streets with a chain embedded into his neck. A chain, not a collar. They took the dog in and removed the chain from his neck. We took him to the animal hospital for boarding and some recovery for his neck. There are other marks on his skin that lead you to believe that he had multiple skin infections and they are healing as well. His skin and fur were in nasty, nasty shape. He has some new hair growing in all around his body, even his neck. His neck has fully recovered. Now, he needs training and food. Romeo has been in foster care for about 3 weeks or more now and lives in home with 6 other dogs (all med/large sized dogs). He runs and plays and has fun with them. However, he does not do well meeting dogs while on a leash. He barks a lot and strains to get near the other dogs. When he met his foster brother, he charged him and smelled hm and it was over. Other dogs have taken longer. He needs manners - REAL Manners!!! He likes to chase balls with the other dogs. He likes to snuggle on the couch. He takes verbal corrections very very well. He is crate-trained and house-trained. He walks well on a leash unless another dog rounds the corner. Then he wants to pull your arm off. When Romeo came into rescue he had severe food aggression. We attribute this to a history of lack of food (based on his "underweight" status). His foster family has been working on this and they can now feed him by hand, move his bowl while eating, hold the bowl while he eats and we can take food out of his mouth. He does still get a little freaky with the other dogs. It all is a trust issue at this time. We believe that Romeo needs a home with lots of TLC, food, training and exercise. He appears to bond very quickly and is a REAL LEANER!!! He is a very happy dog and loves company. He has a definite desire to please and is very smart. 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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