Hello, my name is Harley #4. My foster mom calls me Trace, which means brave or fierce in Gaelic, because she didnt know my name when she picked me up. I am a wonderful boy but I have had a tough life. I am very skinny. In the last 3 weeks I have been successfully treated for worms and ehrlichia and have gained a bit of weight. Now I am undergoing heartworm treatment. I am a real trooper and the vet says I have a strong heart so I will hopefully be ready to find my forever family in about 1 month. I need someone who is going to be a leader, otherwise I will take full advantage of any situation I can. I have an odd habit of bumping my nose hard against any door that I come across and if it opens I will make a break for it. However, I havent jumped the 4 ft. fence in my backyard. I am completely house-trained. I am good in my crate and I travel well in the car. I am pretty calm indoors and dont get into much trouble in the house. My foster mom thinks that I will probably do very well having free roam of the house once I am accustomed to my new home. I am full of energy and love to play outside. I can get a bit rough when I am playing but that is because I am so very excited to be playing. I could very easily knock over a small child so all off leash play would need to be carefully supervised. I love everyone that I meet. On walks I am very good on leash and can pass kids on skateboards, other people walking dogs, joggers, strollers, bikers, etc., with ease. If I see a dog behind a fence, though, I will get quite excited and need a firm hand to guide me along. I am good with my 70 lb. sister (aussie/lab mix), but I am most interested in people, so another dog pal is not necessary as long as I have a family to love me. I have a medium prey drive. My foster home has a cat, and we are co-existing, but I would prefer to chase cats and not live with them. I am protective of my new home and will bark at any outsiders but I am good once introduced to them. When I am ready to find my new home my foster mom will update my online profile. 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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